Pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas associated with the development of an inflammatory process in the organ. With this disease, there is a disruption in the flow of enzymes involved in digestion from the pancreas to the duodenum. Digestive enzymes remain in the gland itself and destroy it. The main cause of this disease is improper and unbalanced nutrition. That is why the treatment of pancreatitis is based on a properly selected diet.
General rules. Duration of the diet.
Maintaining proper nutrition is the key to a quick recovery. With this diet, you must adhere to certain rules to eliminate the possibility of complications.
General diet rules:
- Overeating should be avoided
- Meals should be fractional, at least 5-6 times a day
- Food should be warm. It is necessary to completely exclude hot and cold foods.
- Eliminate raw vegetables and fruits and fiber-rich foods from your diet.
- Food should only be prepared using recommended methods.
Symptoms of pancreatitis
Main symptoms of pancreatitis :
- Feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating.
- Pain in the navel area.
- Constant heartburn, bloating and flatulence.
- Nausea.
- Bad breath.
- Belching.
- Swelling of the face (read a useful article on how to quickly get rid of swelling on the face).
- Fat stool.
- Dry skin.
- Redness of the skin.
In addition, a large number of toxins accumulate in the body, which can poison the body.
Nutrition for pancreatitis during exacerbation:
In case of exacerbation of pancreatitis, it is necessary to avoid eating any food for several days. During fasting, it is recommended to drink purified still water. The daily volume of water should be no more than 1.5-1.7 liters. After the pain and symptoms subside, you can add low-calorie food in small quantities to the diet (liquid cereals, vegetable soups, steamed fish or chicken cutlets).
If you do not follow a diet during acute pancreatitis, the disease can quickly become chronic.
Notice!
During the acute period, sanatorium-resort treatment is contraindicated: it is better to go to a hospital.
If you have a chronic
form, then you should regularly
carry out preventive treatment
.
Pancreas
If a person is healthy and happy, there is no reason to remember that a very important organ functions in his body - the pancreas . It is located behind the stomach, closely adjacent to the duodenum, between them and the spine, transversely at the level of the bodies of the I-II lumbar vertebrae. The pancreas of an adult has a length of 14-22 cm, a width of 3-9 cm, a thickness of 2-3 cm, with a mass of about 70-80 g. Why is this gland so hidden in the body?!
Already in the Talmud there is a description of the pancreas , where it is called the “finger of God.” Vesalius in 1543 writes about the pancreas: “in the center of the mesentery, there is a large glandular formation that reliably supports the very first and significant branches of the vessels.”
The pancreas is an important participant in the digestive process; it secretes the main enzymes for the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates: pancreatic lipase, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. The main pancreatic secretion - duct cells - contains bicarbonate ions, which are involved in neutralizing acidic gastric contents. The main excretory duct, which opens into the duodenum, receives pancreatic secretions that accumulate in the interlobular ducts. Enzymes are released in an inactive form, this prevents enzyme damage to the pancreas, which can be observed with pancreatitis. In response to the secretion of pancreatic juice, the cells of the stomach and duodenum produce active substances of a hormonal nature - gastrin, cholecystokinin and secretin, which ensures hormonal regulation of the exocrine function of the pancreas.
Islet cells - the islets of Langerhans, located between the lobules, function like endocrine glands, secreting glucagon and insulin directly into the bloodstream - hormones that regulate carbohydrate metabolism. Glucagon increases and insulin decreases blood glucose levels.
Reasons for the development of pancreatitis: frequent consumption of spicy, fried, fatty foods, overeating, alcohol abuse, neuropsychic overexcitation, previous viral infections and intoxication.
The most important symptom of pancreatitis is burning pain in the upper abdomen, in the left hypochondrium, sometimes radiating to the heart area, to the spine, which can last from several hours to several days.
Attacks are characterized by severe pain, loss of appetite, weakness, belching, flatulence, and rumbling in the stomach . Nausea and vomiting are often associated; there may be a drop in temperature and tremors in the body. Diarrhea persists for a long time , even with proper nutrition. Mushy stools containing undigested food particles may have a foamy consistency with an unpleasant odor. The patient may lose weight very sharply. This type of pancreatitis in some cases leads to the development of diabetes mellitus.
Acute pancreatitis most often treated , because...
with severe pain, loss of consciousness or shock may develop. Chronic pancreatitis requires long-term complex treatment and medical supervision.
List of permitted products:
| Cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, semolina) | The cereal must be boiled in water, followed by the addition of milk and a small amount of butter. |
| vegetables | Vegetables can be consumed as first courses (vegetable soups, puree soup) or in the form of chopped boiled pieces. Allowed fruits include potatoes, carrots, green peas, zucchini, pumpkin, beets and cauliflower. |
| fruits | Raw fruits should not be eaten. You can eat fruit jams, marshmallows, baked apples, compotes, and jelly. |
| meat | You can eat lean meats: beef, veal, rabbit and chicken. The meat is steamed and prepared in the form of soufflés or minced meat cutlets. |
| fish | Steamed white river fish is allowed in the food. |
| egg | Allows you to prepare a steam omelet from 1 chicken egg or 3 quail eggs. |
| Dairy | Dairy products should have minimal fat content |
| bread | You can eat a small amount of wheat bread 2-3 days old |
Factors of occurrence and symptoms of pancreatitis
The course of pancreatitis is characterized by constant relapses, which occur due to the release of insufficient amounts of hormones and enzymes. The point is not even in constant relapses, but in the fact that with each subsequent one the condition worsens. The tissues are gradually destroyed, which subsequently threatens serious health problems.
It is very important to remember that inflammation of the pancreas can indicate the independence of the disease, or be a manifestation of other pathologies (liver cirrhosis, alcohol intoxication or atherosclerosis).
List of fully or partially restricted products:
| Dates, grapes, bananas | Causes bloating |
| Mushrooms, legumes, white cabbage | Contains coarse fiber |
| Smoked, salted, fast food, products containing preservatives and dyes | Irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract |
| By-products (liver, tongue, heart, kidneys, etc.) | Contains a lot of cholesterol |
| Any fried or fatty foods | Lead to exacerbation of the disease |
| High fat dairy products | High risk of exacerbation or complication of the disease |
Acute inflammation and exacerbation of chronic: diet
Symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas are pronounced. The first thing a person experiences is an acute pain attack, which can be localized in both the right and left hypochondrium, depending on which part of the organ is affected by inflammation. In this case, the painful syndrome always has a shingles character. It covers not only the hypochondrium area, but also almost the entire abdominal cavity and can radiate to the shoulder blades, lower back and sternum. The pain simply constrains the patient, and every movement causes it to intensify even more.
When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the overall clinical picture may be supplemented by:
- increased temperature;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- chills;
- weakness;
- paleness of the skin, etc.
In case of acute pancreatitis and exacerbation of a chronic patient, it is necessary to immediately hospitalize, since only qualified medical care will prevent the processes of self-digestion in the pancreas and relieve pain. In this case, exclusively drug therapy is used, with all drugs administered either intravenously or intramuscularly.
Diet also plays an important role in the treatment of acute or exacerbated chronic inflammation. And speaking of what you can eat in this case, the answer is simple - nothing. The patient will need to fast for several days, as this is the only way he can reduce the secretion of digestive enzymes and reduce inflammatory processes.
Following a fasting diet during an acute attack is a key point of therapy
All that is allowed when an acute attack occurs is to drink still mineral water in very small quantities and at regular intervals. The patient is allowed to eat for the first time only when the doctors manage to completely stop the attack. As a rule, this happens within 2-3 days.
In this case, all dishes should be served only warm and pureed. During this period you are allowed to consume:
- mashed potatoes prepared in water without the use of milk or butter;
- porridge with water;
- jelly;
- compotes;
- crackers.
The patient will have to adhere to this diet for about 2-3 weeks. And only after all signs of acute inflammation of the pancreas disappear, the following are added to the diet:
- fish and lean meat;
- fermented milk and dairy products;
- milk soups and porridges;
- vegetable and fruit juices;
- dried bread.
Compliance with a strict diet should occur not only in a hospital setting, but also after discharge
You need to switch to a “normal” diet gradually and only 8-10 weeks after inflammation. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to certain restrictions and rules that will prevent the recurrence of an attack. And now you will find out what diet is prescribed for patients with pancreatitis.
Proper nutrition
The doctor offers a sample menu for pancreatitis to the patient when he prescribes diet number 5p. You can read more about it here. A healthy diet for pancreatitis should include the following foods:
- vegetables – consumed in the form of puree. The patient is given cucumbers, tomatoes (including tomato juice), potatoes, carrots, broccoli, green peas and other foods that do not have a damaging effect on the pancreas. Vegetable casseroles and soups without adding meat are useful for treatment. As for white cabbage, it is given only in stewed form;
- fruits – shows all the fruits that were discussed earlier in this article. During an exacerbation, it is also better to give them to the patient in the form of a puree;
- meat - only lean types of this product are allowed, for example, veal, chicken, rabbit, turkey meat. They can be given to patients only in boiled form - soup with meatballs, steamed cutlets, soufflé, etc.;
- chicken eggs - no more than two eggs per week are allowed. At the same time, they must be cooked soft-boiled;
- porridge - these dishes form the basis of diet therapy for pancreatitis. The use of oatmeal, semolina, buckwheat or rice porridge is recommended. They are the easiest to digest and do not exacerbate the disease;
- bread - only white. Black is not on the list of permitted products, as it enhances the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and increases the load on the gland.
Diet therapy is the main component of the treatment of pancreatic inflammation. Knowing what foods you can eat during pancreatitis and what you cannot eat, together with the use of medications, you can achieve stable remission. You should carefully follow the doctor’s recommendations, since if the regimen is violated, the disease may re-develop.
Menu for the week
When creating a menu, it is advisable to diversify the daily set of products as much as possible so that a patient with pancreatitis does not experience a lack of individual nutrients. To do this, it is advisable to use products from different groups daily, prepare them in different ways and combine them in different ways. See below for an example of such a menu for the week.
Menu for Monday
Breakfast - liquid semolina porridge with milk diluted with water, weakly brewed tea.
Second breakfast - mashed cottage cheese, a slice of dried bread with a spoonful of fruit jelly, rosehip infusion.
Lunch - creamy pumpkin soup with cream, minced sirloin cutlet, tea.
Afternoon snack - protein omelet with a spoonful of sour cream, compote.
Dinner - carrot puree with cream, meatballs, tea with milk.
Before bed - a glass of acidophilus.
Menu for Tuesday
Breakfast - pureed rice porridge with butter, tea.
Second breakfast - jelly, biscuits.
Lunch - soup with pureed vegetables, meatballs with pureed buckwheat porridge, compote.
Afternoon snack - fruit soufflé, rosehip infusion.
Dinner - fish cutlet, mashed potatoes, tea.
Before going to bed - pureed cottage cheese.
Menu for Wednesday
Breakfast - oatmeal porridge with milk, compote.
Second breakfast - soft-boiled egg, pumpkin juice.
Lunch - cream soup of vegetables, meat soufflé, jelly.
Afternoon snack - cottage cheese casserole, rosehip infusion.
Dinner - minced meat roll with vegetables, tea with milk.
Before bed - yogurt.
Menu for Thursday
Breakfast - boiled egg, dried bread with a spoonful of jam, tea
Second breakfast - baked apple, dried fruit compote.
Lunch - soup with vegetables, baked vegetables, a piece of boiled rabbit fillet, tea with milk.
Afternoon snack - fruit and berry jelly, tea.
Dinner - boiled fish, puree of any vegetables, compote.
Before bed - kefir.
Menu for Friday
Breakfast - oatmeal porridge with water, meat soufflé, tea with milk.
Second breakfast - rice pudding, carrot juice.
Lunch - vegetable soup, minced fish roll with stewed vegetables, tea.
Afternoon snack - white omelette, compote.
Dinner - zucchini casserole, quenelles, tea.
Before going to bed - rosehip infusion, marmalade.
Menu for Saturday
Breakfast - omelet with milk, toast with a piece of mild cheese, tea.
Second breakfast - pumpkin puree, compote.
Lunch - soup with rice and vegetables, steamed cutlets with rolled oats porridge, tea with milk.
Afternoon snack - fruit mousse, biscuits, rosehip infusion.
Dinner - buckwheat porridge, meatballs, fruit juice diluted with water.
Before bed - cottage cheese with a spoonful of jam.
Recipes
We offer you several recipes for dishes that can be prepared with diagnosed pancreatitis.
Beef pudding
Grind the boiled beef pulp (130 g) in a blender bowl. Add semolina (10 g), beaten egg white, yolk and a little water (about 1/3 cup) to the puree. Add a few salt crystals. Grease the mold with oil, lay out the prepared minced meat and cook in a double boiler.
Fish quenelles
Grind lean fish (300 g) in a meat grinder. Grind a quarter of the dried loaf and pour milk (100 ml) into the pieces. Squeeze out the bread and mix it with the minced meat, add a couple of beaten egg whites. Add salt and mix thoroughly. Using two spoons, form small balls and boil them in salted water until tender. This will take approximately 15 minutes.
Vegetable puree soup
Boil potatoes (2 pieces), carrots and half a small zucchini until fully cooked. Pour the broth into a separate bowl and puree the vegetables using a blender. Pour broth into the puree to the desired consistency and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes. Serve warm, adding a spoonful of sour cream to the soup.
Fish pudding
The fish carcass must be divided into two fillets. Boil the first and rub through a sieve. Grind the second part in a meat grinder. Combine both masses, add egg yolks, butter, salt. Knead. Divide into portioned molds and steam.
Chicken soufflé
Grind the boiled chicken meat in a meat grinder. Add egg yolks and butter to the minced meat. Mix the mass thoroughly. Then carefully add the whipped whites into a fluffy foam. Pour the mixture into a mold and steam.
Banana dessert
Dissolve 2 packs of gelatin according to the instructions. Add 250 ml of natural yogurt from it. Steam some bananas and peeled peaches. Place foil on the bottom of a plastic pan. Form the dessert in layers - biscuit crumbs, yogurt cream with gelatin, banana-peach puree. Alternate layers. Place the sweet in the refrigerator for the jelly to harden.
Compliance with the principles of dietary nutrition for pancreatitis is a prerequisite for achieving stable and long-term remission. The menu for patients with pancreatitis in adults and children, with the proper approach to development, can be quite varied and fully satisfy all the needs of the body.
Fruits
As for fruits, it is undesirable to eat fruits that contain a large amount of acids. For this reason, the diet for pancreatitis of the pancreas excludes the consumption of sour apples. The acid contained in them has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and contributes to increased inflammatory processes in the gland.
Prohibited vegetables for pancreatitis
It is also important to consider the presence of coarse fiber in the fruit pulp. This is especially true during periods of exacerbation of the disease. During remission, it is allowed to consume a small amount of such fruits - you can eat one fruit per day. It is forbidden to eat pears, as they contain coarse granules that are difficult to digest. You can read more about these products here.
Table with a list of fruits that are allowed for pancreatitis and that are contraindicated in any case:
| Can be consumed | Possible only during remission | Not allowed during any period of illness |
| strawberry; papaya; sweet grapes; watermelon; melon; sweet varieties of apples. | Any fruits, vegetables and nuts, in small quantities after full heat treatment. | pears; citrus; sour apples; plums; peaches; mango; persimmon. |
As for bananas, it is better to avoid eating them both during an exacerbation and in remission of the disease. Nutritionists advise eating strawberries only in chronic forms of the pathology, when there are no pronounced clinical manifestations.
