Chronic Pancreatitis Diet

Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas, an organ vital to the body's digestive processes. Pancreatitis can cause both death of pancreatic tissue and internal bleeding. Symptoms of this condition include localized upper abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and oily stool. In the case of chronic pancreatitis, long-term permanent damage is certainly a possibility, thus making effective dietary changes that much more important.

Pancreatitis and Diet

According to the experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center, a proper pancreatitis diet should seek to increase consumption of antioxidants while simultaneously decreasing or wholly eliminating consumption of foods that are likely to exacerbate the condition. Additionally, they recommend a regime consisting of daily nutritional supplements to balance out the body's defenses, providing an optimal environment for the promotion of healing.

Diet Recommendations

Abstention from alcohol is of paramount important for sufferers of pancreatitis, as alcohol digestion heavily stresses the body. Additionally, you should strive to identify and eliminate any and all suspected food allergies, such as lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity. The best thing to do is have yourself tested by your physician for the most common food allergies as soon as you are able. Beyond that, strive to consume the bulk of your diet from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, as the antioxidants and nutrients in these foods can help to guard against cell damage caused by pancreatitis. Blueberries (and other berries) and spinach are particularly recommended for pancreatitis sufferers, as they contain remarkably high levels of antioxidants. Alter your meat preferences, avoiding red meats where possible and leaning more heavily upon meats low in saturated fat such as seafood, turkey and chicken. Limit your consumption of processed and fried foods, along with foods containing excess sugars. Finally, remove all trans fats from your diet and be sure to consume at least six eight-ounce glasses of water per day.

Supplements

The doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center recommend using a fish oil supplement to help combat inflammation, so take at least two to three grams daily. Other possible supplements to take include alpha-lipolic acid (50mg taken twice daily) for the antioxidants and resveratrol (200mg daily). Switching your coffee consumption for green tea can also help to boost your total intake of antioxidants.