How pancreas helps when you didn't eat
Answers
What you eat can have a huge effect on how you feel, especially if you have pancreatitis — a condition that occurs when the organ that produces your digestive enzymes becomes inflamed.
Paying close attention to your diet can help ease abdominal pain that accompanies this condition, says pancreas specialist Prabhleen Chahal, MD. If you choose your food well, you can give your pancreas a break and help it recover.
So, it’s vital to know which foods you can eat, which ones you should avoid, and how those choices can affect your body.
The pancreatitis-food link
With a chronically inflamed pancreas, your body can’t produce enough of the digestive enzymes that help absorb nutrients from the foods you eat.
Over time, you could become malnourished or start losing weight without trying to, Dr. Chahal says. A different diet can make it easier for your pancreas to do its job.
Changes in diet don’t affect all patients the same way, however. The impact depends on whether you have an acute or chronic case of pancreatitis, she says.
“Patients with mild pancreatitis can benefit from diet and lifestyle changes alone,” she says. “However, diet is not always enough, by itself, to control symptoms in moderate to severe cases.”
Best foods for pancreatitis
A pancreas-friendly diet is high in protein from lean meats and low in animal fats and simple sugars, Dr. Chahal says.
You should eat plenty of:
Vegetables
Fruits
Whole grains
Beans, lentils
Low-fat or nonfat dairy (almond or flax milk)
Antioxidant-rich foods such as dark, leafy vegetables, red berries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, grapes, carrots, walnuts and pomegranates are also beneficial. But, eat avocado, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts and seeds in moderation.
The Mediterranean diet is a good option for you if you are recovering from mild acute pancreatitis. You can find healthy recipes in the National Pancreas Foundation cookbook, Dr. Chahal says.
Why are these foods helpful?
Focusing on vegetables, fruits and whole grains limits your cholesterol intake and increases your fiber intake. This reduces your risk of developing gallstones or high triglycerides, which are among the leading causes of acute pancreatitis. Antioxidants combat the fre