Today, perhaps, diseases of the digestive system occupy a leading position among all ailments. Indeed, poor nutrition, regular stress - all this directly affects our body. Some blame the bad environment too. Most often, patients are diagnosed with so-called pancreatitis. In this case, treatment and diet play equal roles in the fight against this very common ailment. However, today not everyone knows how to eat with this disease, which foods should be excluded from the daily diet, and what other issues need special attention. What kind of ailment is this? What is the difference in pancreatitis diet? Probably you can get by with the most common drug therapy? It is about these and many other related issues that we will discuss in this article.
General information
In medicine, pancreatitis is understood as a disease in which successively occurs
inflammation of the pancreas itself. It carries a lot of important functions necessary for the normal functioning of the whole organism. For example, it supplies a large number of various enzymes into the small intestine for the sequential breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. In addition, the
pancreas produces a number of hormones, including insulin and glucagon. With violations in its work, the enzymes do not reach what is called the final point (small intestine) and begin to rapidly activate in the gland itself. In order to avoid this pathology, a special diet for pancreatitis is required, which differs from the usual nutrition of an average person. Otherwise, according to experts, malignant neoplasms, various complications may appear, which can lead to death.
Causes
- alcohol abuse;
- taking certain groups of drugs;
- inflammatory processes in the duodenum;
- lack of proper healthy nutrition;
- metabolic disorders at the hereditary level;
- injuries.
Pancreatitis: Symptoms
The diet recommended by specialists in this disease is primarily aimed at suppressing the main signs of the disease. Below are the main symptoms:
- discomfort and pain in the abdomen;
- frequent bloating;
- nausea, vomiting;
- rapid pulse;
- feeling of heartburn after the next meal;
- fever.
Diagnosis
To confirm the diagnosis, the specialist, most likely, instead of the usual visual examination of the patient will ask for a series of tests. For example, in the presence of a disease, blood will contain approximately three times more lipase and amylase than usual (in a healthy person). The thing is that these are the aforementioned enzymes that are formed directly in the pancreas. In addition, changes in the blood can be observed during analysis for calcium, glucose, sodium, magnesium, potassium. When recovering, these indicators tend to improve. In addition, doctors often prescribe ultrasound and computed tomography, which, in turn, can determine inflammatory processes or disorders in the gland.
Therapy
As already noted above, a pancreatitis diet is prescribed in conjunction with

drug treatment. Let's dwell on the latter in more detail. So, the main drugs, as a rule, are aimed at reducing the secretion of the so-called pancreatic juice and suppressing the level of internal pressure. For these purposes, Sandostatin or Octreotide, as well as Almagel and Maalox, are prescribed. In some cases, with a serious inflammatory process, the doctor may prescribe various antibiotics. Non-steroid drugs, for example, Paracetamol or Diclofenac, are used to relieve pain. With very strong regular pains, drugs such as Drotaverinum or Papaverineum are prescribed intramuscularly. In order for the gland to “rest” somewhat during the course of drug therapy, agents are used to eliminate enzyme deficiency (Creon, Pancreatin, etc.). Note that drug therapy should be used exclusively as directed by a doctor. In no case should self-medicate. So you will not only harm your body, but also significantly change the whole clinical picture, which subsequently will not allow you to competently get rid of the disease.
Nutrition recommendations
First of all, it should be noted that the nutrition for this ailment is called the "table
5 ". The diet for pancreatitis the first three days after the next attack recommends starvation. At this time, you should completely refuse to eat, only water without gas is allowed. Drinks like essentuki No. 4 or Borjomi are considered a good option. The
diet itself
with pancreatitis should not be used earlier than from day 4. The following principles are the basis of such nutrition:
- Any products that enhance acid formation in the stomach itself should be discarded.
- Food is recommended to be taken fractionally, in small portions and often (approximately 5-6 meals per day). It is strictly forbidden to overeat, it is better to stay a little hungry.
- You should not eat foods that provoke the active work of digestive enzymes.
- As for the cooking method, preference should be given to baked in the oven or steamed products (most likely many houses have a double boiler).
- It is better to use such dishes that have minimal mechanical effect on all digestive organs, and are also carefully processed thermally.
- The diet for pancreatitis in the early days recommends wiping the food until it is mashed.
- The diet should be supplemented with a plentiful drink. The thing is that pancreatic diseases, as a rule, are accompanied by various kinds of water-electrolyte disturbances, which, in turn, provokes large losses of water in the body.
- Regarding the issue of chemical composition, the diet should contain a minimum of fats (60-80 g) and carbohydrates.
- Mandatory daily must be present dishes that are characterized by the so-called sokogonny effect (for example, cabbage broth, various broths, etc.).
Allowed Products
- Weak tea with lemon and / or sugar substitute, rosehip decoctions, fruit and berry juices diluted with ordinary water.
- Sour-milk drinks, low-fat cottage cheese, milk, curd puddings.
- Sugar-free stewed fruit compotes.
- Eggs and protein omelets. As for the latter, it is better to cook it in water without adding oil.
- Unsweetened cookies, crackers, wheat bread. The pancreatitis diet recommends bread, as they say, yesterday’s baking.
- Semi-viscous porridge from buckwheat, oat or rice. It is better to cook such a dish in the water. Of the croups listed above, it is also useful to make puddings, casseroles or souffles. In the absence of seizures, pasta is allowed for a long time.
- Low-fat meats (for example, turkey, beef, chicken). Better to steam or boil. Low-fat fish are also allowed.
- Mashed vegetarian soups with pumpkin, carrots, zucchini and cereals. It is allowed to add a small piece of butter to the finished dish.
- Non-acidic ripe berries and fruits.
- Boiled or baked vegetables (potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, green peas, etc.).
- Refined vegetable oils (not more than 15 grams per day).
Prohibited Products
- Coffee, all carbonated and alcoholic drinks.
- Fatty dairy products.
- Puff pastries, cakes, freshly baked wheat bread.
- Fatty varieties of meat and fish, canned food, smoked meats, caviar.
- Legumes and crumbly cereals.
- Soups on meat broth, beetroot soup, okroshka, cabbage soup.
- Spices.
- Some vegetables (white cabbage, radish, eggplant, spinach, sorrel).
- All confectionery, including chocolate, jam.
- Fat.
What is the difference between nutrition in the acute form of the disease?
- With an exacerbation of this disease, the patient is recommended a hunger strike. Note that with a severe attack, even non-carbonated water is excluded. So, during the first four days, only the so-called parenteral nutrition is carried out with the subsequent mandatory transition to the probe administration of the mixtures. In milder cases, when it has already been possible to stop vomiting, the patient is allowed to take fluid from the very first days. This can be both ordinary boiled water at room temperature, and decoctions of rose hips (up to 1.5 liters per day).
- With an improvement in overall well-being in acute pancreatitis, the diet allows nutrition through the mouth. The following dishes should be present in the diet: liquid cereals in milk, mucous soups, jelly based on fruit juices with sweeteners. Nutrition should be as sparing as possible for the digestive system, fractional, room temperature. In acute pancreatitis, this kind of diet, as a rule, lasts no more than seven days.
- With further stabilization of the patient’s condition, the daily diet is gradually expanded, new products are introduced: kefir, compotes, vegetable cereal soups, cottage cheese, puddings, omelettes. All food must be either boiled or cooked using a double boiler. From a mechanical point of view, sparing nutrition is prescribed for at least two months. Only in this way can pancreatitis be overcome.
Diet: menu for the week
Monday:
- Breakfast: oatmeal on the water, tea.
- Second breakfast: pure cottage cheese, rosehip broth.
- Lunch: carrot soup puree on a herculean broth, steam meat with buckwheat porridge, stewed fruit.
- Snack: protein omelet on water.
- Dinner: steam fish roll, tea.
Tuesday:
- Breakfast: regular carrot puree, steam fish, tea.
- Second breakfast: cottage cheese, compote.
- Lunch: vegetable soup, steamed chicken with mashed potatoes.
- Snack: protein omelet.
- Dinner: steamed meatballs, boiled vermicelli.
Wednesday:
- Breakfast: carrot pudding with apples, boiled fish with mashed potatoes.
- Second breakfast: pure cottage cheese, broth from rose hips.
- Lunch: vegetable puree soup, cottage cheese souffle.
- Snack: protein omelet on water.
- Dinner: steamed meatballs, mashed carrots, fruit jelly.
Thursday:
- Breakfast: oatmeal on the water, tea.
- Second breakfast: pure cottage cheese, broth from rose hips.
- Lunch: carrot soup puree on a herculean broth, steam meat with buckwheat porridge, stewed fruit.
- Snack: protein omelet on water.
- Dinner: steam fish roll, tea.
Friday:
- Breakfast: carrot puree, steam fish, tea.
- Second breakfast: cottage cheese, compote.
- Lunch: vegetable soup, steamed chicken with mashed potatoes.
- Snack: protein omelet.
- Dinner: steamed meatballs, boiled vermicelli.
Saturday:
- Breakfast: carrot pudding with apples, boiled fish with mashed potatoes.
- Second breakfast: pure cottage cheese, broth from rose hips.
- Lunch: vegetable puree soup, cottage cheese souffle.
- Snack: protein omelet on water.
- Dinner: steamed meatballs, mashed carrots, fruit jelly.
Sunday:
- Breakfast: rice porridge in milk and water.
- Second breakfast: cottage cheese, compote.
- Lunch: steamed meat patties, mashed oatmeal soup, tea.
- Snack: protein omelet.
- Dinner: cottage cheese pudding, a rosehip broth.
What should be the nutrition for children?
The diet for children with pancreatitis as a whole does not significantly differ from nutrition for adults. Let's look at its main principles below:
- First of all, frequent feeding of the child should be ensured, that is, practicallyaccording to each of his requirements. On the other hand, the servings themselves should be small. The thing is that with this disease the pancreas itself suffers first of all, which simply is not able to digest large amounts of food.
- Another important point is the fact that the dishes should be warm, that is, a temperature of not more than 55 degrees. Too cold or, conversely, hot food can at any time cause another attack of the disease, which is extremely undesirable.
- If a small patient is from three to seven years old, then about 150 grams of cereals or vegetables are allowed to be consumed per day. But the amount of protein food is recommended to increase dramatically. That is why doctors are allowed to serve fish or meat without any side dish. After the next meal, a good option is the use of jelly or a rosehip broth. The thing is that these drinks have a beneficial effect on the entire digestive system.
- It is wiser to include more protein of animal origin in the daily diet, as it not only strengthens the pancreas, but also contributes to the development of enzymes important for the life of the body. Meat should be selected with special care, for example, pork is best left in the store. But beef or veal can be a great lunch for a child.
- Many modern experts strongly recommend literally a couple of weeks after the last attack to begin to expand the usual diet. For example, now you can give cottage cheese for breakfast. It is better to buy a fat-free option, since it is less dangerous for the gland to work. To strengthen the body of the child, experts recommend giving the so-called calcium lactate. It can be purchased at almost every pharmacy. If you purchased the drug in tablets, you can simply crush them and add to the same curd.
- Many mothers are interested in whether it is possible to give soups to a child with this diagnosis. Of course you can. However, it is better to give preference to the vegetarian version, which is prepared not on meat or fish broth, but, for example, on the vegetable one. Such a dish, as a rule, is seasoned with cereals or the most ordinary vegetables. An excellent option is considered and soup cooked on pearl barley. To do this, take a handful of cereals and pour two liters of boiled water. After this, boil the soup over low heat for three hours. After this time, the broth must be drained and cook on it is already a real soup.
- As already noted above, the child’s diet must be consistently expanded, adding, for example, jelly, vegetables or stewed fruit. As for vegetables, with this diagnosis the following are considered the most useful: green peas, zucchini, carrots, beets, potatoes. Experts strongly recommend for some time not to use white cabbage when cooking, since it is very difficult to digest and even irritates the intestines. However, instead of it, you can take a modern alternative - cauliflower. This vegetable is rich in healthy vitamins and a variety of trace elements.
- Are there any dietary restrictions? Yes, doctors advise sharply limiting the consumption of sweets, carbonated drinks, and pastries. Of course, you can occasionally indulge a child with biscuits or dryers, but it is still better to refuse cakes or other confectionery. The thing is that they contain a large amount of sugar and the so-called fast-digesting carbohydrates, which adversely affects the pancreas (it may again cease to produce the enzymes necessary for normal functioning of the body). So, pain and discomfort will reappear.
What does a diet after pancreatitis mean?
Unfortunately, many patients after the next course of drug therapy and

the strictest diet with a diagnosis such as pancreatitis, instantly forget about past problems, returning to their previous lifestyle. However, doctors warn that this kind of behavior is extremely wrong. Since even if the symptoms no longer make themselves felt, this does not mean at all that the disease has left the body forever. On the contrary, the pancreas will recover for a rather long period of time after an ailment, therefore, the diet should continue. Moreover, modern experts recommend the most sparing diet for pancreatitis as an approximate diet for everyday life. Of course, there will be some exemptions regarding sweets and alcohol. So, the diet after pancreatitis also implies frequent fractional nutrition in small portions. As for the approximate diet, then, in principle, it can be left the same. Food should be steamed, it is better to give preference to healthy products (low-fat varieties of meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, berries, cereals, cereals, etc.). As they say, on holidays you can drink a small amount of red dry wine or a slice of cake. Listen to your body, it will always tell you what is more beneficial for it.
Conclusion
In this article, we examined as much as possible the question of what a diet should be for inflammation of the pancreas. It is quite possible to avoid pancreatitis, of course, if you eat right almost constantly, give up bad habits and lead a generally healthy lifestyle. However, if you still had to deal with this ailment, you should immediately seek the advice of a qualified specialist. He, in turn, must mandatory prescribe not only appropriate drug therapy, but also recommend special nutrition. Only in this case is it likely to get rid of pain syndromes and avoid further complications. Note that a special diet after pancreatitis also has a place to be. It implies the use of exclusively the right food, the restriction of alcoholic beverages, fried and smoked. Particular attention must be paid to the cooking process itself. So, it is better to bake in the oven or use the well-known double boiler. Thus, the food will not only preserve all the useful vitamins and minerals, but will also be as useful as possible. If you still can not imagine your life without oil, then preference should be given to extra virgin olive oil. Just add a few drops to your finished dish. Thus, its taste will be felt, and at the same time all useful properties will be preserved, and excess carcinogens will not enter the body. If you believe the experts, then this food can really be a guarantee of good health. Some follow this diet throughout their lives and never complain about pancreatic problems. Be healthy!