Diet for pancreatitis is a key factor in successful treatment, therefore adherence to dietary restrictions allows you to lead a full life and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the tissue of the pancreas, which is accompanied by impaired secretion of digestive enzymes, severe pain, changes in stool and vomiting. This leads to a pathological metabolic disorder and can cause the development of diabetes. The main factors for the occurrence 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 the diet for 6-9 months, while in chronic pancreatitis diets are followed for several years or a lifetime.
Power characteristics
Approaches to prescribing a diet for pancreatitis depend on whether the inflammation is acute or chronic. Doctors note the positive effect of diet in pancreatitis. It allows you to quickly overcome acute inflammation, avoid complications and prolong the period of remission in a chronic process.
Characteristics of the diet:
- Within 2-3 days after an acute attack of pancreatitis you should completely refuse food. This ensures rest of the pancreas. Healing fasting includes the use of liquids in the form of non-carbonated alkaline mineral waters, lightly brewed tea or rosehip infusion, one cup 5-6 times a day.
- On the fourth day after the start of therapeutic fasting, 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.
- In pancreatitis, the way you prepare food is important. Steaming is recommended, as food prepared in this way retains all the necessary substances and does not damage the digestive tract.
- Food should not be chilled or hot, the optimal temperature is close to body temperature. In this case, the food must be grated or semi-liquid.
- The diet for pancreatitis limits the consumption of even diet food. They eat small portions at least five times a day.
The diet excludes foods:
- greasy;
- fried;
- hot sauces and spices;
- sour juices;
- canned foods, pickles;
- smoked meats;
- sweets;
- cocoa, chocolate;
- alcohol.
The energy value of such food should be at the level of 2500 kcal.
The disadvantage of such a diet is an acute shortage of raw plant foods. Some components need to be compensated by taking complex vitamins and supplements.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
Diet in the treatment of pancreatitis is an integral part of therapy. During exacerbation the attack is accompanied by severe stomach pain and loss of appetite, therefore the first few days of medical fasting do not cause suffering to the patient.
In addition, low-calorie dietary foods are gradually being introduced into the diet. This can be dried raw bread, forest fruit drinks and jellies, viscous decoctions of oatmeal and rice, liquid mashed potatoes without butter. At this time, it is recommended to exclude products that contribute to the formation of gas.
On the 6th-7th day, protein dishes are gradually introduced: stewed meat, mashed potatoes or vegetable puddings, stewed protein omelet.
It should be noted that the diet requires long-term adherence to dietary restrictions. For 6-9 months you must strictly follow its rules and follow your diet daily.
The course of the disease may have certain characteristics, which is why the gastroenterologist and dietitian deal with the appointment of a diet. Specialists in this field determine what can be eaten on a pancreatitis diet for each patient, taking into account comorbidities.
After the acute period of the disease subsides, you can significantly diversify your menu with simple and healthy products. It should be noted that the number of meals should be at least four, while the volume of test fluid is about 1, 5 liters per day.
Sample menu:
- Breakfast: semolina (rice) porridge, boiled in water; apple; lightly brewed green tea with a tablespoon of honey.
- Breakfast: steamed chicken breast cutlets; carrot puree; decoction of rose hips.
- Lunch: vegetable broth with beef or fish; mashed potatoes; white bread croutons; baked apple without skin.
- Afternoon snack: low-fat cottage cheese; green tea with a spoonful of honey.
- Dinner>: stewed protein omelet of three chicken eggs; mashed potatoes from dietary vegetables; croutons of white bread.
- Before going to bed: sour milk.
Diet significantly relieves the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis. Such a diet protects the pancreas and gradually normalizes its work. The patient's well-being will depend on how strictly he adheres to the diet. Any violation of the diet immediately affects the digestive function.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis most often develops against the background of an acute condition, but can also occur as a primary disease in cases where it is a complication of other diseases.
Diet and treatment of pancreatitis are two inseparable concepts. Even during remission, dietary guidelines should be followed.
Dietary rules for chronic pancreatitis:
- The caloric content of food during this period should be commensurate with daily physical activity.
- Much attention is paid to the protein content of food. Turkey, chicken, rabbit, beef, lean pork and fish are allowed.
- It is not allowed to include lamb, fatty pork, goose, duck and game in the diet.
- The heat treatment of the food does not allow frying, baking in the oven, stewing. Food should be cooked in a double boiler or boiled.
- Cheese, which was previously banned during the exacerbation phase, is now allowed in small quantities, but it is advisable to replace milk with fermented dairy products.
- The diet should include plant proteins, which are represented by cereals and yesterday's bread, while it should be borne in mind that legumes should be completely excluded during the diet with pancreatitis.
- The total amount of carbohydrates should not exceed 350 g per day. They are found in pasta, cereals, honey, canned food and syrups.
Approximate diet menu for chronic pancreatitis:
- Breakfast: boiled rabbit meat; rice porridge.
- Breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese; apples baked without honey.
- Lunch: buckwheat soup; boiled or stewed fish with vegetables; dried fruit compote.
- Afternoon snack: stewed cutlets with vegetable sauce.
- Dinner: beef, unsweetened cottage cheese pudding; weak tea.
- Before going to bed: kefir.
The diet is small and in small portions. The food should be served hot at intervals of about three hours.
Salt and spices cause increased secretion of enzymes in the digestive tract, so their amount should be kept to a minimum. Sour, smoked foods, baked goods and sour cream, as well as chocolate, have a similar effect. Sugar foods can cause complications such as diabetes, so their content in the diet is reduced by 90%.