Pancreatitis is an 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 the diet, cravings for spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled medication - all of these factors cause the development of pancreatitis.
In this article we will tell you how to recognize pancreatitis and what diet patients should follow.
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 with severe pain in the area of the upper abdomen. Pain syndrome occurs when you eat something fatty or drink alcohol. Begins nausea and vomiting, stool problems.
In chronic pancreatitis, the pain is located at the top of the peritoneum, radiating to the back, the left side of the chest, the lower abdomen. Discomfort is also observed after consuming fatty, heavy foods, alcohol, as well as against a background of frequent stress.
Signs of acute pancreatitis:
- Intense persistent pain around.
- Increased body temperature.
- Increase in blood pressure.
- Pale or yellow skin.
- Heavy vomiting, not soothing.
- Constipation, flatulence, salivation.
Signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- Abdominal pain after eating. Local or circular, extending backwards.
- The heat causes stomach pain, while the cold relieves.
- The patient takes a forced position - the knee-elbow position or a sitting position with forward bending.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
- Weight loss.
It does not 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.
Which diet is suitable for pancreatitis?
To prevent exacerbations of pancreatitis, the following dietary modifications are recommended:
- Meals 4-5 times a day with an even distribution of fat-containing foods in the diet.
- denial of overeating.
- balanced nutrition;
- reduction of saturated fats and cholesterol.
- the inclusion in the diet of a sufficient amount of a variety of fiber - cereals, vegetables and fruits.
- eating a variety of foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol (unprocessed vegetable fats are somewhat limited to overweight people only).
Which products are allowed
It is a mistake to think that patients with pancreatitis are "deprived" of tasty and varied foods. In fact, the list of permitted foods is quite extensive.
So you can eat:
- Dry white bread, cookies.
- Vegetable soups with noodles, semolina, oatmeal.
- Lean meats.
- Lean fish, aspic.
- Porridge (buckwheat (puree), oatmeal, semolina, rice).
- Cottage cheese, cereal puddings and pots.
- Fermented milk and milk products not more than 2% fat.
- Eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Ripe and non-acidic varieties of fruits and berries.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Weak tea, non-mineral water, rose broth, juices diluted with water in a ratio of 50 to 50).
The food must be wiped, boiled, steamed. You can not eat hot or cold food. The optimum temperature is 30-50 ° C. Do not eat too much, eat in fractions.
Which foods should be discarded?
An exacerbation occurs when eating and eating disorders are disturbed:
- fatty, fried foods,
- hot spices,
- large number of raw vegetables, fruits,
- muffins and sweets (cakes, pies, pastries),
- alcohol,
- fizzy drinks,
- whole milk
Sample menu for patients with pancreatitis
- breakfast: Milk porridge / milk soup with noodles / boiled noodles. Tea with milk. Dry bread.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, boiled rice / mashed potatoes, boiled fish / meat. Tea.
- Afternoon snack: Casserole for cheese, jelly / jelly.
- Dinner: vegetable salad with olive oil, boiled meat / fish, jelly.
They need snacks. Eat baked apples, low-fat cottage cheese, cookies between meals.
Note that medication and diet are equally important. Nutritional therapy restores the pancreas to normal, avoiding the outbreak of the disease. In this case, do not self-medicate! If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, see your doctor.