The pancreas is a large gland located between the stomach and the spine. It plays an important role in digestion, helping to make and secrete enzymes your body needs to break food down into an absorbable form. If your pancreas is diseased or inflamed, as in the case of pancreatitis, your doctor may suggest that you limit your intake of foods high in fat to prevent stimulation of your pancreas.
Pancreas and Digestion
The pancreas helps you digest food by supplying your small intestines with enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that help your intestines break down the food you eat into a form that can be absorbed by your blood. While the pancreas secretes enzymes that help you digest carbohydrates and protein, it is primarily responsible for providing the enzymes that help you digest fat in food. Limiting the amount of fat you eat in your diet to 40 to 60 g a day can help decrease stimulation of your pancreas.
Grains
Most grains are naturally low in fat. However, you should read food labels to help you track and limit your intake. Aim for at least 4 servings of grains a day on your diet plan. Good choices include whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, millet, whole wheat pasta, fat-free crackers, non-granola ready-to-eat cereals, oatmeal and air-popped popcorn. When preparing your grains, do not add any oils, butter or high-fat sauces.
Fruits and Vegetables
Almost all fruits and vegetables are fat-free, and they make a healthy addition to your diet. Not only do they not stimulate the pancreas, but the antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables may also help promote healing of the pancreas, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Aim for at least 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables a day. Fruits and vegetables should also be prepared without fat or high-fat sauces. Avocados are the only fruit that contains fat, and you should avoid them on your diet plan.
Milk
Milk provides your body with protein, calcium and vitamin D. Choose only nonfat milk products, or low-fat milk products with less than 3 g of fat per serving. Aim for 2 servings a day. Good choices to help prevent pancreatic stimulation include nonfat milk, nonfat yogurt and low-fat cheese.
Meats and Beans
Meats and beans provide protein, iron and zinc. Some meats are high in fat and should be avoided. To limit pancreatic stimulation, you should eat more poultry and fish, and limit your intake of red meat. Beans are naturally lower in fat than meat and make a healthy choice on your diet plan. You should include 5 to 6 oz. of meat or beans a day on your diet plan. A 1/4 cup serving of cooked beans equals 1 oz. of meat.
Fat
While it is important to limit the overall fat in your diet to limit pancreatic stimulation, you can include 3 servings of fat a day on your low-fat diet plan. You can include healthier fat choices to maximize the nutritional quality of your diet, such as olive oil, vegetable oil and nut butter.
References
- John Hopkins Medicine: What Is the Pancreas?
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC); Pancreatitis; July 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pancreatitis
- Jackson-Siegelbaum Gastroenterology; Low-Fat Diet; Frank Jackson, M.D.
- "Krause's Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; L. Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump; 1996
