Diet is a very important part of pancreatitis treatment because it helps prevent poor absorption of nutrients, reduces symptoms and prevents the risk of malnutrition.
During a pancreatitis attack, there are very important rules:
- The main goal of the pancreatitis diet is to follow a low-fat diet.
- As it slows the functioning of the pancreas and relieves symptoms such as abdominal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- In addition.
- It is also important to control the consumption of foods with high sugar or high glycemic index.
- Since during pancreatitis it is common to notice an increase in the amount of blood sugar.
- See the list of foods with a high glycemic index.
To aid digestion, your doctor may also recommend taking pancreatine in capsule form, which is an enzyme naturally produced by the pancreas and that aids digestion. This medicine should be taken before main meals.
The diet may also vary depending on the type of pancreatitis
During an acute pancreatitis attack when the person feels a lot of pain and cannot properly digest any type of food, the recommendation is that the diet be zero until the seizure improves or up to a maximum of 48 hours, retaining only water consumption during hydration. Thus, the person in crisis cannot eat anything, so the intestine rests and the pancreas recovers.
After the attack of pancreatitis, it is necessary to resume the diet in small amounts, starting with the filtered fruit juices, to remove the bagasse, coconut water and well-diluted vegetable and meat broths, beaten in a blender.
Gradually, food can become pasty, such as soups, mashed potatoes or pumpkin, hard-boiled eggs, shredded chicken, and lean ground meat. Everything should be done with small amounts of fat, preferably using extra virgin olive oil and using only natural spices, such as onion, garlic, basil, parsley, coriander and chives.
As the person tolerates and digests better, solid, low-fat foods such as lean meats, fish, and skinless chicken should be offered. Vegetables should be cooked first, as this facilitates digestion.
The main goals of the diet for chronic pancreatitis are to correct poor absorption of nutrients, prevent loss of fat and muscle mass, stimulate appetite and alleviate symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Therefore, it is common for your doctor to recommend the use of supplements containing vitamins A, D, E and K, which are most affected by malabsorption caused by pancreatitis. In addition, other supplements may also be indicated with a complex of vitamin B, zinc, calcium and magnesium.
People with chronic pancreatitis should also avoid eating very abundant meals, preferring to eat small meals during the day, every 2 to 3 hours, and consume only 40 to 60 grams of fat per day. Sugar-rich foods should also be monitored to help keep the amount of blood sugar well regulated.
Due to different dietary restrictions, it is ideal for people with chronic pancreatitis to consult a nutritionist, who can develop a nutritional plan tailored to individual needs.
After the crisis and at the beginning of the feedback, the following foods should be preferred:
This diet lasts approximately 1 to 2 weeks after the crisis, depending on the acceptance and evolution of each.
To prevent new pancreatitis seizures, the following foods should be avoided:
It is always important to check the label of processed foods, to check if the product contains vegetable fat or hydrogenated fat, excess dyes, preservatives and other additives that irritate the gut and increase inflammation.
The following table shows an example of a 3-day dietary menu for pancreatitis:
In addition to dietary changes, find out how pancreatitis is treated, including medications and surgery.
Watch the video below and discover these and other foods suitable for people with pancreatitis and which supplementation is best in these cases: