Pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas that results in inflammation of the organ. The disease leads to disruption of the functioning of the gland and the enzymes it produces do not enter the duodenum. Without leaving the organ in a timely manner, over time they begin to have a destructive effect on its tissues. As a result of these pathologies, the digestion process is disrupted, poisoning of all body systems occurs, in particular, the production of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Patients with pancretitis should adhere to a diet. To do this, you need to figure out what products and how to eat them. In this article we will look at the rules for using yogurt for pancreatitis.
Description of the disease
Pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory process in the pancreas. The main causes of pathology are:
- Poor nutrition;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Cholelithiasis;
- Secondary infections.
The most pronounced symptom of the disease is pain, especially after eating. The pain is localized in the hypochondrium, in the pit of the stomach, and may be girdling in nature.
Other symptoms manifest themselves in the patient’s pale complexion, increased temperature or pressure surges, stool disturbances, vomiting, nausea, bloating, shortness of breath, and yellowing of the skin.
First aid
The acute course of the disease leads to relapses, which develop at lightning speed and are accompanied by fever and severe pain in the area of the inflamed gland. First of all, the patient needs:
- Place a drip with saline solution;
- Take painkillers, for example, ketorolac;
- Take an antisecretory drug – quamatel, octreotide;
- Take an antiemetic - metoclopramide.
The cause of exacerbations and relapses is a violation of the diet. For this reason, patients who have previously experienced acute pancreatitis are concerned about the correct use of certain products. In particular, the question often arises about whether it is possible to eat yogurt with pancreatitis.
Choosing milk
In such an unusual task as preparing yogurt, milk is the main basis, so its choice should be approached with the utmost responsibility. There are a few things you should pay attention to when purchasing. First of all, this is the information that is indicated on the product packaging. You must read everything in the description. Very often, the manufacturer, when indicating certain information, uses both standard and small font.
Inattentive buyers do not attach much importance to what is written in small letters, and this is completely in vain, because the most important information is often presented in this way. Shelf life is perhaps the most important criterion that characterizes a product in terms of its freshness. Expired milk is not suitable either for consumption in its pure form or for making yogurt, especially if it is planned for a person with a pancreatic disorder. In addition, the shelf life should not be excessively long.
Usually, if a product has the ability to be stored for a long time, this indicates that it probably contains preservatives. Composition is another point that should not be ignored. The product content should not contain vegetable fats, artificial colors, starch, preservatives, stabilizers and other undesirable additives. Appearance of the packaging: it should not be wrinkled or contain drops of product on the surface, because, as a rule, this is a sign of improper storage, as a result of which the milk could sour and spoil.
Specifically for making yogurt, you need to choose only pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk. And finally, the last thing you should also pay attention to is the manufacturer. It is advisable to give preference to the most famous of them, since large popular companies value their reputation and use exclusively high-quality raw materials to manufacture their products.
The benefits of yogurt
Yogurt for pancreatitis is not only allowed, but even indicated for patients. Its benefits are as follows:
- Yogurt for pancreatitis is a natural source of animal protein, which helps restore gland cells. Casein breaks down quite easily, so its processing does not burden the pancreas.
- Since pancreatitis is often accompanied by intestinal disorders and dysbiosis, in particular, yogurt can be used as a natural source of fermented milk bacteria that restore intestinal microflora.
- With pancreatitis, there is also such a problem as frequent constipation. You can also fight them with the help of yoghurts, which have a mild laxative effect by activating intestinal motility.
- Pancreatitis may be accompanied by lactose deficiency. The lactic acid bacteria in yogurt partially break down lactose, which helps restore its deficiency in the body.
- You can eat yogurt, if only because its soft enveloping effect promotes better functioning of the stomach, and also introduces many micro- and macroelements, vitamins and organic acids into the body.
How to make healthy yogurt at home
To make high-quality, tasty yogurt you will need milk with starter. The recipe is simple:
- Boil 1 liter of milk for 5 minutes or heat if using pasteurized or UHT milk. The utensils that will be used for preparing yogurt (enamel pan, stirring spoon) must be thoroughly washed.
- Make sure that the temperature of the milk is about 40 degrees, because a higher temperature will destroy all the necessary beneficial bacteria, and in cold conditions these bacteria will not multiply and the yogurt will not turn out.
- Yogurt starter can be purchased at a store or pharmacy. For 1 liter of milk you will need 125 g of starter. When mixing milk with the starter, you need to constantly stir it to evenly distribute all the ingredients.
- Then you need to close the pan with a lid and wrap it tightly with a warm towel or blanket and leave it in a warm place, for example, near a radiator for 10 hours.
The easiest way to prepare yogurt is using a yogurt maker or a multicooker: you need to pour the prepared milk and starter into the container from the device and set it to the “yogurt” mode. Cooking time is usually 5–6 hours.
When introducing any new food or drink into the diet during pancreatitis, you should consult a physician or gastroenterologist. The doctor will tell you when you should add fermented milk products and what kind of yoghurt you can use for pancreatitis.
What should yogurt be like?
However, all these beneficial properties apply only to one type of drink. Store-bought yogurt does not contain even a fraction of the beneficial substances for the body, especially for pancreatic diseases. In addition, store-bought yogurts contain:
- Dyes;
- Thickeners;
- Flavors;
- Preservatives.
All these substances are strictly prohibited for pancreatitis, as they can exacerbate the disease, cause a relapse and lead to poor health of the patient.
Homemade yoghurts, on the contrary, contain all the necessary substances. For preparation, you only need milk and a bacterial starter, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Today, yogurt makers are often used to prepare homemade yogurts, which allow you to get a tasty and healthy product within a few hours without human intervention in the preparation process.
When is a diet prescribed for pancreatitis?
The diet needs to be changed as soon as pancreatitis is diagnosed . Particular attention should be paid to nutrition during an exacerbation of the disease. The main thing is to provide the patient with three main principles: hunger, cold and peace. During an exacerbation, you need to drink mineral still water, various decoctions and weak teas. After the most acute period has passed, gradually introduce vegetable broth and oatmeal broth into the diet.
how to eat properly when you have inflammation of the pancreas
For the subsequent period, it is worth maintaining fractional, gentle nutrition. It is better to stick to it for 6 to 12 months. This time is enough for the organ to recover. In addition, the patient will already get used to the new way of eating, and to life in general. Dietary restrictions outside the acute period are not too strict. You just need to follow them, and the result will exceed all expectations. A properly selected diet will help not only reduce the amount and time of taking medications, but also eliminate the need for surgery.
Very important! All therapeutic measures, regardless of gender, age and severity, must be agreed with a doctor. Only a doctor can optimally select medications and prescribe the correct diet. After all, only he has a correct idea of the state of the patient’s pancreatic gland based on additional research.
If you had to go on a diet for pancreatitis, follow the rules of nutrition so as not to encounter complications in the future.
Use for relapses
Is it possible to eat yogurt if a person is experiencing an exacerbation of pancreatitis? Only an endocrinologist can answer this question accurately for each specific case.
In general, the approved product is administered only twenty days after the relapse of the disease; the fat content of yogurt should be no more than 1%. At first, the patient is given only a third of a glass per day. Then the dosage can be increased gradually, up to one glass per day.
Yogurt can be consumed as an alternative to kefir. It is recommended to drink it separately from other dishes, as an afternoon snack or dinner. In this case, the stomach is not filled with other food, and yogurt can fulfill its enveloping function and be better processed by the intestines.
Diet for patients with pancreatitis
Homemade yogurt is especially beneficial
If you suspect pancreatitis, you should seek help from a doctor. The specialist will diagnose the causes of the disease and prescribe certain medications. In addition, therapy is complemented by a specific diet aimed at facilitating the functioning of the pancreas.
Depending on the form of the disease - chronic or acute - different types of diets are prescribed. If acute pancreatitis is detected, the patient is advised not to eat for the first two days. It is allowed to drink mineral water or rosehip decoction in the amount of one glass up to five times a day.
Starting from the third day, the patient can eat low-calorie foods. Fatty, spicy and salty foods, as well as foods that increase the secretion of gastric juice, should be completely excluded from his diet. Further diet includes:
Use during remission
For chronic pancreatitis and without exacerbations, yogurt with a fat content of up to 3.5% is allowed. To diversify the taste and complement the medicinal properties of this product, you can add to it:
- Fresh fruits;
- Berries;
- Sweeteners;
- Honey;
- Jam;
- Syrups;
- Juices.
It can also be used as a dressing for desserts and fruit salads, as an additive to baking dough, and as a topping for casseroles, cookies and other desserts.
Buying a quality product in a store is quite difficult. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the composition does not contain thickeners, dyes, flavors, or preservatives. It is better for patients to prepare it at home from natural homemade milk.
Chemical composition of the product
This delicacy is obtained from milk by fermenting it. Yogurt becomes the result of the interaction of a dairy product with certain microorganisms (Bulgarian coli - probiotic lactobacilli, thermophilic streptococcus).
100 g of yogurt contains:
- Proteins - 4.1 g;
- Fats - 1.6 g;
- Carbohydrates - 5.8 g;
- Kcal - 57.
- Yogurt is rich in vitamins D, A, H, PP, C, as well as B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9).
In addition, the product contains a wide range of useful substances, such as sodium and magnesium, chlorine, iron, potassium, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium and sulfur, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iodine.
