The pancreas is the gland behind the stomach that secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon and produces digestive enzymes that help digest fats in the intestines properly. When these enzymes act by mistake in the pancreas, the gland becomes inflamed, and pancreatitis occurs, a condition that can be acute or chronic and can lead to health complications.
Pancreatitis can be caused by stones in the gallbladder, excessive alcohol consumption, autoimmune disease, cystic fibrosis, high levels of triglycerides in the blood, and the consumption of some medications. After pancreatitis, it is essential to modify eating habits and eat in a much healthier way so that the pancreas does not work in a forced way. We invite you to continue reading this article by FastlyHealto to learn how the Diet for pancreatitis should be.
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Inflamed pancreas diet
If you were diagnosed with pancreatitis, you might have been hospitalized. You must follow a series of instructions from your doctor, among which the consumption of pain control medications and a soft diet based mainly on clear liquids, such as chicken broth, stand out. Or gelatin for at least two weeks or until your symptoms improve.
Once you have completed the liquid Diet, nutritional care should not end; it is essential to start consuming solid food progressively and recognize which foods are allowed after pancreatitis and which are not. You must follow the following recommendations :
- Do not consume more than 30 grams of fat a day.
- Eat small portions of food.
- Eat at least six times a day.
- Eat foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins but low in fat.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages.
When the pancreas compromises its function after pancreatitis, it may be necessary for the person to consume digestive enzyme capsules to process the fats. If so, the enzymes should permanently be destroyed with meals, and the number of needed pills will be indicated by the medical specialist.
In the following FastlyHealarticles, you can find the differences between chronic pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis.
Forbidden foods after pancreatitis
Diet plays a fundamental role during recovery from pancreatitis and in the well-being of the pancreas. It is recommended that people with this condition go to a nutritionist to teach them how to eat healthily and identify which foods harm their pancreas. The foods prohibited in the Diet for pancreatitis are:
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Caffeine.
- Chocolate.
- Foods with excessive amounts of carbohydrates.
- Fried or greasy foods.
- Pastries.
- Sweet cookies.
- Fizzy drinks
- Raw food.
- Cow milk.
- Strong seasonings like curry.
- Fast food.
- Butter and cheeses.
- Egg yolk.
- Fatty meats: sausages, cold cuts, hamburgers, ham.
- Bluefish and shellfish.
- Mayonnaise, aioli, ketchup.
- Avocado or avocado, olives, and nuts.
- All kinds of oils.
Foods allowed in the Diet for pancreatitis
Recommended foods
- Bread and cereals: I prefer those made from whole grains, such as bread and brown rice since they offer a large amount of selenium and magnesium. It is recommended to consume 1/2 cup a day of rice or whole wheat pasta and 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereals.
- Vegetables: They are fat-free and contain many antioxidants that help improve pancreatitis. They are also rich in vitamins, folic acid, and potassium. It is advisable to eat at least three servings of different vegetables a day. An alternative is to take them in creams.
- Fruits: Two small servings of fruits a day is more than enough. You can eat them grated, in compote, or raw, but avoid consuming them in juice since they provide more sugar.
- Proteins: The iron and zinc that proteins offer should not be lacking in the diet for pancreatitis. He prefers those that are lean meats like chicken and turkey without skin. Fat-free meats and whitefish are also valid. Chickpeas are a type of legume that offers a large amount of iron and zinc.
Allowed foods
- Cereals such as rice, oats, millet, and corn. They are easy to digest.
- Bread, as long as it is well tolerated.
- Vegetables and tubers include potato, tapioca, sweet potato, zucchini, onion, and carrot.
- Spinach, pumpkin, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, cauliflower, asparagus, chard, and broccoli are also allowed.
- Low-fat cheeses such as cottage, ricotta, and mozzarella.
- Legumes such as chickpeas should be consumed in small quantities.
- Fruits, when cooked in the oven, are easier to digest. We recommend cherries, apples, kiwi, peaches, papaya, cantaloupe, plums, and bananas.
- Dishes should be cooked with few spices; thyme and cumin are well tolerated.
Menus for acute pancreatitis
Once you know what the nutritional care is necessary to take care of the pancreas after pancreatitis and ensure lighter digestions, we offer you an example of what a menu for pancreatitis should look like:
Breakfast options
- One cup of papaya with low-fat cheese can be a cottage—a whole-grain cookie with defatted turkey.
- One omelet with one egg and vegetables such as mushrooms, tomato, and pepper. A slice of bread. One orange juice
- Oatmeal pancakes with maple syrup and 1 cup of cherries. One game glass.
- One package of soda crackers with turkey and fat-free cheese. One glass of juice and one gelatin.
- Whole-grain cereal with a cup of skim milk. 1 cup of banana.
- Whole wheat toast with unsweetened jam. Fat-free cheese. One glass of papaya juice.
Lunch options
- One cup of whole-wheat pasta with skinless chicken in tomato sauce. One small plate of vegetables and steamed vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots, and broccoli.
- Chicken broth with vegetables. One grilled chicken Milanese with 1 cup of green watercress, tomato, arugula, and cucumber salad garnished with vinegar, pepper, and lemon.
- One serving of baked white fish with asparagus.
- 1 cup of lentils. One grilled chicken breast, with 1/2 cup of rice and potato and carrot salad garnished with onion and sweet mustard.
- One serving of grilled lean tenderloin. One baked potato and 1 cup of grilled vegetables such as bell pepper, onion, and banana.
Dinner options
- Chicken soup with vegetables and noodles.
- Green salad of lettuce, watercress, arugula, mushrooms, peppers, tomato, onion, and tangerines. I garnished it with balsamic vinegar, a saccharin envelope, and a little mustard.
- Two whole-wheat tortillas with chicken sautéed with vegetables. Tomato, onion, and parsley salad garnished with lemon.
- One cup of ceviche with vegetables. 1 package of a soda crackers.
- One baked chicken breast and 1 cup of baked vegetables.
Snack options
- Fruit salad.
- Low-fat yogurt with fruits.
- Sorbet with yogurt.
- Oatmeal Cookies.
- Protein shake.
- Low-fat cereal bar.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Diet for pancreatitis, we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.