Foods That Will Heal the Pancreas

According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas 2. Your pancreas health is vital to your overall health, and certain foods are particularly beneficial for this internal organ. If you're dealing with pancreatitis, adding these to your diet may help 2.

What Is the Pancreas?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains that the pancreas is a large gland located behind the stomach and close to the duodenum, or the beginning of the small intestine 12. This vital organ makes insulin and digestive juices to help you break down food in the intestine.

Pancreatitis is the result of those digestive enzymes damaging the pancreas and causing inflammation 2. Whether you have acute or chronic pancreatitis, both are serious and may lead to complications 2. If you're experiencing abdominal pain, which is common with pancreatitis, shifting to foods good for the pancreas can give it a rest and allow it to recover 23.

If this organ is chronically inflamed, your body will not be able to produce enough of the digestive enzymes that allow for proper nutrient absorption. Over time, this may result in malnourishment and weight loss, which could cause other health issues.

A potential effect of chronic pancreatitis is the loss of proper pancreatic and endocrine function 2. If this happens, you may develop diabetes because your body can no longer produce insulin. In this situation, you must take insulin to maintain good health.

Read more: Foods to Avoid If You Have Pancreatitis

Foods to Avoid With Pancreatitis

Diet for Pancreatitis & High Sugar

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According to the Cleveland Clinic, foods to avoid with pancreatitis include anything high in fat or fried, as well as foods that are high in sugar 23.

You want to cut out:

• Butter and margarine
• Red meat and organ meats
• Mayonnaise
• Potato chips and French fries
• Pastries
• Ultra-processed foods
• Whole-fat dairy
• Sugary drinks
• Caffeine

This vital organ is responsible for processing the majority of the fat you eat, so the more fat you have in your diet, the harder your pancreas has to work. Foods high in simple sugars and fat also boost your triglyceride levels, or the fatty acids in your blood, which may increase your risk of developing pancreatitis 2.

Dietary changes are the most beneficial for people with mild pancreatitis 2. However, for those who are experiencing moderate or severe symptoms, diet alone isn't always enough to help manage their condition.

Following a Pancreatitis Diet

When choosing fruits and vegetables to eat, seek foods with high antioxidant levels. These include:

• berries
  
• leafy green vegetables
  
• sweet potatoes
  
• carrots
  
• walnuts
  
• grapes

Keep anything like fatty fish, nuts and seeds, avocado and olive oil in your diet in moderation.

Keeping the Pancreas Healthy

Foods to Avoid With Gallbladder Attacks

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Complications of pancreatitis include blockage in the pancreatic or bile duct, leakage from the pancreatic duct, failure of the heart, kidney, or lungs and even death 2.cause:

• Complications of pancreatitis include blockage in the pancreatic or bile duct
  
• leakage from the pancreatic duct
  
• failure of the heart
  
• kidney
  
• or lungs
  
• even death 2

Acute pancreatitis may lead to infection, bleeding or dehydration 2.