Wisely choosing foods for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

What does the pancreas have to do with food?

The pancreas has a very close function with the digestive system. If the pancreas has a problem, the digestive process in the body must be disturbed. A healthy pancreas has a role to produce enzymes and hormones needed to digest food that enters the body. With the presence of hormones and enzymes from the pancreas, the nutrients will be absorbed properly.

If the pancreas becomes inflamed, this organ has to work even harder to produce these enzymes and hormones. Therefore, the enzymes and hormones that are produced will not function properly. So people who have inflammation of the pancreas are strongly advised to arrange the right food so that they can reduce the workload of the pancreas.

What foods for pancreatitis are recommended?

To reduce the workload of the inflamed pancreas, in essence, you are advised to eat foods rich in protein, low in fat, and foods that are high in antioxidants.

Example:

Meat without the skin (and remove the fat part).
Nuts.
Green vegetables like spinach, but also complement with brightly colored vegetables that are rich in antioxidants such as tomatoes, carrots, and eggplant. Vegetables should be served with clear broth.
Fruits high in antioxidants such as blueberries, strawberries, grapes, mangoes and pomegranates.
Low-fat milk or milk alternatives such as almond and soy juice.

These foods will lighten the work of the pancreas. Antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits also help protect the digestive system against free radicals that can damage body cells.

If a pancreatitis patient has a sweet craving, choose fresh fruit instead of foods that contain added sugar. This is because people with pancreatitis have a high risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

What foods should be avoided?

Fatty red meat
Innards
Fried
Mayonnaise
Margarine and butter
High-fat dairy products
Drinks or foods with added sugar

These foods should be avoided to reduce the workload of the pancreas so as not to exacerbate the inflammation that occurs. Because, these foods contain high enough fat. The higher the fat, the more enzymes needed to break it down, while the condition of the pancreas is not able to produce enzymes like when it is healthy.

In addition, foods for pancreatitis that should be avoided are foods that contain lots of added sugar, such as candy and ice cream. The high amount of added sugar that enters the body requires the insulin hormone produced by the pancreas to maintain blood sugar levels. However, the production of the hormone insulin is disrupted when people have pancreatitis. Therefore, sugary drinks or foods with added sugar are not recommended as food for pancreatitis.

Tips for adjusting the diet for pancreatitis

Eat small portions as much as 6-8 times a day to help restore the pancreas. Eating small, frequent meals is easier to digest than eating large portions of 2 to 3 times a day.
Avoid eating too much fiber at once because this can slow down digestion. In addition, the intake of fiber should be balanced with a sufficient amount of digestive enzymes so that all nutrients are absorbed optimally. However, when you have inflammation of the pancreas, the amount of enzymes released becomes limited and less effective. Therefore, high fiber foods should be eaten in small portions to provide a break for the pancreas to produce enzymes.
Consumption multivitamin supplements so that you get the nutrients you need. Especially for people with chronic pancreatitis. You are at risk for deficiencies of calcium, iron, folate, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. So it is necessary to check regularly whether there is a deficiency of nutrients and whether you need special supplements.
Get plenty of fluids in the body by drinking a lot. Don't forget, avoid alcohol and caffeine which can make you waste a lot of body fluids.