Can you eat potatoes if you have pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in the pancreas. The outflow of bile is disrupted, as a result, the enzymes of the gland do not penetrate the duodenum and remain in it. The pancreas begins to gradually collapse, which can even lead to death. Every year, more and more people are diagnosed with this type of disease. The pathology even occurs in adolescents. There are many reasons for the development of pancreatitis, from alcohol abuse, excess weight, to cholelithiasis. Therefore, it is very important to follow a diet during illness.

Importance of Enzymes in Digesting Food

For normal digestion of food, pancreatic juice is required, which is produced by the pancreas. In addition, the juice protects against the harmful effects of hydrochloric acid. It contains enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If this does not happen, then most of the food received does not provide any benefit to the body.

The juice contains 4 enzymes. They are secreted in 3 stages, the activation of which occurs approximately in the first 30-60 minutes after food intake. Then there is a gradual decrease in activity and literally after 3-4 hours everything returns to the initial level. If there are problems with the pancreas, then the activation of enzymes occurs too early, resulting in an inflammatory process or pancreatitis.

Fatty foods, consequences of abuse

Fats are found in all foods, even fruits, although in minimal quantities. But bacon and lard contain the most fat. For example, 70 g of lard covers the daily dose of fat that the body requires per day. It is clear that not a single person will limit himself to just a couple of pieces of lard a day.

Some products have hidden surprises. For example, Doctor’s sausage contains 40% fat, although it is considered dietary. Such products include popcorn, sauces, yoghurts, and semi-finished products.

Nutritionists advise consuming no more than 1 g of fat per 1 kg of a person’s weight. If the norm is not met, then obesity begins, which has a detrimental effect on absolutely all human organs, including the pancreas. Scientists have also been able to establish that fatty foods excite the pleasure center in the brain, as a result, even if a person stops consuming fat, he cannot get enough of ordinary food.

What herbs can you drink?

Here are several recipes for drinks that help alleviate the condition of a chronic disease. It is advisable to drink these drinks 1-2 glasses per day.

Herbal mixture No. 213

These include horsetail, St. John's wort, string, wormwood, burdock root, calendula, sage, elecampane and chamomile. Pour two tablespoons of the crushed mixture of these herbs into 500 ml of boiling water, simmer for 15 minutes in a water bath and then strain.

Also read: Chicory for pancreatitis

Yelan

A long-known effective folk remedy. What you need to prepare it: mint, plantain, agrimony, St. John's wort, chamomile. Chop all the herbs and take 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Pour 120 ml of boiling water, put on low heat for a quarter of an hour, then strain. This decoction is not stored for a long time; it must be drunk within 24 hours.

Parsley

A simple garden plant is also a good helper in the fight against the manifestations of the disease, activating the work of the pancreas. Grind 300 grams of fresh parsley in a blender, mix with the same amount of chopped garlic and 1 kilogram of pitted lemons, but with zest.

Place everything listed in a container (not made of metal), close the lid tightly and store for 2 weeks in a cool, dark place. Eat 1 teaspoon of this mixture three times a day before meals. In this case, the lemon acid is neutralized by the other components, becoming less aggressive.

Ways to get rid of pain

Pancreatitis is accompanied by pain in the hypochondrium area. It starts after eating. This may be accompanied by weakness, belching, nausea, and even bowel dysfunction. The first step if an attack begins is to take antispasmodic medications, if you know which ones. If the attack is severe, then it is better to call doctors.

After this, it is best to adhere to bed rest for 2 days. Ice can be applied to the hypochondrium area. Until the attack passes, you should not eat, only drink water, which should be warm.

If vomiting is present, it is better to vomit, it will immediately become much easier. It is best to breathe shallowly and periodically hold your breath.

Authorized Products

In order not to harm the pancreas and “help” it to fully perform its functions faster, the following foods should be present in the diet:

• soups with noodles and vegetables;
• yesterday's bread;
• baked or boiled fish;
• steamed meat, in the form of rolls, purees, pates and cutlets;
• crackers;
• stewed and baked vegetables;
• dairy and fermented milk products, but with a low percentage of fat content;
• cereals;
• omelette;
• pasta;
• a small amount of butter and vegetable oil;
• baked unsweetened fruits;
• jelly;
• jelly and compotes.

However, such a limited set of products will not always be in the diet; gradually, as you improve, the number of products expands.

What can you eat

It is a mistake to assume that when following a diet there is absolutely nothing to eat. The number of acceptable products during this period is quite large:

1. A complete abstinence from meat is not required; low-fat, dietary varieties are allowed for consumption. These include: lean beef, veal, rabbit, as well as chicken and turkey meat.
2. Cereals play an important role in stabilizing the gastrointestinal tract. For chronic pancreatitis, you can use oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina porridge in water, or boiled rice as a side dish. Oatmeal porridge has the most beneficial effect on the pancreas.
3. Vegetables you can eat boiled include carrots, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, potatoes, beets, and cucumbers. All vegetables must be chopped: pureed or prepared in the form of a soufflé. Vegetable juices have a beneficial effect.
4. The diet must include low-fat fish: these include cod, carp, pollock, lean mackerel, etc.
5. Fruits allowed in the diet include sweet apples, pears, melons, strawberries, and watermelons in small quantities. They must undergo heat treatment: you can steam them, cook compotes, make soufflés or jelly. Only apples are allowed in their raw form, and then only during the period of remission.
6. For fats on this diet, you can consume refined vegetable oil and unsweetened butter (up to 30 g in porridge and no more than 10 g per day in a sandwich).
7. The list of fermented milk products allowed in the diet includes: kefir, unsweetened yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese. Low-fat sour cream is allowed in small quantities, but it must be introduced into the menu carefully, carefully monitoring how you feel.
8. Of the flour products in the “5p” diet, you can eat wheat and bran bread, exclusively dried (stale or in the form of unsalted crackers), unsweetened biscuits, as well as any pasta.
9. Eggs can only be consumed in the form of steamed lean omelettes, no more than 1 - 2 times a week. It is best to eat only protein with this diet.
10. If the disease has entered the remission phase, you can occasionally treat yourself to homemade dietary sweets with low sugar content or desserts for diabetics.

Particular attention should be paid to drinking. You need to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day, not counting soups. This could be a rosehip drink, weak tea (black or with milk), vegetable juices, weak unsweetened coffee, mineral water, sea buckthorn tea, herbal infusions.

Fully or partially limited products

Alas, the list of prohibited foods for this type of disease is quite impressive. Consumption is unacceptable:

• cabbage soup;
• okroshka;
• jam;
• broths based on meat, fish and mushrooms;
• beetroot;
• margarine;
• canned foods;
• fatty meats and fish;
• offal;
• sausages;
• any fried foods;
• lard;
• apples;
• boiled eggs;
• caviar;
• legumes;
• barley, corn and millet porridge;
• vegetables that cause flatulence and contain large dietary fibers, for example, radishes and cabbage, are prohibited;
• chocolate;
• fresh pastries and bread;
• spicy dishes;
• citrus fruits.

You cannot drink coffee, cocoa, or strong tea. It is not advisable to drink juices. Carbonated drinks are strictly prohibited

Diet for chronic pancreatitis

The goal of dietary nutrition in the presence of pancreatitis is to relieve the inflammatory process and restore normal functioning of the gland. In the chronic form, food should be supplied to the body every 2-3 hours. You need to drink a lot of water, up to 3 liters. Before eating, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm, clean, still water about 20 minutes before eating.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. You will have to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in your diet to a minimum. You cannot overeat and wash down your food. It is best to thoroughly grind all products. Dishes should be at room temperature.

Diet for acute pancreatitis

After 2-3 days of fasting, you should adhere to a gentle diet. The menu can be composed as follows:

• 3 days after the symptoms of the attack are relieved, weak tea, without sugar, is introduced;
• on day 5 you can already eat carrot or potato puree;
• from the 7th day it is allowed to introduce fish, but not fried or sea fish;
• from day 10 milk and curd puddings are introduced.

It is permissible to consume light soups and beef from 7-10 days. However, they are administered carefully, depending on the health condition. If unpleasant symptoms appear after consuming them, they are immediately removed from the diet.

Many doctors advise drinking oatmeal jelly every 3 or 4 days. It is low in calories, but at the same time it is very filling. The drink allows you to normalize stool and remove toxins.

Vegetable recipes

Let's look at several recipes for dishes that can be prepared for pancreatitis.

Also read: Kefir for pancreatitis: can you drink it?

Vegetable pudding

You will need: pumpkin, zucchini, semolina, about 2 tbsp. spoons, milk, egg and a little olive oil.

For cooking, use only those vegetables that are allowed in the diet for pancreatitis.

Wash and peel the vegetables, cut into small pieces, add water and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes. You need to cook until they become soft.

Add milk and semolina to the container and cook for another 10 minutes. Once the dish has cooled a little, add the egg to it. Place everything in molds and brush with oil. Bake the dish in a slow cooker.

Cauliflower soup

You will need: carrots, cauliflower, potatoes.

Rinse everything and boil. Grate to form a puree-like mass. The puree soup is ready. The finished dish can be served with wheat croutons.

The puree soup complies with the basic principles of the diet for pancreatitis, therefore its use is permitted both during periods of exacerbation (2 weeks from the onset of the attack) and during remission.

There are a lot of recipes; if you can’t choose the right dish on your own, you can consult a nutritionist.

Diet for pancreatitis in children

In fact, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is extremely rare in childhood. But more often you can encounter “reactive pancreatitis”. These are temporary problems with the pancreas associated with poor diet.

The problem can usually be resolved in just a couple of weeks. However, during this period you will have to keep the child on a strict diet.

Any products that contain chemical additives, flavors, or dyes are definitely removed. No trips to McDonald's or similar food establishments.

However, pickled and salted foods, broths, natural sausages, pates, cakes and even ice cream are allowed. But they should not be familiar to the child and can be used after the symptoms of “reactive pancreatitis” have been relieved.

Sample menu for one week

Before following the menu options described below, you should consult your doctor.

Also read: Mineral water for pancreatitis

Monday

You can have a steamed omelet for breakfast, wash it down with rosehip tea. For second breakfast, prepare a baked pear, and for an afternoon snack, drink milk and crunch with breadcrumbs. In the evening you can cook boiled breast and porridge in water.

Tuesday

The next morning, prepare manna, you can add some raisins, and for second breakfast, boiled rice and cabbage. For lunch, prepare soup, such as a vegetarian and meat dish. Drink compote or low-fat milk. In the evening, buckwheat or oatmeal porridge and tea, or a vegetable casserole.

Wednesday

In the morning, rosehip tea, some cheese and cheesecakes. For second breakfast, you can have buckwheat porridge and drink apple juice. Beef cutlets and pumpkin puree are available for lunch. Rice pudding and juice are ideal for an afternoon snack, and a vegetable casserole for the evening.

Thursday

You can relax a little, prepare an omelet and tomato for the morning, a vinaigrette for the second breakfast, but just do not use sauerkraut and salty foods. For lunch you can enjoy boiled cod and rice soup, and milk and boiled meat for an afternoon snack. In the evening you can have semolina porridge and tea with milk.

Friday

On this day you can eat the same way as Monday. But, for the evening, you are allowed to prepare a croup of cottage cheese and buckwheat.

Saturday

Morning: cottage cheese pudding, carrot puree for the 2nd breakfast, if desired, you can add a little jam. For lunch, vegetarian borscht and a meat dish. An afternoon snack is just a drink, for example berry jelly, and for the evening a low-fat fermented baked milk.

Sunday

You can eat similarly to the environment, but for lunch you are allowed to prepare zucchini soup and baked rabbit in sour cream.

This option for weekly nutrition can be used not only during illness, but also as a preventive measure for gastrointestinal diseases. The main thing to remember is to immediately consult a doctor if symptoms worsen to prevent serious complications.

Therapeutic diet Table No. 5 p list of products

This diet is recommended for chronic pancreatitis, gout, cholecystitis and a number of other diseases. The main goal of diet No. 5p is to restore the normal functioning of the pancreas, liver and gall bladder.

Table No. 5p provides for a rational approach to the amount of protein and carbohydrates. However, fats are almost completely reduced to zero. The menu should not contain products that contain cholesterol, oxalic acid, purines, essential oils, or fat. Salt also decreases in quantity.

It is recommended to drink warm water on an empty stomach. Food should be thoroughly chopped and eaten in small portions. No alcohol. You need to eat on average 5 times throughout the day.

The energy value of the menu should not exceed 2800 kcal. During the diet, drug therapy cannot be stopped.

What not to eat

Nutrition for chronic pancreatitis has its own characteristics. The list of foods prohibited for consumption in diet No. 5p is long, but this is a necessary measure. It is necessary to completely exclude from the diet:

• fatty meat (this category includes pork, lamb, fatty beef, waterfowl, game);
• all types of offal;
• all sausages and sausage products;
• any canned food;
• fatty fish (sturgeon, salmon, catfish, Caspian sprat, caviar);
• vegetables containing a large amount of acid or coarse fiber (white cabbage, radish, radishes, beans, corn, peas, sorrel, spinach);
• sugar and all confectionery products such as chocolate, pastries, cakes, lollipops, candies;
• pastry products;
• fresh bread, both rye and wheat;
• mushrooms;
• hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs;
• sour and too sweet berries and fruits (bananas, figs, gooseberries, cranberries, cloudberries, grapes, dates, and all citrus fruits);
• salted cheeses;
• fatty fermented milk products (thick sour cream, yogurt, full-fat kefir);
• all spicy, pickled, bitter foods.

The salt content in the diet should be kept to a minimum: do not add salt to the first and second courses, avoid salty foods in any form.

Nutritionists do not recommend consuming fresh milk in its pure form, although they allow this product to be added to other dishes. All rich meat and fish broths are prohibited. To achieve a therapeutic effect during an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, all types of fats must be completely abandoned and the protein content reduced to a minimum.

In some cases, starch intolerance may occur. In this case, you will have to give up potatoes, jelly and other dishes containing this product.

In some cases, starch intolerance may occur.

Among the drinks, the list of foods prohibited in this diet includes:

• strong tea;
• cocoa;
• alcohol;
• beer;
• kvass;
• carbonated drinks;
• sweet fruit juices.

When it comes to coffee, nutritionists disagree. Natural coffee should be avoided completely, but many doctors allow the consumption of unsweetened decaffeinated coffee. If possible, it is better to replace it with a chicory drink.

Many doctors allow the consumption of unsweetened, decaffeinated coffee.

All dishes must be eaten warm: the pancreas cannot tolerate cold or hot.