Pancreatitis is the redness and swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. This happens when digestive juices or enzymes attack the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. It produces digestive enzymes and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar (glucose). Pancreatitis may be sudden (acute) or ongoing (chronic). Acute pancreatitis appears suddenly and lasts for days. While chronic pancreatitis occurs over many years and causes permanent damage to the pancreas. Mild cases of pancreatitis improve with treatment, but severe cases can cause life-threatening complications.
The two most common causes of pancreatitis include alcohol abuse and lumps of solid material (gallstones) in the gallbladder. These gallstones block the pancreatic duct so the enzymes can’t get out of the pancreas. Other causes include high triglycerides and very high level of calcium in the blood, infections such as mumps, hepatitis A or B or salmonella, certain medicines such as estrogen and steroids, trauma, and cigarette smoking. Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis may vary, depending on which type you experience. Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include upper abdominal pain, abdominal pain that radiates to your back, tenderness when touching the abdomen, fever, rapid pulse, nausea, and vomiting. While signs and symptoms of chronic pancreatitis may include upper abdominal pain, abdominal pain that feels worse after eating, losing weight without trying, and oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea).
The treatment goal for pancreatitis is to rest the pancreas and let it heal. To do this, we have to limit or avoid foods that will make the symptoms worse and cause discomfort while recovering from pancreatitis. Your doctor will likely to recommend the patients to eat small frequent meals throughout the day and avoid fast food, fried foods, and highly processed foods. Fried and high fat foods, like hamburgers and French fries are some of the worst foods for pancreatitis. Cooked or deep-fried foods might trigger a flare-up of pancreatitis. Aside from that, you should also have to limit your intake of red meat, organ meats, potato chips, mayonnaise, margarine and butter, and full-fat dairy. You’ll also want to cut back on the refined flour found in cakes, pastries, and cookies. Refined carbohydrates can lead to the pancreas releasing larger amounts of insulin. You should also avoid drinking alcohol as this can worsen the condition or contribute to chronic pancreatitis.
Patients are advised to consume foods that are low in fat and high in antioxidants. Low-fat foods such as vegetables, beans and lentils, fruits, whole grains, and other plant-based foods that are not fried eases the amount of work the pancreas needs to do to aid digestion. Fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, and whole grains are also beneficial because of their fiber content. Eating more fiber can lower the chances of having gallstones or elevated levels of fats in the blood called triglycerides. In addition to fiber, the foods listed above also provide antioxidants. These antioxidants may help reduce inflammation of the pancreas.
ZDN DMO II Rowence Zorilla, RND
References:
1. Pancreatitis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20360227#:~:text=Pancreatitis%20occurs%20when%20digestive%20enzymes,and%20lead%20to%20chronic%20pancreatitis.
2. Pancreatitis
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pancreatitis
3. Pancreatitis Diet
https://www.healthline.com/health/pancreatitis-diet#treatment
4. What foods should you eat if you have pancreatitis?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320994#diet-tips-for-recovering
