The pancreas is an organ of the gastrointestinal system. This organ produces insulin, which supports sugar metabolism, and many enzymes that help digest food, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Pancreatitis is the clinical term for inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis may be very painful, but goes away quickly; chronic pancreatitis persists over a long period of time. An inflamed pancreas does not function optimally and as such, there are certain foods you should avoid while you have this condition.
Foods That Cause a Spike in Blood Sugar
Avoid foods rich in carbohydrates, such as pasta and bread, as well as sugar-rich foods like cake and candy, when you have pancreatitis, according to the UMMC. These refined foods increase your blood sugar, causing the pancreas to increase its production of insulin. An inflamed pancreas has a harder time keeping up with the body's demand for insulin and as such, it is healthier to avoid these foods.
Foods High in Fat
Those with an inflamed pancreas should eat a low-fat diet that includes fewer than 30 g of fat per day, according to the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. This means, you should avoid high-fat red meats like steaks and hamburgers. Also avoid cooking with high amounts of unhealthy trans fats like lard and butter. In fact, is healthiest to avoid cooking with these fats altogether. According to the UMMC, you should avoid all foods containing trans fats including french fries, donuts and many types of processed foods. Read the nutrition labels on processed foods to determine the trans fat content. Avoiding foods high in fat is also beneficial in that you are likelier to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, as overweight or obese people are more likely to have pancreatitis.
Alcohol
The Linus Pauling Institute reports startling statistics: alcohol is the cause of 30 percent of acute pancreatitis cases and 70 to 90 percent of chronic pancreatitis cases in the United States, indicating that alcohol clearly has a detrimental effect on the health of the pancreas. As such, it is best to avoid foods and beverages that contain alcohol even if the cause of your pancreatitis is something other than alcohol.
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