Pancreatitis is an acute and chronic inflammation of the pancreas. The danger of the disease lies in the high probability of developing complications, such as necrosis of areas of the gland and abscesses. A favorable prognosis is provided by timely initiation of therapy and adherence to diet. Pumpkin is good for the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the pancreas.
This vegetable normalizes intestinal acidity, has a mild laxative effect, inhibits inflammation, is a good antioxidant and a source of large amounts of vitamins, micro- and macroelements that are beneficial to the body. Let's figure out whether it is possible to eat pumpkin for pancreatitis and cholecystitis or not, in what form it is best to eat it.
Is it possible to eat pumpkin if you have pancreatitis?
When faced with an unfamiliar disease, a person strives to learn as much as possible about it. It is very important to know that you can eat pumpkin if you have pancreatitis of the pancreas. It will help diversify your diet without spending significant money. Doctors do not prohibit eating vegetables for pancreatitis, but strongly recommend eating them in limited quantities. The vegetable harvest season occurs at the end of summer - beginning of autumn. Early ripening varieties of vegetables are rarely used for food.
It is advisable to introduce pumpkin into the diet after therapeutic fasting.
The product is approved for use in both raw and finished form. Most often, pumpkin is stewed in combination with other vegetables, baked and boiled. The undoubted advantage of the product is the ability to use it in the manufacture of desserts. In addition, it has a general strengthening effect on the body due to its powerful vitamin composition.
Is it possible to drink pumpkin juice for pancreatitis?
Pumpkin juice is very popular among patients with pancreatitis. It has a calming and healing effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive system. Therefore, it is often used to relieve discomfort caused by pancreatitis. Take the juice 30 minutes before meals. The optimal single dosage is 100 ml. The drink can be bought ready-made or prepared yourself. In case of chronic disease, it is better to take it in a state of remission.
In what form can you eat pumpkin for pancreatitis?
Due to its low fiber content, the vegetable does not cause discomfort in the stomach. Therefore, it is considered an excellent option for those who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases. The raw product has the greatest benefits. Some beneficial substances are destroyed under the influence of high temperatures. Despite this, for pancreatitis it is advisable to eat pumpkin in its finished form. This will reduce the likelihood of unwanted symptoms. Cooking pumpkin for pancreatitis must be done by boiling, baking and stewing the vegetable. In this case, the product will help to gently cleanse the digestive organs without overloading them. In this case, the benefit of the product is reduced insignificantly.
During remission
The period of remission is characterized by stable well-being, cessation of frequent abdominal pain, vomiting and other symptoms. The diet is changing, the diet is expanding, the list of acceptable foods is expanding. How does this affect the consumption of melons and melons? Is pumpkin allowed for pancreatitis during remission?
Remission of pancreatitis
When the phases of the disease change, a strict diet is replaced by a diet that allows you to increase the variety of foods in the diet. Now you can stew, bake, or cook pumpkin with a small amount of unsalted butter, milk and millet. It is necessary to stew without frying; fried and fatty foods are prohibited, due to the risk of causing inflammation of the pancreas.
You should be wary of pumpkin seed oil and berry seeds. Pumpkin oil can be added to food three and a half months after an exacerbation, in small quantities as a preventive measure. As for pumpkin juice, the drink can be consumed 2.5-3 months after the acute period of pancreatitis. Together with pumpkin juice, it is already allowed to consume raw berries, with the permission of the attending physician.
How is pumpkin useful for cholecystitis and pancreatitis?
Pumpkin is known for containing large amounts of water-soluble vitamins. With pancreatitis in remission, the body needs them for rapid recovery. Replenishing vitamin reserves naturally significantly strengthens the immune system. Among the useful components of the product are:
- iron;
- fluorine;
- vitamins A, E and B;
- protopectins;
- carotene;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- organic acids.
During exacerbation of pancreatitis, pumpkin helps reduce stomach acidity. It promotes the outflow of bile and has a dehydrating effect, which has a positive effect on the patient’s well-being. The product is quickly digested without causing a feeling of heaviness. Therefore, it is recommended to eat it not only for pancreatitis, but also for cholecystitis.
Attention! Pumpkin can be used not only for medicinal purposes, but also for the prevention of diseases of the digestive system.
Useful properties of the vegetable
The composition of pumpkin is very rich and varied. It includes a large amount of vitamins and microelements, as well as pectins, proteins, carbohydrates, and coarse fiber. Moreover, the calorie content of dishes made from it is very low.
Due to its composition, when consumed regularly, pumpkin brings many benefits to the body:
- It has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system due to the presence of B vitamins.
- Improves the structure of the skin and mucous membranes, accelerates tissue regeneration, and also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the eyes, thanks to a large amount of vitamins A, E and C.
- Provides rejuvenation of the body, good prevention of malignant neoplasms, thanks to the antioxidant effect of vitamins.
- Normalizes the evacuation function of the intestines, eliminates constipation as a result of the mild effect of vegetable pumpkin fiber on the gastrointestinal tract.
- Eliminates increased stomach acidity, since pumpkin pulp has an alkaline environment.
- It has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system and organs of the cardiovascular system due to the presence of microelements necessary for them (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and others).
- Removes excess fluid, eliminates swelling.
- Promotes weight loss in obesity due to the fact that pumpkin dishes are low in calories, but at the same time they are good at eliminating the feeling of hunger. They can be included in almost any diet.
Recipes for pumpkin dishes for pancreatitis
Since foods that are difficult to digest are prohibited, dietary pumpkin dishes for pancreatitis will be the most suitable option. Due to their high nutritional value, they relieve hunger for a long time, but do not have a negative effect on stomach acidity. The main advantage of the vegetable is that it can be used to prepare any dish.
Porridge
For pancreatitis, pumpkin is introduced into the diet as part of porridge. The first portion is divided into 2 equal parts and eaten with an interval of 4 hours. If there is no negative reaction from the digestive tract, the dish can be consumed on an ongoing basis.
Rice porridge with pumpkin
There is no need to add salt when cooking rice porridge. The taste can be enriched with butter or vegetable oil. The recipe uses the following ingredients:
- 200 g pumpkin pulp;
- 1 liter of water;
- ½ tbsp. rice
Cooking algorithm:
- The rice is washed and filled with the required amount of water.
- After complete readiness, add chopped pumpkin pulp to the porridge.
- The dish continues to cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
- The oil is added directly to the plate.
Oatmeal with milk
Components:
- ½ tbsp. oatmeal;
- 1 tbsp. milk;
- 200 g pumpkin pulp.
Cooking process:
- Oatmeal is poured with milk and cooked until half cooked.
- Add pieces of vegetables to the porridge and keep on fire for 10 minutes.
- Add a small piece of butter to the finished dish.
Warning! Oil prepared from pumpkin is prohibited from being consumed during an exacerbation of pancreatitis.
First meal
Cream soup is considered the healthiest dish made from pumpkin pulp. It has high nutritional value and satisfies hunger well. In case of chronic pancreatitis, it is advisable to eat pumpkin as part of a soup for lunch.
Pumpkin puree soup
Components:
- 1 potato;
- 1 carrot;
- 1 onion;
- 1 tbsp. milk;
- 200 g pumpkin.
Cooking process:
- Vegetables are poured with lightly salted water and put on fire.
- When the vegetables become soft, pour the broth into a separate container.
- The components are crushed using a blender.
- The broth is gradually poured into the resulting mass, stirring occasionally.
- After reaching a creamy consistency, the soup is put on the fire and a glass of milk is poured into it.
- While constantly stirring, heat the dish without bringing it to a boil.
Spicy pumpkin soup
Ingredients:
- 400 g pumpkin;
- 1 tsp. ground ginger;
- 1 carrot;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- 500 ml chicken broth;
- 1 onion;
- spices to taste;
- 0.5 tbsp. milk.
Preparation:
- The pumpkin is washed, peeled and cut into small cubes.
- Add chopped pumpkin to the boiling broth. While it reaches readiness, carrots, onions and garlic are overcooked in a separate frying pan.
- After the pumpkin is ready, the broth is drained, and the vegetable is crushed in a blender, adding frying to it.
- While chopping vegetables, milk is poured into the pan.
- The soup is reheated by adding any seasonings and ginger.
Second courses
Anyone who has encountered the disease should know that you can eat pumpkin for pancreatitis of the pancreas in the form of main courses. Such dishes should be eaten in the afternoon. In the stage of remission of the disease, they are allowed to be combined with lean meat or chicken, boiled or steamed.
Pumpkin vegetable puree
Components:
- 2 carrots;
- 300 g pumpkin;
- 1 liter of water.
Cooking principle:
- Vegetables are peeled and thoroughly chopped.
- Before throwing them into a pan of water, they are cut into cubes.
- Once ready, the water is drained, and the pumpkin and carrots are pureed using a blender.
- Add a little salt and seasonings if desired.
Steamed pumpkin
Components:
- 500 g pumpkin;
- 2 tbsp. water;
- butter and sugar - to taste.
Cooking process:
- The pumpkin is washed, peeled and cut into small cubes.
- The vegetable is placed in a multicooker, having first filled the lower bowl with water. Cooking is carried out in the “Steam” mode.
- After the multicooker automatically turns off, the pumpkin is pulled out and placed on a plate.
- Add butter and sugar if desired.
Pumpkin baked in foil
For the recipe you will need:
- 100 g sugar;
- 500 g pumpkin;
- 40 g butter.
Recipe:
- The vegetable is peeled and cut into large oblong slices.
- Each block is sprinkled with sugar.
- The vegetable is wrapped in foil, after pouring it with melted butter.
- The dish is cooked at 190°C for an hour.
Important! Before cooking, the fruit must be thoroughly rinsed with running water.
Dessert
Thanks to its sweetish taste, pumpkin can be eaten for cholelithiasis and pancreatitis, in the form of desserts. They will be an excellent replacement for regular sweets. Doctors recommend eating desserts no more than 1-2 times a day, mainly in the first half of the day. Sweet pumpkin-based dishes are low in calories, so they do not affect your figure.
Pumpkin pudding
Ingredients:
- 250 ml milk;
- 3 tbsp. l. semolina;
- 300 g pumpkin;
- 1 egg;
- 2 tsp. Sahara.
Recipe:
- Porridge is prepared from semolina and milk in the standard way.
- The vegetable is boiled in a separate container, after which it is crushed to a puree in a blender.
- The components are mixed together.
- Egg and sugar are added to the resulting mass.
- The mass is laid out in portion forms and put in the oven for 20 minutes.
Smoothie with banana
Components:
- 200 g pumpkin pulp;
- 1 banana;
- 1 tbsp. yogurt.
Recipe:
- The ingredients are mixed in a blender until smooth.
- Before serving, the dessert can be decorated with a berry or a mint leaf.
Bakery
Pumpkin dishes for pancreatitis of the pancreas can be not only healthy, but also tasty. But experts advise not to use them during periods of exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases.
Syrniki
Many people do not know that you can eat pumpkin for pancreatitis in cheesecakes. If you do not abuse the product, it will not have a negative effect on your health. To prepare healthy cheesecakes you will need:
- 2 tbsp. l. rice flour;
- 2 tsp. honey;
- 1 egg;
- 100 g pumpkin;
- 200 g low-fat cottage cheese;
- a pinch of salt.
Preparation:
- Pumpkin pulp is boiled until fully cooked and crushed into puree.
- All components (except rice flour) are mixed with each other, forming a homogeneous mass.
- It is formed into small balls and rolled in rice flour.
- The cheesecakes are laid out on a baking sheet, having previously spread parchment on it.
- Place the dish in the oven for 20 minutes at 180°C.
Pumpkin casserole
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs;
- 400 g cottage cheese;
- 400 g pumpkin;
- 3 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
- a pinch of salt;
- cinnamon and lemon zest - optional.
Cooking process:
- The pumpkin is removed from the seeds and peel, and then cut into pieces.
- Cook the vegetable until fully cooked over medium heat.
- In a separate container, mix the remaining components using a whisk.
- Boiled pumpkin is added to the resulting mass.
- The dough is placed in a baking dish, the bottom of which is coated with oil.
- The casserole is cooked in the oven at a temperature of 170-180°C for half an hour.
Pumpkin Juice Recipes
Pumpkin juice has the ability to increase the alkaline balance, thereby relieving discomfort in the stomach. You can prepare the drink yourself or purchase it in a store, ready-made. It can be used instead of snacks, as it is quite filling. Pumpkin goes well with carrots, apples, pears, apricots and oranges. It is recommended to take 120 ml of juice per day, an hour before meals in the morning.
Pumpkin-apple juice
Components:
- 200 g pumpkin;
- 200 g apples;
- zest of 1 lemon;
- sugar - to taste.
Recipe:
- Pumpkin and apples are cut into small pieces and passed through a juicer.
- Sugar and zest are added to the resulting liquid.
- The drink is placed on the fire for 5 minutes at a temperature of 90°C.
Orange-pumpkin juice
Ingredients:
- 3 oranges;
- 450 g sugar;
- 3 kg pumpkin;
- half a lemon.
Recipe:
- Pumpkin pulp cut into pieces is poured with water and put on fire.
- After cooking, the vegetable is crushed to a homogeneous consistency using an immersion blender.
- Juice obtained from squeezed lemons and oranges is added to the pot with the drink.
- The drink is put back on the fire and boiled for 10 minutes.
Advice! Pumpkin juice can be prepared in large quantities and stored in jars for the winter.
Pumpkin in the acute phase of the disease
The berry does not irritate the pancreas during inflammation, does not cause bloating and diarrhea, pumpkin is introduced into the patient’s diet after fasting. Portions are not large (about 200-300 g), but you will be able to enjoy your favorite product. It is strictly forbidden to eat the berries raw, in pieces, or simply grate or boil them.
Dishes made from pumpkin are eaten warm, thoroughly chopped at the time of eating. The allowed amount of berries per day is divided into two meals, with at least two hours between meals.
A strict diet at the time of exacerbation lasts twenty-five days. It is forbidden to eat hard raw berries, cut into large pieces, to avoid harm to the pancreas. You can't drink pumpkin juice. After two weeks after the onset of the acute phase of the disease, other permitted foods can be added to the dishes: vegetables (potatoes, carrots), cereals (for example, rice), etc.
Restrictions and contraindications
Raw pumpkin for pancreatitis is strictly prohibited. But even in its finished form, the product should be used with caution. Contraindications to its use are as follows:
- individual intolerance to the constituent components;
- diabetes;
- peptic ulcer;
- hypoacid gastritis.
If you experience an allergic reaction to the product, you should consult a specialist. It is expressed in the appearance of a skin rash, itching and swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs. In this case, it is necessary to exclude the vegetable from the diet.