The pancreas is a very small but capricious gland, and if everything is not in order with it, a person has to give up many of his favorite dishes and products. In order not to develop acute pancreatitis or an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, you should follow a diet commonly called the 5P table.
What can you eat for pancreatitis? This is what we will talk about in this article. Let's consider the most frequently asked questions about prohibited and permitted foods for this disease.
Which vegetables can you eat?
tomatoes
Can you eat tomatoes if you have pancreatitis? When it comes to tomatoes, nutritionists' opinions are divided; some believe that they are very useful because they contain delicate fiber, which is so important for the gastrointestinal tract, and remove harmful cholesterol from the blood, which is very important for the pancreas.
Others believe that it is worth abandoning their use, especially during an acute process or even a mild exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. In no case should you eat unripe tomatoes, as they contain a lot of toxins that put a strain on all organs of the digestive system.
But fresh tomato juice from ripe tomatoes (not juice from industrial bags, but pressed from fresh tomatoes) proves to be a very valuable product that stimulates the pancreas, especially when mixed with freshly squeezed carrot juice. You can also eat tomatoes steamed or baked. But moderation must be observed in everything; Abusing even healthy foods can impair the functioning of the pancreas.
Tomato juice is a choleretic, that is, a choleretic drug. If you drink it during an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, it will most likely become even worse, since, as with cholelithiasis, secondary reactive pancreatitis will develop. Excess bile is passed into the common pancreatic duct, where it activates pancreatic enzymes that digest not the food in the small intestine, but the gland itself. The result is acute pancreatitis, a stretcher, an operating table for pancreatic necrosis, and then either disability or death.
So, tomatoes and tomato juice are allowed in remission of chronic pancreatitis, if there is no pain, no swelling according to ultrasound, no increase in amylase, diastasis, elastase and other signs of inflammation.
All recommendations in this article are indications for the 5P table in chronic pancreatitis during the recovery period after an exacerbation and outside of an exacerbation. To avoid acute pancreatitis, you should avoid consuming alcoholic beverages (especially strong drinks) and certain medications.
Cucumbers
Can you eat cucumbers or not if you have pancreatitis? Although cucumbers are 90% water, they are actually very rich in microelements and vitamins. With this disease you can eat cucumbers; in addition, for treatment of pancreatitis, a cucumber diet is sometimes prescribed, if a person eats 7 kg of cucumbers in a week, this relieves the load on the pancreas and prevents inflammatory processes in it. Let's talk again about the fact that everything is useful in moderation; with excessive consumption of cucumbers, especially if they contain nitrates or, even worse, pesticides, the benefits are reduced to zero.
Cabbage
Is it possible to eat cabbage and broccoli if you suffer from pancreatitis? Cauliflower, broccoli and Chinese cabbage can be eaten, but it is better to be steamed or boiled. Regular white cabbage, which we know best, has very tough fiber, so it is forbidden to eat it raw, but after heat treatment it can also be eaten rarely. And of course, don't forget that you should avoid fried vegetables. And it is better to avoid sauerkraut as it irritates the mucous membranes. Peking cabbage can sometimes be eaten raw, but any type of cabbage should be introduced into the diet with caution after an exacerbation.
Is sea kale healthy? The answer from nutritionists is: yes, it is the healthiest of all species, since it contains a lot of cobalt and nickel, without which normal functioning of the gland is impossible. Is it possible to eat seaweed if you suffer from pancreatitis? Yes, . . . only for residents of Southeast Asia (Japan), as the enzyme systems there differ from those in Europe. Even medicines in pharmacies in Japan indicate that they may not help Europeans. Therefore, you should not eat seaweed during pancreatitis, especially during an exacerbation. This is not like other types of cabbage, this product is more like mushrooms, that is, its use requires a massive release of pancreatic enzymes, which leads to a worsening of inflammation. Therefore, algae, like mushrooms, are not given to children under 12 years of age (they do not have the appropriate enzymes) and are contraindicated in pancreatitis.
What fruits can you have for pancreatitis?
It is undesirable, especially during exacerbations, to consume all sour fruits, especially those containing coarse fiber. You can eat fruit only 10 days after the start of remission of pancreatitis. With chronic pancreatitis, you should also not abuse various fruits, it is enough to eat 1 of the allowed fruits per day. Of course, they are unsurpassed in terms of the content of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and therefore good for the gland, but the presence of coarse fiber impairs its functioning:
- You can eat: strawberries, sweet green apples, papaya, pineapples, avocados, watermelons
- You are not allowed to eat: pears, citrus fruits of all kinds, sour apples, peaches, plums, cherry plums, mangoes
- During remission, experiments with eating various fruits are allowed, provided they are heat treated - in a water bath, oven.
There are certain rules when and how to eat fruits with pancreatitis:
- Permitted fruits should be chopped, ground and minced as thoroughly as possible.
- Best consumed after baking in the oven or steamer
- You should not eat more than one fruit per day
- You should clearly know the list of allowed and forbidden fruits and what medications should be taken if you accidentally eat an unwanted fruit.
Is it possible to eat strawberries and bananas for pancreatitis and why? Most nutritionists believe that the pancreas can cope with strawberries in small quantities without exacerbation of pancreatitis, but everything is individual. It is better to avoid eating bananas.
Can you drink alcohol if you have pancreatitis?
The pancreas categorically rejects alcoholic beverages. Of all the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, this gland is most susceptible to the toxic effects of alcohol. Unlike the liver, it does not have an enzyme that can break down alcohol. It is known that more than 40% of all cases of acute pancreatitis occur after heavy alcohol consumption, fatty snacks or a joyful long feast.
In chronic pancreatitis, alcohol consumption carries a high risk of repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis, leading to serious functional anatomical destruction of the pancreas. And as you know, this gland, unlike the liver, is not fully restored. And every time you consume alcohol, the formation of foci of fibrosis progresses, which essentially causes the pancreas to not only become inflamed, but rot.
So what shouldn't you eat if you have pancreatitis?
Fat containing food
The pancreas really does not like fatty foods, smoked foods, foods high in protein or fat.
- Meat.Therefore, fatty meats (pork, duck, goose), especially skewers, cutlets, sausages, stews and canned foods made from them, should be excluded.
- Fish.Fatty fish - sturgeon, salmon, trout, salmon, herring, sprat, mackerel, catfish - as well as caviar and canned fish, salted and smoked fish are also excluded from the menu.
- Broths.According to gastroenterologists, it is difficult to find a more harmful product for the pancreas than rich bone broth, aspic. And many people try to take strong chicken broth with them to the hospital to improve their health. This is a big mistake!
Products containing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives
The pancreas is not spared either. On the shelves of our supermarkets there are practically no products without the chemical additives listed above, so the number of patients with pancreatitis of varying degrees of severity has been steadily increasing recently. It becomes especially scary for children because they also consume large amounts of harmful chemical products: "children's yogurt" (filled with preservatives, flavors and flavor enhancers), children's smoked sausage, "children's sausages" - by definition, there can be no children's sausages, children should have such foodsdon't eat at all! ! ! And then we ask ourselves why a 10 year old child has pancreatitis?
Dairy products
Glazed cheese curds, fatty cottage cheeses, as well as cheeses, especially smoked and salted cheeses, should not be consumed. Ice cream is also contraindicated, especially since recently it has been made not from natural butter, milk and cream, but from palm oil, dry cream and milk, which go through several stages of chemical processes, which makes it very difficult for the gland when such products get into theBody.
beverages
As for drinks, the pancreas does not like soda and lemonade at all, as they cause bloating and are usually saturated with all sorts of dyes, sweeteners, flavors and even preservatives. Coffee and cocoa are also forbidden drinks, especially on an empty stomach. Strongly brewed tea and bread kvass are also harmful to the mood gland. Many producers of soluble chicory claim that this drink is almost a panacea and can be drunk for gastritis, pancreatitis and cholecystitis. In terms of its effect on the gastrointestinal tract, soluble chicory is as harmful as coffee, so it should be excluded from a diet for pancreatitis or consumed only in very rare cases, not on an empty stomach, but listen to your feelings; If the slightest discomfort occurs after consumption, you should throw it away at all.
- confectionery- Sweets, baked goods, chocolate - put a lot of strain on the pancreas.
- Eggs.Hard-boiled eggs or fried eggs are contraindicated.
- Vegetables.Coarse, hard and spicy vegetables such as radish, garlic, horseradish, lettuce, sorrel, mushrooms, legumes, peppers, onions (raw) must not be eaten in any form. The remaining vegetables are very important, but only in boiled or steamed form.
- Fast food.Such foods are dangerous even for a completely healthy person, and when it comes to pancreatitis, there are practically "poisonous" ready-made products - this is a direct route to the hospital bed.
- Fruit.There are restrictions here too: they cannot be eaten raw, especially sour ones (citrus fruits, cranberries) and too sweet ones – grapes, figs, persimmons.
Proper nutrition - what can you eat with pancreatitis?
Everyone knows that during an exacerbation the pancreas loves hunger, cold and peace. And outside of an exacerbation, it is very important how much, how often, when and what a person suffering from pancreatitis eats.
It is very important to follow certain rules and diets. The most important thing is to eat small amounts of food fairly often, preferably every 3 hours, limit food intake at night and of course not eat certain types of food.
Compliance with these rules is the key to long-term remission and a fulfilling life with pancreatitis. What can you eat with pancreatitis without harming this small organ?
- Vegetables:As I said, cucumbers in the form of puree, tomatoes, preferably in the form of juice, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, beets, green peas - only baked or boiled are useful. It is very practical and healthy to prepare vegetable casseroles or vegetarian soups. White cabbage should be eaten limited and only boiled or steamed.
- Fruit:Strawberries, sweet apples, pineapples, avocados in the form of compotes, jellies, fruit purees are especially well prepared from apricots, and you can eat no more than 1 piece of watermelon or melon.
- Milk:Many people don't know whether milk is OK for pancreatitis? Consuming milk in its pure form is not recommended because it requires enzymes to break it down, which are not sufficient for pancreatitis anyway; After 14 years, no one should drink milk in its pure form, except rarely and separately from other products. In pancreatic diseases, whole milk can cause both diarrhea and flatulence. Among dairy products, kefir, yogurt and other liquid fermented milk products are considered the most ideal. You can also eat cottage cheese, but with a fat content of up to 9%. It is very convenient and quick to prepare various casseroles and lazy dumplings from cottage cheese. Sour cream and fatty, sharp hard cheeses are excluded, leaving only cheeses such as Gouda and mozzarella.
- Meat:With meat products everything is clear - no fat, so only lean veal, chicken (without skin), turkey, boiled rabbit meat remains, you can also prepare soup with meatballs, soufflé and steamed cutlets.
- Eggs:no more than 2 eggs per week and only soft-boiled, as the pancreas finds it very difficult to process the yolk, so it is better to only eat the white.
- Porridge, muesli, pasta:This is the most dietary food. Oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina and rice porridge are healthy. Barley and millet are excluded as grains that are very difficult to digest. Pasta can also be eaten for pancreatitis, adding a small amount of sunflower or butter.
- Fish:In addition, the fish should be lean, boiled or baked; You can prepare steamed cutlets. Pike perch, pollock, cod and pike are very useful.
- Bread:Black bread is one of the forbidden foods, so you can eat white bread, preferably dried; Cookies can only be cookies, unsweetened and unsweetened.
- Sugar:Few people can eat without sweet foods; with pancreatitis, sugar is a strong irritant, but sometimes you can make your own jelly. However, you should avoid all store-bought sweets because, in addition to sugar, they contain such harmful chemicals that the pancreas has a very difficult time dealing with them. It is possible to occasionally treat yourself to jam, marshmallows or marshmallows.
- Beverages:Only weakly brewed tea, preferably green tea, compote, jelly, decoctions of medicinal herbs, rose hips. Mineral water is very useful for this disease.
Question answer:
Is goat milk possible?
Goat's milk is a rather difficult product for the pancreas. Since its fat content exceeds that of the cow by two and a half times. People who traditionally use this product as their main product have enzyme systems more adapted to its use. But if you're not used to it, goat's milk can cause indigestion. Therefore, one must be careful when introducing this type of milk and products made from it, starting with small portions and gradually increasing them with normal tolerance. The absence of nausea and loose or pasty stools indicates that the product is being digested normally.
Is it possible to eat matsoni?
Matsoni, like other fermented milk products, is not contraindicated in chronic pancreatitis. The key point will be in the fat content of the milk from which it is prepared. Of course, milk that is too rich is undesirable.
Is it possible to make yeast pastries, puff pastry and gingerbread?
During periods of exacerbation of pancreatitis, baking with yeast is not indicated. During remission, yeast baked goods should be dosed carefully. Puff pastry is not contraindicated. When it comes to gingerbread cookies, the most important thing is the level of sweetening (for insulin and pancreatitis problems) and the icing with which they are covered. Cheap confectionery often uses a glaze based on refractory fats (coconut and palm oil), which does not improve pancreatic health.
Can I have cinnamon?
Cinnamon is a spice that is only sold in specialized stores or brought by dealers. What we buy in bags at hypermarkets is a cheaper version called cassia. This pseudo-cinnamon has been linked to stories of helping with type 2 diabetes. This is actually not the work of the pancreas, but the response of the insulin receptors in the tissue. There is no convincing evidence of this anywhere. In general, cinnamon increases the production of gastric juice as it is a stimulant, which is why it is not recommended in exacerbations of pancreatitis.
Can you eat liver – stomach, heart, liver?
Products related to the liver (heart, stomach), as well as liver, are not contraindicated in pancreatitis when boiled or stewed. It is better not to eat these foods fried.
Is it possible to have processed cheese, coffee, chocolate, bread?
It is advisable to choose processed cheese without hot spices and many emulsifiers and preservatives. You shouldn't use too much chocolate. You can eat bread. Coffee is not recommended regularly and during exacerbations. The solution is to add milk and drink it in small cups occasionally.
Can I have brown and white rice and olive oil?
You can eat rice. Add olive oil to salads and other dishes as usual. Without fanaticism.
Can you pickle cabbage?
Cabbage brine is contraindicated as a hangover remedy because alcohol destroys the pancreas. In general, apart from exacerbation of pancreatitis and without inflammation in the stomach or duodenum, a few spoons of brine cannot do any harm, but it is not recommended to drink it in glasses.
Salted lard?
Fat puts greater strain on the liver and bile ducts. In this case, the pancreas may suffer secondarily. Against the background of remission of pancreatitis, you can eat lard, but in reasonable portions of a few pieces a day and several times a week.