Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It produces enzymes that are involved in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also makes insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Errors in nutrition, cravings for spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled intake of medications - all these factors provoke the development of pancreatitis.
How to recognize pancreatitis and what diet should be followed by patients, we will tell in this article.
How do you know if you have pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Its symptoms vary depending on the form.
The acute form is expressed by severe girdle pain in the upper abdomen. Pain syndrome occurs when you have eaten something fatty or drank alcohol. Nausea and vomiting begins, problems with stool.
In chronic pancreatitis, the pain is localized at the top of the peritoneum, radiates to the back, left side of the chest, lower abdomen. Discomfort is also observed after consuming fatty, heavy food, alcohol, as well as against the background of frequent stress.
Signs of acute pancreatitis:
- Severe persistent pain around.
- Increased body temperature.
- Blood pressure surges.
- Pale or yellow complexion.
- Intense vomiting, not relieving.
- Constipation, flatulence, salivation.
Signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in the abdomen after eating. Local or encircling, extending to the back.
- Heat causes stomach pain, while cold is relief.
- The patient takes a forced position - the knee-elbow position, or a sitting position with a forward bend.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
- Weight loss.
It does not matter what form of the disease you have - acute or chronic. You need to be selective about the food you eat and stick to your diet.
What diet is indicated for pancreatitis
For the prevention of exacerbations of pancreatitis, the following dietary modifications are recommended:
- Meals 4-5 times a day with an even distribution of fat-containing foods in the diet;
- refusal to overeat;
- balanced diet;
- limiting saturated fat and cholesterol;
- the inclusion in the diet of a sufficient amount of a variety of vegetable fiber - cereals, vegetables and fruits;
- eating a variety of foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol (unrefined vegetable fats are somewhat limited only in overweight people).
What products are allowed
It is a mistake to think that patients with pancreatitis are "deprived" of tasty and varied food. In fact, the list of permitted foods is quite extensive.
So, you can eat:
- Dry white bread, cookies.
- Vegetable soups with noodles, semolina, oatmeal.
- Lean meats.
- Lean fish, aspic.
- Porridge (buckwheat (pureed), oatmeal, semolina, rice).
- Cottage cheese, cereal puddings and casseroles.
- Milk and fermented milk products no more than 2% fat.
- Eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Ripe and non-acidic varieties of fruits and berries.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Weak tea, still mineral water, rosehip broth, juices diluted with water in a ratio of 50 to 50).
Food needs to be wiped, boiled, steamed. You cannot eat hot and cold food. The optimum temperature is 30-50 ° C. Do not overeat, eat fractionally.
What foods should be discarded?
An exacerbation occurs when nutrition and intake are disturbed:
- fatty, fried food,
- hot spices,
- a large number of raw vegetables, fruits,
- muffins and sweets (cakes, pies, pastries),
- alcohol,
- carbonated drinks,
- whole milk
Sample menu for patients with pancreatitis
- Breakfast: Milk porridge / milk soup with noodles / boiled noodles. Tea with milk. Dry bread.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, boiled rice / mashed potatoes, boiled fish / meat. Tea.
- Afternoon snack: Curd casserole, jelly / jelly.
- Dinner: vegetable salad with olive oil, boiled meat / fish, jelly.
Snacks needed. Eat baked apples, low-fat cottage cheese, biscuits between meals.
Note that medication and diet are equally important. Nutritional therapy brings the pancreas back to normal, avoiding an exacerbation of the disease. In this case, do not engage in self-treatment! If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, see your doctor.