Pancreatitis is a serious pancreatic disease characterized by a violation of the production of digestive enzymes. The main symptoms of the disease are pain in the left or right hypochondrium after eating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
The key to pancreatitis treatment is strict adherence to dietary guidelines. After all, the development of the disease often occurs due to an improper lifestyle, the use of alcohol and large amounts of "junk food" food.
Diet for pancreatitis helps patients reduce pain syndrome during an exacerbation of the disease and add a remission phase. Nutrition is different in acute and chronic pancreatitis, but they still have some similarities. Let's talk about them.
General dietary rules for pancreatitis
The main requirement of thediet is to increase the amount of protein consumed and to reduce fat and carbohydrates in the main diet (if possible, they should all be discarded together). In particular, you should stop consuming granulated sugar because it contains 99% carbohydrates.
Meals with high content of coarse fiber should completely eliminate pancreatitis patients. After all, they place a strong strain on the pancreas as the organ begins to produce enormous amounts of digestive enzymes that are dangerous in this disease and can lead to serious complications.
Doctors recommend that all patients with pancreatitis take vitamin complexes that will help fill the body's deficiency of vitamins and minerals, usually caused by limited diet.
Meals should be planned at the same time.
Eat 5-6 times a day in small portions to avoid excessive stress and overeating in the pancreas.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
As a rule, acute pancreatitis is manifested by sudden sharp pains in the stomach. The pains are unbearable and therefore force a person to call an emergency ambulance. Diet for acute pancreatitis is "zero" before the doctor arrives. In no case should you eat. Neither "light" nor "heavy".
It is allowed to drink non-carbonated mineral water before the doctor arrives, but no more than 3 glasses. And they are allowed to drink only if the urination process occurs normally.
Acute pancreatitis treatment takes place only in a hospital setting. The patient is prescribed fasting for the first two days. However, he is now allowed to drink rosehip water along with mineral water. The total amount of fluid consumed should not exceed 5 glasses a day.
On the third day of treatment, the patient is allowed to eat fresh, low-calorie foods that do not contain substances that irritate the pancreas and increase the secretion produced.
Diet for pancreatic pancreatitis continues for one to two months after the main symptoms have passed. During this time, you must completely abandon the following:
- fried and fatty foods;
- cakes and pastries;
- pickled and smoked foods;
- pickles and canned food;
- spicy and sweet;
- onion and garlic;
- alcoholic beverages;
- fatty meats and fish;
- sausages.
All food products must be heat treated. It should be boiled in water or steamed. Do not use oil, salt and spices during cooking.
The patient is allowed to eat only hot and grated food. Before going to bed, it is recommended to use laxative fermented milk products - kefir, fermented cooked milk.
The duration of the diet is 6 to 12 months. And it depends on how a person on whom his health depends in the future will remain attached to him. If all dietary recommendations are neglected, the disease can become chronic and will then need to be treated for the life of the patient.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis in remission
The chronic pancreatitis diet is slightly different from the above diet. In this case, the patient's diet is significantly expanded, but only in the remission phase. During the exacerbation period, the diet is of a completely different nature, but more about that later.
In chronic pancreatitis, the consumption of protein is allowed, which should practically exceed the daily intake of a person, and the use of carbohydrates (sugar, honey, baked goods, baked goods, etc. ) is also allowed.
Foods that irritate the pancreas (hot spices, large amounts of salt, alcohol, etc. ) are the limitations.
The patient's diet should also be fractional. The number of meals is 4 to 6 times. Food served should be hot. You do not need to grind food before you buy it.
Meat and fish products should not contain too much fat, otherwise it may cause liver degeneration, which is quite common in chronic pancreatitis. Cottage cheese contains many useful substances and should therefore be included in the patient's diet. However, you can only eat homemade cottage cheese, but not too fatty. It is forbidden to eat cottage cheese in the warehouse.
If a person cannot refuse bread, it is recommended to use either yesterday's pastries or crackers (from gray or black bread only) at meals. You can also eat baked goods and pastries in limited quantities (no more than one serving per day).
In the case of pancreatitis, drinking milk in pure form is not recommended, as it is poorly digested. It can be added to teas or made into cereal and soups. Even if the patient tolerates milk well, it should not be drunk in large quantities. The maximum dose is 200 ml.
Fermented milk products are very useful for people with chronic pancreatitis. Even cheese, which is on the list of prohibited foods in other stages of the disease, can be consumed in remission, but not in large quantities and provided that you feel good. Cheese should not be too salty or fatty.
Eggs cannot be eaten whole. Only egg whites can be found in the patient's diet. It can be used for steaming omelets or adding to soups.
The patient's diet should not contain too much fat (no more than 70 g per day). Moreover, most of them should consist of vegetable oils. They are better digested and do not strain the pancreas.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis during an exacerbation
The diet for pancreatic pancreatitis during an exacerbation is the same as for an acute form of the disease. The patient is fasted and if positive dynamics begin, they are allowed to eat small amounts of fresh and low-fat foods.
If there is no deterioration in health, the patient's menu is expanded gradually. After 2-3 months, the person can eat as in the remission phase.
Remember, this is just a rough diet for pancreatitis. The full list of allowed and prohibited products should be checked with your doctor. Only he can create the right diet, taking into account your health condition.