Diet for chronic pancreatitis
Diet for chronic pancreatitis is the main nutritional strategy for people with inflammation of the pancreas, which causes narrowing of the bile ducts, and sometimes even their complete blockage.
The idea behind a pancreatitis diet is to manage deficiencies in digestive enzymes and, in some cases, insulin. Most patients with chronic pancreatitis are prescribed synthetic pancreatic enzymes, which must be taken every time they eat to help the body digest and absorb food.
Symptoms of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, inability to completely digest food, vomiting, diarrhea, and high blood sugar. Pancreatitis most often occurs in adults, due to alcohol abuse, or as a complication of gallstone disease.
The diet for chronic pancreatitis should consist of 4-5 small meals throughout the day. Alcohol, tobacco, soda, fruit juices and caffeinated drinks are highly discouraged as they can irritate the pancreas.
Mashed potatoes, vegetable soups and fish don’t sound so bad!
The ideal components of the diet for chronic pancreatitis are mashed potatoes and vegetable soups. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and are very easy to digest. Raw vegetables are best avoided from your diet – if you are still recovering from a recent bout of pancreatitis, they will require too many enzymes to process the coarse fiber they are made of. The low cooking temperature will pre-prepare them so that they are easier for the digestive system to digest.
What else should be included in the diet for chronic pancreatitis is fish, and it is better if it is steamed or baked in the oven. Eggs are rich in protein and amino acids, and besides, they do not burden the digestive system. Organic dairy products such as low fat yogurt, cheese, and kefir can help normalize digestion. However, for those who have recently had pancreatic inflammation, it is better not to consume dairy products right away, but wait a couple of weeks. And most importantly, consult your doctor.