Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: low fat diet pancreatitis

Question:
Anything I can take to give me some sort of relief from the pain, also looking for some sort of mild 'buzz' that I've been missing since giving up smoking & drinking, Any ideas for low fat diet pancreatitis. Thanks you in advance

Answer:
My sister just lost half her pancreas, a foot of small intestine, and half of her stomach besides, to a big tumor caused by chronic pancreatitis. The classic recommendations for someone with pancreatitis are: * Eat a low fat and protein diet * No alcohol * Take pancreatic enzymes, if prescribed * Take stomach acid reducers, like Zantac, if recommended * Reduce triglycerides, if elevated Since the single most common cause of acute and chronic pancreatitis is excessive alcohol use, the complete abstinence from alcohol consumption is essential. I would think a Zone diet would be contra-indicated in pancreatitis. The action of pancreatic enzymes amylase (digests protein) and lipase (digests fat) on the pancreas itself is what causes the inflammation of pancreatitis. Therefore, reducing the secretions of enzymes from the pancreas is the goal of a low-fat, low-protein diet that is often recommended for patients. The moderate fat and protein levels of a Zone diet would likely increase the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, and that would make the inflammation worse, not better.