Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It produces enzymes involved in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also produces insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Mistakes in nutrition, cravings for spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled intake of drugs - 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 pain in the girdle in the upper abdomen. Pain syndrome occurs when you've eaten something fatty or drunk alcohol. Nausea and vomiting begin, problems with stools.
In chronic pancreatitis, the pain is localized in the upper part of the peritoneum, radiates to the back, left side of the chest, lower abdomen. Discomfort is observed even after consuming fatty, heavy foods, alcohol and against the background of frequent stress.
Signs of acute pancreatitis:
- Severe persistent pain around.
- Increased body temperature.
- Swings in blood pressure.
- Pale or yellow complexion.
- Intense vomiting, without relief.
- Constipation, flatulence, salivation.
Signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in the abdomen after eating. Local or enveloping, extending to the back.
- The heat causes pain in the stomach, while the 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 doesn't 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 pancreatitis exacerbations, 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;
- limit saturated fat and cholesterol;
- the inclusion in the diet of a sufficient amount of a variety of vegetable fibers - cereals, vegetables and fruits;
- eating a variety of foods 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 allowed foods is quite extensive.
So, you can eat:
- Dry white bread, biscuits.
- Vegetable soups with pasta, semolina, oatmeal.
- Lean meats.
- Lean fish, jelly.
- Porridge (buckwheat (pureed), oatmeal, semolina, rice).
- Cottage cheese, cereal puddings and casseroles.
- Milk and fermented milk products no more than 2% fat.
- Egg.
- Vegetables.
- Ripe and non-acidic varieties of fruits and berries.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Weak tea, natural mineral water, rosehip broth, juices diluted with water in a ratio of 50 to 50).
Food must be cleaned, boiled, steamed. You cannot eat hot and cold foods. 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 foods,
- hot spices,
- a large number of raw vegetables, fruits,
- muffins and desserts (cakes, pies, pastries),
- alcohol,
- carbonated drinks,
- whole milk
Sample menu for patients with pancreatitis
- Breakfast: Milk porridge / Milk soup with pasta / Boiled noodles. Tea with milk. Dry bread.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, boiled rice / mashed potatoes, boiled fish / meat. You.
- 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, cookies between meals.
Note that medications and diet are equally important. Nutritional therapy returns the pancreas to normal, avoiding the exacerbation of the disease. In this case, do not engage in self-treatment! If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, see your doctor.