Nutritional Tips for Those With Pancreatitis

What Is Pancreatitis?

According to Better Health Channel, pancreatitis is when the pancreas is inflamed. The inflammation can be either chronic and long-lasting, or acute and lasting only for a short bout. The most common causes of pancreatitis are heavy alcohol consumption and gallstones. Less common causes of pancreatitis include viruses, certain medications, trauma or surgery to the pancreas, and inherited abnormalities or disorders of the pancreas.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis can come on suddenly and include fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. The symptoms may be different if you have a chronic condition. Those with chronic pancreatitis may still experience bouts of inflammation. Some have foul-smelling feces and severe abdominal pain that may be constant. Chronic pancreatitis can also cause weight loss, as it makes it difficult for the body to absorb food.

Doctors diagnose pancreatitis using a combination of methods that may include blood tests, a physical examination, a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI). Treatments vary depending on the severity of your condition and may include hospital care, surgery, fasting, intravenous fluids, and lifestyle changes such as regularly consuming nutritional drinks and meals and avoiding alcohol.

Pancreatitis Diet Plan

One way to help treat pancreatitis is with a specialized diet plan. According to Columbia University Irving Medical Center, nutrition plays a vital role in the treatment of pancreatitis. During an acute attack of pancreatitis, most patients are hospitalized, but managing your diet in the long term can prevent nutritional deficiencies for patients with chronic pancreatitis, help maintain normal blood sugar levels, minimize flare-ups, and prevent or manage other conditions associated with pancreatitis, such as diabetes.

A balanced diet for those with pancreatitis is protein-rich and nutrient-dense, and includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and other lean-protein sources, according to Columbia University. Pancreatitis-specific diet recipes and smoothies can help supplement your diet with vitamins that are often lacking in those with pancreatitis, such as vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, folate, and iron.

Antioxidant-rich foods may also be helpful for those with pancreatitis, notes Cleveland Clinic. Great for adding to nutritional shakes and smoothies, these include dark leafy vegetables, red berries, carrots, grapes, blueberries, and pomegranates.

The reason consuming fruits and vegetables is particularly beneficial for those with pancreatitis is because it increases your fiber intake and limits cholesterol consumption. This lowers your risk of high triglycerides and developing gallstones. Furthermore, antioxidants can decrease inflammation.

Pancreatitis Food Dos and Don’ts

If alcohol caused your pancreatitis, then you should refrain from drinking alcohol altogether, according to Columbia University. Even if your pancreas returns to normal, you should stop all alcohol use. Those with pancreatitis should avoid smoking to limit their risk of pancreatic cancer.

Cleveland Clinic also recommends limiting fried foods, full-fat foods, and foods that are high in sugar. This means staying away from pastries, sugary drinks, full-fat dairy, french fries, organ meat, butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and red meat as much as you can. Limiting fatty foods is important because the pancreas produces enzymes to help process fat — the more of it you eat, the harder your pancreas is likely to work.

Staying hydrated and getting the proper nutrition are key to treating pancreatitis. That’s why nutritional drinks are so important.

Mission: Cure, a nonprofit organization centered on chronic pancreatitis, recommends smoothies because they are fast and you can easily load them up with vitamins. To make a low-fat, easy-to-digest smoothie, Mission: Cure recommends blending 1 cup of oat milk, 1 cup of strawberries, 1 frozen banana, 1 tablespoon of oats, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 scoop of protein powder, and 1 spoonful of chia seeds.