Guidelines for Pancreatitis Patients

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Category: Diseases & Medical Problems

About author: Dietetic Department - Salmaniya Medical ComplexPancreatitis
• Nutrition therapy limits the fat in your diet while providing nutrients you need.
• The pancreas is an organ that helps your body digest and absorb nutrients in food.
• When you have pancreatitis, your body may not be able to digest food well.
• The fat in food is especially hard for your body to digest and may cause pain.


Tips
• Eat nonfat or low-fat foods that meet the US Dietary Guidelines.
For most adults, goals should be: 
o Grains: 5 to 6 servings each .
o Vegetables: 2½ to 3 cups each day. Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark green and red and orange vegetables and beans and peas.
o Fruits: 2 servings each day.
o Meat and beans: 5 to 6 oz. each day (ex:Meat, Chicken, Fish, Egg, Beans)
o Milk and dairy foods: 3 cups each day.
• Limit saturated fats and trans fats: 
o Foods high in saturated fats include marbled (fatty) meat, poultry skin, bacon, sausage, whole milk, cream and butter. 
o Trans fats are found in stick margarine, shortening, some fried foods, and packaged foods made with hydrogenated oils. 
o If you eat foods high in saturated and trans fats, eat them only once in a while and in small amounts. Instead of butter or stick margarine, try reduced-fat, whipped, or liquid spreads. 
o Keep the total amount of fat that you eat to 25% to 30% of the calories that you eat. 
• Talk with a registered dietitian to determine which foods are best for you and to get answers to any questions you might have about your nutrition therapy. 
• If prescribed, take pancreatic enzymes before each meal or as directed by your doctor.

Reference: ADA Manual – Pancreatitis Nutrition Therapy; Retrieved 28th January 2015