Pancreatitis diet: rules, menu, list of products

Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, is a dangerous disease that can significantly worsen a person's quality of life. An important component of the correct treatment of this unpleasant disease is considered proper nutrition, which has a beneficial effect on the function of the organ. What should be the diet for pancreatitis - read our material.Don’t self-medicate! Our articles collect the latest scientific data and opinions from leading experts in the field of health. But remember: Only a doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. We want to help those who face pancreatic diseases (by the way, pancreatitis ranks third in "prevalence" among office workers and former students), so in this article we have collected information about pancreatitis and cholecystitis dietBasic advice. We've also prepared a sample menu and some helpful recipes. Read it, it will be useful!

What is pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which is involved in the digestive process and regulates metabolism. It is a "two-in-one" organ with a complex structure: most of the glands secrete the enzymes needed to digest food into the intestines, and the so-called "islets" are the endocrine organs that produce the hormone insulin.When the pancreas becomes inflamed, enzymes in the duodenum stop being released. As a result, these aggressive substances become activated in the gland itself and begin to destroy it - a process often called autodigestion. This releases toxins that travel through the bloodstream to other organs and can damage them. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic.

acute pancreatic inflammation

Acute pancreatitis is a dangerous illness that requires immediate treatment, usually in a hospital. It's most commonly caused by alcohol abuse or gallstone disease (when stones block the bile ducts). The disease is characterized by severe pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes radiating to the back; nausea; vomiting; and general worsening of the condition.

chronic pancreatitis

With chronic inflammation of the pancreas, the organ is gradually destroyed. The main causes of the disease are alcohol consumption and smoking. The most typical manifestation is abdominal pain, which usually occurs after eating. Lack of digestive secretions from the pancreas can lead to indigestion of food, gas and bloating. Appetite is usually lost and weight loss may occur.

symptoms of pancreatitis

The main symptom of acute and chronic pancreatic inflammation is upper abdominal pain. The pain is often excruciating. In the chronic form, stomach heaviness, nausea, and bowel disturbances are often observed. An unpleasant feeling leads to suspicion of pancreatitis, which is then confirmed through tests and other studies.

Why does pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) require a diet?

Diet for adults with pancreatitis is designed to reduce the load on the affected organ, allowing it to recover. In acute pancreatitis, it is also important to reduce the synthesis of enzymes to stop the destructive process of the gland.

Dietary principles for pancreatitis

• Avoid any foods that stimulate enzyme production - smoked, spicy, pickled, fried.
• Food should be lukewarm (neither cold nor hot) and mushy.
• Meals should be piecemeal and portions should be small.
• The focus of the diet is on protein products - up to 200 grams of protein products should be consumed per day. But the intake of fats and carbohydrates is very limited.
• The amount of salt used is reduced to 3-5 grams; food is not salted during cooking.
• Raw food is not included. You cannot eat fresh vegetables and fruits, only boiled or roasted ones.
• Eat carbohydrates in moderation, but limit sugary foods.

What should you pay attention to in your diet for acute pancreatitis?

The diet for acute pancreatitis is as strict as possible: the menu for the first day does not include food at all, only water. After a few days, you can eat small amounts of liquid food - vegetable soups and purees, porridge, mucus decoctions, liquid purees. You can gradually expand the range of dishes using permitted products.

Chronic pancreatitis diet

The dietary menu for chronic pancreatitis is relatively diverse, but it is recommended to adhere to it for a long time, at least six months. It is believed that during this time, not only the condition of the pancreas improves, but the patient also abstains from various harmful foods, such as fried, smoked and pickled foods.Traditionally, for chronic pancreatitis, the "Table No. 5p" diet has been prescribed. The diet chart system was developed in the 1920s, and although it has now been abandoned, many doctors still recommend following the principles of this type of diet.The "Table 5" diet is used in the treatment of pancreatitis and cholecystitis, but especially for the recovery of the pancreas, a special version of this diet - "Table 5p" - is recommended. It is characterized not only by a reduction in the fat content of the diet, but also by a restriction of carbohydrate intake. You need to consume a lot of protein: Protein is necessary for rapid recovery of pancreatic tissue.The diet in exacerbation of pancreatitis is more restrictive; it is formed in the image and similarity of the diet recommended for acute forms of the disease. Pureeing foods, portioning meals, and avoiding salt and spices will help you cope with the illness faster.

What to eat if you have pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

So it’s time to figure out what you can eat in your pancreatitis diet to recover quickly and avoid painful episodes. Let us remind you that the list of permitted products differs depending on the stage of the disease. During exacerbations, it is recommended to fast and eat very limited foods, but during remissions more food is allowed. Low-fat cottage cheese plays an important role in the diet of patients with pancreatitis.

• Lean meat (veal, chicken, turkey, rabbit or even lean pork are suitable);
• Lean fish (pike, cod, flounder, cod);
• Low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat mild cheese;
• Eggs in the form of steamed omelets made with whites (no more than one yolk per day);
• low-fat fermented dairy products;
• Milk – only low-fat milk if tolerated;
• Cereals (semolina, rice, oatmeal, buckwheat);
• Stale bread, inedible biscuits;
• spaghetti;
• boiled or roasted vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots, zucchini, squash);
• Boiled or baked sweet fruits (apples, bananas, pears);
• dried fruit;
• Jellies, jams, honey, jellies - in small amounts.

The list of foods that can be eaten in the pancreatitis diet is not so short: if you want, you can easily do without violating the rules and eat only permitted foods for a long time. It’s worth considering that these recommendations were made 100 years ago and since then, many new products have emerged. If they contain a lot of protein and a little fat, such as boiled squid, they can be added to the menu with caution.

What not to eat in the diet for pancreatitis

The pancreatitis diet has strict restrictions on the menu, but only if it is strictly followed can the condition be improved. The following foods should not be included in the pancreatitis diet menu5:

• Legumes (the only exception is green beans in moderation, boiled or stewed);
• Onions, garlic, radish, turnips, peppers and other spicy vegetables;
• Spinach, sorrel, fresh herbs;
• all types of cabbage;
• mushroom;
• sour fruits;
• marinades and pickles;
• Carbonated drinks and packaged juices (it’s also best not to drink fresh juices);
• Alcohol;
• coffee and cocoa;
• Prepared sauces, mayonnaise;
• fast food;
• fresh bread, baked goods;
• any confectionery product;
• ice cream;
• fatty meat and fish;
• sausages and delicacies;
• caviar;
• canned food;
• bacon;
• Meat, fish, mushroom soup.

As pancreatitis worsens, the diet becomes more restrictive, and even foods that were safe to include in the diet during remission may be placed on the banned foods list. This is where you need to take your doctor's advice.

Diet for chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): sample menu for the week

We propose an approximate diet for a week with chronic pancreatitis. This is not dogma, just a guide for those who want to restore their pancreas through proper nutrition.

on Monday

• Breakfast: a sandwich made of day-old bread and low-fat cheese, a bowl of porridge with water or diluted milk.
• Second breakfast: A serving of low-fat cottage cheese and dried fruit.
• Lunch: vegetable soup, steamed steak with mashed potatoes and a pat of butter.
• Afternoon snack: baked apple.
• Dinner: Cook lean fish, no steamed vegetables.

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with water
• Second breakfast: baked sweet apple puree
• Lunch: Vegetable cream soup, steamed chicken breast; berry jelly.
• Afternoon snack: low-fat yogurt.
• Dinner: Steamed omelette with vegetables.

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Cheese Casserole with Dried Fruit
• Second breakfast: banana
• Lunch: rice and vegetable soup; steamed rabbit meatballs, candied fruit.
• Afternoon snack: apple jelly, cookies.
• Dinner: Steamed fish, pureed vegetables.

Thursday

• Breakfast: porridge, boiled eggs.
• Second breakfast: yogurt, baked apple.
• Lunch: Soup with pasta; fish balls with vegetable puree.
• Afternoon snack: Low-fat cheese sandwich.
• Dinner: Lazy cheese dumplings, a splash of sour cream.

Friday

• Breakfast: cheese with a spoonful of honey or jam.
• Second breakfast: steamed egg white omelette.
• Lunch: mashed potato soup, roast beef, steamed vegetables, jelly.
• Afternoon snack: dried fruit preserves.
• Dinner: lean fish meatballs, rice.

Saturday

• Breakfast: semolina porridge, boiled eggs
• Second breakfast: yogurt.
• Lunch: fish soup with rice, stewed rabbit with potatoes, and candied fruits.
• Afternoon snack: Cheese Casserole.
• Dinner: cheese sandwich, steamed egg white omelette.

Sunday

• Breakfast: buckwheat porridge.
• Second breakfast: baked apples.
• Lunch: Pumpkin cream soup, steamed steak, pasta.
• Afternoon snack: jelly, biscuits.
• Dinner: cheese, boiled vegetables.

Pancreas Diet: Recipes

Although the range of products is limited, diets for the treatment of pancreatitis are diverse. We provide some inspiration ideas.raw material:

• bagged rice;
• Potato;
• carrot;
• pumpkin;
• Salt.

Preparation: Cook the Rice Water – Place the rice in a pot, add plenty of water and cook, then remove the bag. Grate the carrots, chop the remaining vegetables, put everything in a pot with rice water, add the rice and cook until the vegetables are ready. Add salt, stir and turn off the heat. If necessary, grind everything in a blender.

Fish meatballs

• Lean fish fillets;
• white cookies;
• milk;
• protein;
• Salt.

Preparation: Grind the fish in a meat grinder, soak the biscuits in milk, pass through the meat grinder, and mix with the minced fish. Beat the egg whites until frothy, add to the minced meat, add salt and mix well. Shape the resulting minced meat into round meatballs. They are then boiled or steamed.

Pumpkin Puree Soup with Oatmeal

raw material:

• pumpkin;
• Potato;
• Heracles;
• cream;
• A little oil, for stewing.

Preparation: Cut the pumpkin and potatoes into cubes, place in a deep bowl, add a small amount of oil and cook over low heat, making sure not to burn. Add salt, add oatmeal, add water, stir, and cook over low heat until the oatmeal is cooked. Pass the contents of the pan through a blender, return to the pan, add the cream and cook for a few more minutes. Can be served with bread crumbs.According to reviews, following a pancreatitis diet is not easy, at least during the puree phase, but with its help you can achieve truly stable remission. Patients noted that the diet made them feel better.

The effect of dietary therapy in treating chronic pancreatitis

If you have chronic pancreatitis, the diet is prescribed not for a week or a month, but for at least six months. More commonly, it is recommended to limit one's intake of harmful foods throughout life to avoid worsening the condition.Along with other treatments, a pancreatic diet has a beneficial effect on the organ and promotes its rapid recovery. The longer you go without exacerbations, the more boldly you can expand your pancreatitis diet to include all new products.In some cases, with prompt treatment and diet, the pancreas can fully recover and you can then return to your usual eating pattern after treatment is completed. However, even if you fully recover, you still have to give up unhealthy habits and choose PP tableware.The number of different diets is impossible to count. Some of them are prescribed for therapeutic purposes and some are aimed at weight loss. Human nutrition affects its health like any other organism, since the composition of food and the saturation of essential vitamins and trace elements determine the possibility of normal physiological functions. Any restriction in ingredients and quantities inevitably affects our bodies. Each disease has its own mechanism of occurrence, and the corresponding nutrition should also be different.A pancreatitis diet is designed to reduce inflammation of the pancreas. The sooner you start following it, the better results you can expect. Fasting can be used in the acute phase, but generally it should not exceed two to three days. After that, the introduction of maximum fat restriction foods was smooth sailing. Suitable lean and skinless poultry varieties (veal, lean beef, chicken, rabbit, turkey, etc. ). For decoration you can use buckwheat, barley, mashed potatoes, stewed vegetables. Fried, spicy, salty foods, baked goods, refractory fats (mutton, pork, goose, duck, fatty beef, poultry skins, margarine, mayonnaise) may cause new aggravations.The condition will improve with additional enzyme therapy. Microsphere and microtablet formulations are more effective. The usual dose is about 25, 000 units. The above diet has a right to exist, but it can only be followed for a short period of time if its use is reasonable. Stable pancreatitis indicates a planned and gradual expansion of the diet.