The diet for pancreatitis is a major factor in the success of treatment. Therefore, adhering to dietary restrictions helps lead a fulfilling life and reduce the risk of relapse.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the tissue of the pancreas, which is accompanied by impaired secretion of digestive enzymes, severe pain, changes in the stool and vomiting. This leads to a pathological metabolic disorder and can provoke the development of diabetes mellitus. The main factors for the appearance of pancreatitis are: overeating, abuse of fatty foods and alcohol.
It is necessary to follow a diet for pancreatitis for a long time. Acute inflammation requires restriction of diet for 6-9 months, while in chronic pancreatitis, diets are followed for several years or for life.
Power characteristics
Approaches to prescribing a diet for pancreatitis depend on whether the inflammation is in an acute or chronic form. Doctors note the positive effect of diet on pancreatitis. It allows you to quickly overcome acute inflammation, avoid complications and extend the period of remission in a chronic process.
Plan features:
- Within 2-3 days after an acute attack of pancreatitis, you should completely refuse food. Thus, rest is assured for the pancreas. Therapeutic fasting involves the use of liquid in the form of non-carbonated alkaline mineral waters, weakly brewed tea or rosehip infusion, one glass 5-6 times a day.
- On the fourth day after the start of the therapeutic fast, the gradual introduction of solid foods into the diet begins. As a rule, these are low-calorie meals without salt, which gradually increase the secretion of gastric juice.
- With pancreatitis, the way you prepare food is important. Steaming is recommended, since the food thus prepared retains all the necessary substances and does not harm the digestive tract.
- Food should not be refrigerated or hot, the optimum temperature is close to body temperature. In this case, the food should be grated or semi-liquid.
- The diet for pancreatitis limits the consumption of even dietary foods. They eat small portions at least five times a day.
The diet excludes foods:
- fat;
- fried;
- hot sauces and spices;
- sour juices;
- canned foods, pickles;
- smoked meats;
- confectionery;
- cocoa, chocolate;
- alcohol.
The energy value of these foods should be at the level of 2500 kcal.
The downside of such a diet is an acute shortage of raw plant food. Some components must be compensated by taking complex vitamins and food supplements.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
Diet in the treatment of pancreatitis is an integral part of therapy. During an exacerbation, an attack is accompanied by severe pain in the stomach and a lack of appetite, therefore, the first days of medical fasting do not cause suffering to the patient.
In addition, low-calorie diet foods are gradually introduced into the diet. It can be uncooked dried bread, berry and jelly drinks, viscous decoctions of oatmeal and rice, liquid mashed potatoes without oil. At this stage, it is recommended to exclude products that contribute to gas formation.
On the 6-7th day, protein dishes are gradually introduced: steamed meat, mashed potatoes or vegetable puddings, steamed protein omelet.
It should be noted that the diet requires long-term observance of dietary restrictions. For 6-9 months, you should strictly follow its rules and monitor your diet daily.
The course of the disease may have certain characteristics, therefore, the gastroenterologist and nutritionist are engaged in the appointment of a diet. Specialists in this profile determine what can be consumed in a pancreatitis diet for each specific patient, taking into account co-morbidities.
After the acute period of the disease has passed, you can significantly diversify your menu with simple and healthy products. It is worth noting that the number of meals should be at least four, while the volume of liquid drunk is about 1. 5 liters per day.
Sample menu:
- Breakfast: semolina porridge (rice) cooked in water; Apple; weakly brewed green tea with a spoonful of honey.
- Second breakfast: steamed chicken breast cutlets; carrot puree; a decoction of rosehip berries.
- Lunch: vegetable broth with beef or fish; mashed potatoes; croutons of white bread; baked apple without the skin.
- Afternoon snack: low fat cottage cheese; green tea with a spoonful of honey.
- Dinner>: protein omelet steamed with three chicken eggs; mashed potatoes made from diet vegetables; white bread croutons.
- Before going to bed: curdled milk.
With diet, the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis are significantly relieved. Such nutrition spares the pancreas and gradually normalizes its work. The well-being of the patient will depend on the rigor with which he adheres to the regimen. Any disturbance in the diet has an immediate impact on the digestive function.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis most often develops against the background of an acute condition, but it can also occur as a primary disease in cases where it is a complication of other diseases.
Diet and treatment for pancreatitis are two inseparable concepts. Even during remission, dietary guidelines should be followed.
Diet rules for chronic pancreatitis:
- The calorie content of food during this period should be proportional to daily physical activity.
- Much attention is paid to the protein content of foods. Turkey, chicken, rabbit, beef, lean pork and fish are allowed.
- It is forbidden to include dishes of lamb, fatty pork, goose, duck and game in the diet.
- Heat treatment of food does not allow frying, baking, stewing. Food should be cooked in a double boiler or boiled.
- Cheese, previously banned at the aggravation stage, is now allowed in small quantities, but it is advisable to replace milk with fermented milk products.
- The diet should include vegetable proteins, which are represented by yesterday's cereals and bread, while it should be taken into account that legumes should be completely excluded during a diet with pancreatitis.
- The total amount of carbohydrate should not exceed 350 g per day. They are found in pasta, cereals, honey, preserves and syrups.
An approximate diet menu for chronic pancreatitis:
- Breakfast: boiled rabbit meat; rice porridge.
- Late breakfast: low fat cottage cheese; cooked apples without honey.
- Lunch: buckwheat soup; boiled or steamed fish with vegetables; compote of dried fruits.
- Afternoon snack: steamed cutlets with vegetable sauce.
- Dinner: veal, unsweetened curd pudding; light tea.
- Before going to bed: kefir.
Meals are divided and in small portions. Food should be served hot at approximately three hour intervals.
Salt and spices cause increased secretion of enzymes in the digestive tract, so their amount should be kept to a minimum. In addition, sour and smoked foods, baked goods and sour cream, as well as chocolate, have a similar effect. Sweet foods can lead to complications such as diabetes mellitus, so their content in the diet is reduced by 90%.