Diet for Pancreatis

The pancreas is an internal organ that produces enzymes that aid in the digestive process as well as insulin production. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and is categorized as either acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis. Symptoms of pancreatitis are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, indigestion or oily stool.

Pancreatitis is usually the result of a poor diet high in fats or by heavy, prolonged alcohol consumption. With the proper diet, patients with pancreatitis can help alleviate flare-ups and symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Evaluate Eating Habits and Lifestyle

• Before you implement a new diet, it is important to evaluate what has contributed to your pancreatitis diagnosis. You need to take a hard look at what kinds of food and drinks you are consuming and identify possible culprits. Also, you need to be honest with yourself as to the lifestyle you lead. Are you a smoker? Do you consume too much alcohol? These behaviors increase your risk of developing pancreatitis and will aggravate an ongoing flareup.

  What are you eating? It is a known fact that a diet high in fat is a risk factor for developing pancreatitis. If you feel sick after eating, you may want to eliminate certain types of foods. The wrong foods can put a stain on the pancreas and well as other digestive organs such as the liver and gallbladder.

  You may also want to consult with an allergist to see if you are allergic to any foods. Wheat and dairy products are two main foods that can alter the digestive process and your diet will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Change Eating Habits and Lifestyle

• Once you have evaluated your eating habits, lifestyle behaviors and addressed any allergies, the next thing you must do is change.

  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is recommended that you eliminate drinking, smoking, foods high in trans fats, processed foods and caffeine.

Adopt a Healthy Diet

• Eating right is one of the best choices you can make while treating pancreatitis. Adopting a healthy, low fat, high protein diet, rich in vitamins and minerals will put less strain on your digestive system and help prevent other diseases as well.

  First, you want to change your portion sizes and the frequency in which you eat. Consider eating small, frequent meals. Smaller portions allow for better digestion, therefore putting less strain on the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. This will also result in better nutrient absorption.

  It is important that your diet be rich in whole foods that are high in vitamins and minerals as well as protein. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a diet that consists of:

  • Foods high in vitamin B and iron, such as whole grains and green leafy vegetables
  • Foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, tomatoes, red grapes, broccoli and cherries
  • Leaner meats, such as fish, and beans and vegetable-based foods that are high in protein, such as tofu.
  • Healthy oils such as olive oil
  • 6-8 glasses of water per day

Supplements

• Despite our best efforts, sometimes our bodies lack necessary nutrients to properly function. Have your physician run blood tests to check your nutritional levels. Your physician may want to address these nutritional deficiencies by having you take supplements such as multivitamins, vitamin D pills, calcium pills or fish oil pills that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Consult with your physician before you take any supplements to avoid any adverse interactions with other medications that you may be taking.