What diet should be followed for pancreatitis?

diet for pancreatitis

Every third person suffers from inflammation of the pancreas, but not everyone realizes the need for a diet for pancreatitis.

Before talking about diet, it is important to understand what pancreatitis is, why it occurs and how it occurs.

What is pancreatitis?

Before starting the study of this disease, it is necessary to know more about the organ where the lesion occurs. The pancreas is a hormonal organ with mixed function (exocrine + endocrine).

Endocrine function is expressed in the production of its own hormones (glucagon and insulin), whose activity is aimed at regulating blood glucose levels.

The exocrine function consists in the production of pancreatic secretions (pancreatic juice), which improve digestion. The organ itself is located behind the stomach in the left hypochondrium.

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in the pancreas associated with further damage to its structure.

Causes of pancreatitis:

  1. Alcohol abuse.
  2. Inaccuracy in diet, wrong diet.
  3. Diseases associated with damage to the biliary system of the liver (includes the gallbladder with the bile ducts extending from it). Such diseases include: cholelithiasis, cholangitis, tumors of the large duodenal papilla, tumors of the gates of the liver).
  4. Taking certain drugs that have a toxic effect on the pancreas (antibacterial drugs, anticancer drugs).

Symptoms of acute and chronic pancreatitis

Chronic and acute pancreatitis are distinguished. Each of these forms has some kind of clinical treatment and requires the selection of individual therapy.

how pancreatitis manifests itself

The acute form of pancreatitis is characterized by:

  • Sharp pain in the girdle in the upper half of the body. Pain can be associated with ingested food and also occurs on its own;
  • Increased body temperature to febrile figures (38, 1-39, 0 degrees Celsius);
  • Vomiting of ingested food, sometimes bile (when the onset of the disease depends on damage to the biliary system of the liver)
  • Nausea resulting in vomiting;
  • Diarrhea (loose stools);
  • Belching of undigested food eaten;
  • Elevated blood glucose numbers;
  • On palpation (sensation) of the abdomen - the anterior abdominal wall is tense, painful in specialized places, typical for the study of pancreatitis and gallbladder diseases.

Important!If these symptoms are found, you should immediately go to the doctor for further instrumental examination!

The chronic form of pancreatitis is characterized by:

  • Pain in the epigastric area (stomach). Heaviness in the left hypochondrium (left side). Acute pain in the girdle most often occurs with exacerbation of the chronic form of pancreatitis and occurs 40-50 minutes after eating;
  • Dyspeptic disorders (associated with damage to the digestive system). These include: vomiting, after eating, constipation followed by diarrhea (complaints of white spots in the stool are possible - these are undigested fat particles and products of its decomposition;
  • Vertigo, occurs due to irritation of the nervous system by non-neutralized glucose molecules;
  • Flatulence (gas in the stomach);
  • Significant weight loss.

Complications of pancreatitis

Complications of pancreatitis resulting from improper treatment or improper implementation:

  • Transition from acute to chronic;
  • Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis);
  • If a secondary infection penetrates the inflamed organ, abscesses (limited purulent inflammation) and phlegmon (diffuse purulent inflammation) may occur;
  • Diabetes mellitus - occurs when the smaller structures of the pancreas (islets of Langerhans) are affected;
  • Bleeding;
  • Peritonitis (the transition of the inflammatory process from the pancreas to the abdominal cavity);
  • Bleeding: occurs when the organ capsule ruptures (extremely rare).

The five main principles of pancreatitis treatment

To avoid complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor promptly and flawlessly follow his recommendations.

general principles of the treatment of pancreatitis

Therapy for acute pancreatitis of the pancreas involves the following principles:

  1. Detoxification therapy (getting rid of the body from poisoning);
  2. Neutralization of excess free glucose in the body;
  3. Removal of inflammation from the pancreas;
  4. Prevention of complications;
  5. Symptom relief.

When a patient with an acute form of pancreatitis is hospitalized, first of all, all therapeutic measures are aimed at removing intoxication (poisoning) of the body.

  1. The patient should receive droppers with 5% glucose solution together with 0. 9% sodium chloride solution in a volume of 1000-1200 ml;
  2. A "hungry" diet is prescribed (it is only allowed to drink plenty to rid the body of excess toxins and free glucose);
  3. Diuretics should be prescribed to reduce the circulating blood supply and remove toxins from the body;
  4. Protease inhibitors which reduce the increase in exocrine activity of the pancreas.

After the removal of the intoxication syndrome, additional medical measures are taken to combat this disease. For any form of pancreatitis, the diet is always recommended.

Interesting!In the form of acute pancreatitis and in exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, three main components are prescribed first of all: Cold, Hunger and Rest.

Cold: An ice pack, wrapped in a non-synthetic fabric, should be applied to the left hypochondrium and held for 40 minutes, then rest for 20 minutes. This procedure slows down the blood supply, causing inflammation to develop.

Diet for pancreatitis

nutritional rules for pancreatitis

Diet is a normalized quantity of food used for therapeutic purposes and necessary to replenish the total daily energy balance.

The diet for pancreatic pancreatitis and its approximate content are different, both in acute and chronic forms.

Hunger. Nutrition for pancreatitis should be fractional. For the first two days he should not eat completely (to drain his digestive system and reduce the inflammatory process in the pancreas).

Patients during this period are advised to use a decoction of chamomile, compotes of dried fruit, jelly, peppermint, rosehip, alkaline mineral waters, special solutions.

Starting from the third day, nutritional therapy for pancreatitis is based on a gentle diet.

Important!It is forbidden to eat too hot, too cold, spicy, spicy, sour, smoked, sweet, fried foods.

Eat food in small portions 7-8 times a day. All products must be well thermally processed, grated in a blender or grated. It is recommended to consume up to 2-2, 5 liters of liquid, it can be freshly squeezed juices, decoctions of wild rose, chamomile, fruit drinks, jelly, compotes, alkaline drinks.

Nutrition for pancreatitis includes certain foods in strictly established doses: wheat crackers no more than 50 g per day (rye crackers, premium bread, fresh bread are prohibited), lean meat (beef, chicken breast, turkey), fish (cod, zander, pike, salmon), eggs (1 piece per day. Quail eggs are very rich in nutrients necessary to replenish the daily ration).

Low-fat dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, fermented cooked milk), the use of biokefir is strictly prohibited, as they contain live bacteria that can cause increased fermentation in the intestines of patients withpancreatitis and fresh milk), vegetables can be eaten all (steamed and boiled), cereals (rice, oatmeal, groats, buckwheat, millet groats), fruits (only green apples are allowed - 1 apple per day, weighing no more than 300 g).

Hint!On average, the amount of calories received from food per day should not exceed 700 - 750 kcal. Such a diet for pancreatitis of the pancreas lasts 3 days. From the 5th day of exacerbation of pancreatitis, the diet should be with the amount of kilocalories consumed per day up to 1000.

To do this, it is necessary to increase the amount of protein consumed up to 10-15 g per day (protein-containing products: cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs, chicken breast), simple carbohydrates up to 200 g (cereals, honey, sugar, potatoes).

An example of a daily menu for a patient with acute pancreatitis, starting on day 5:

  1. Breakfast.Millet porridge (in water), 15g wheat crackers, sweet tea.
  2. Second breakfast.Boiled beets 45 g, grated, chicken breast 50 g, lemon balm broth
  3. Lunch.150 g vegetable broth, 15 g wheat cracker, dried fruit compote
  4. Afternoon snack.Mashed potatoes 50 g, boiled fish 30 g, tea without sugar
  5. Dinner.Low fat cottage cheese casserole 60 g, rosehip broth
  6. Second supper.Skimmed milk with honey.

This diet should be followed for about 7-10 days. Starting from day 10, the number of kilocalories increases to 2000-2500 kcal. Food should completely restore the body's energy balances and not have a negative effect on digestion processes.

Nutrition for chronic pancreatitis

what can and cannot be eaten with pancreatitis

A strict diet is recommended for chronic pancreatitis. Meals should be fractional, small portions throughout the day.

Food should be eaten at a certain time with strictly designated intervals between meals (for example, 7: 00 am, 11: 00 am, 2: 00 pm, 4: 00 pm, 7: 30 pm). Most often, with chronic pancreatitis, diet number 5 should be prescribed. This is a gentle diet prescribed for therapeutic purposes in diseases of the pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver.

The following foods are recommended to maintain energy balance and calorie intake for good body function.

Approximate food ration for therapeutic diet no. 5

Protein food.This is a very energy rich food, when it breaks down a lot of energy is released. Assigns proteins of animal and vegetable origin. Products containing animal proteins include: meat (lean beef, lamb, pork, chicken breast meat, turkey meat), fish (cod meat, lean salmon, zander, red fish, seafood - shrimp, squid), dairy products (low-fat cottage cheese, sour cream, milk, cream, fermented cooked milk, cheese, whey, yogurt.

Important!It is not recommended to eat foods containing live bifidobacteria to avoid decomposition and fermentation in the intestine). The amount of animal protein should not exceed 80 g per day.

Products containing vegetable proteins include: cereals (buckwheat, wheat, pearl barley, lentils, walnuts (walnuts, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds). The amount of vegetable protein should not exceed 100 gper day.

It is not recommended to eat legumes, as they cause fermentation in the body and therefore poorly digested food, which contributes to swelling, the reproduction of pathogenic microflora in the intestinal lumen.

Foods containing fat.The fats must be of animal origin.

Hint!The amount of food containing fat should not exceed 70g per day. It is recommended to add this product only to ready-made products, immediately before consumption (porridge, mashed potatoes).

Foods based on carbohydrates.Carbohydrates should be simple in structure and easily digestible. These products include: sugar, rusks of 1st grade wheat flour, wheat, semolina, potatoes, honey, apples, oranges, mandarins, pears, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, berries. The daily intake of easily digestible carbohydrates should not exceed 350 g.

For chronic pancreatitis, monthly fasting days are recommended. Fasting days - take place 2-3 times a month and are characterized by a complete refusal of food; the use of only alkaline drinks (mineral waters), rosehip broths, chamomile, lemon balm. This method of treatment facilitates the work of the pancreas, improves peristalsis (the process of moving the food lump along the digestive tract) and decreases the acidity of gastric juice.

Recommended meals for patients with chronic diabetes:

cooking rules for pancreatitis
  • soupsit is recommended to use vegetables with the addition of potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, fruit, lean meat broths (chicken, beef, turkey, fish). Broths should not be rich, without the addition of vegetable oil and animal fats;
  • vegetable purees(from potatoes, beets, carrots, broccoli) - the vegetables must be thoroughly thermally processed, without adding milk and butter;
  • main dishes(boiled or steamed chicken breast, turkey meat, fish, beef) with a minimum amount of salt;
  • wholemeal flour pasta is allowed,rusks of first choice soft wheat flour;
  • cereals(buckwheat, barley, pearl barley, millet, oatmeal, oatmeal). Porridge should only be cooked in water, with a minimum amount of salt and sugar. It is strictly forbidden to add butter to porridge;
  • decoctionsrose hips, chamomile, lemon balm, alkaline mineral waters, dried fruit compotes, green tea, tea with milk, fresh juices (apple, carrot, beetroot), skimmed milk;
  • Rusks of first choice wheat flour(we do not recommend using fresh bread and rusks made with premium flour, rye, corn flour)

Interesting!The total daily calorie intake for pancreatitis should be 2000-2670 kcal.

Products whose consumption is strictly prohibited, both in acute and chronic pancreatitis:

  • Beverages containing alcohol;
  • Coffee, strong teas;
  • Fresh wheat and rye bread;
  • Broths of fatty meat (from fatty pulp of beef, pork, lamb);
  • Animal fat (pork and lamb fat);
  • Bananas, grapes, figs;
  • Subcultures (entrails of animals and birds - brain, liver, kidneys);
  • Semolina and rice cereals;
  • Fried and smoked fish, fried flour products;
  • Fatty dairy products, fresh milk;
  • Chocolate, sweets.

With any disease, you should definitely stick to a diet, as it has a beneficial effect on the course of treatment and prevents the development of complications!