When you suffer from pancreatitis, your pancreas is actually experiencing some level of inflammation that often causes a great deal of abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea and vomiting. In most cases, you should seek medical attention to determine the actual cause of the condition and establish the appropriate course of care. For many people, part of this cares is a series of lifestyle changes to bring about relief, one of which includes your eating habits. This is largely due to the role of your pancreas plays in the digestive process, requiring you to now adhere to low-fat diet.
Diet
With a low-fat diet for pancreatitis, it is important to decrease your intake of both trans and saturated fats, as well as highly refined or processed foods, while increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains you eat each day. Cookies, cakes, crackers and chips not only contain saturated fat and refined sugar, but also are highly processed, so avoid these products in your diet. Limit prepackaged foods, pastas and white breads. Plus, eliminate fried foods and almost anything from fast food restaurants.
When it comes to fruits, vegetables and whole grains, almost any food product that falls within these three categories can be included in your diet, so spend the majority of your time in the produce section of your grocery store. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't eat protein, dairy or fat, just look for good sources of these food groups. Cold-water fish, poultry, lean cuts of meat, tofu, tempeh and legumes are all great sources of protein. Dairy products should be limited, but yogurt and skim milk are fine for most people. And with fat, try to stick to an olive oil or a vegetable oil within this eating regimen.
Vitamins & Minerals
Besides these dietary changes, pay close attention to certain foods that contain vitamins and minerals beneficial to your condition. Any of your B-vitamins, as well as iron, can actually go a long way to helping your pancreas, so incorporate spinach, kale, collard greens, chickpeas, lentils, peas, potatoes, red peppers, green peppers, apricots, peaches and fish into your diet.
It is also fairly important to incorporate foods rich in antioxidants, such as squash, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, prunes, apples, kidney beans, red beans, pinto beans, artichokes and potatoes. Most of these products top the charts for antioxidants, so make chili with plenty of beans, salads with plenty of fruits and meals that include at least one of these foods.
Fluids
While you should get a great deal of fluid from the fruits and vegetables you eat each day, make sure to drink plenty of water while sticking to a low-fat diet. Sixty-four ounces is the recommended amount, so drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water throughout the day. However, you should avoid any fluids that contain stimulants and depressants, like coffee and alcohol.
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