Tea is the most popular drink that appears on our table almost every day. Today there are a huge number of varieties, each of which has its own taste characteristics. But green tea is considered the most beneficial. If you have pancreatitis, you need to completely reconsider your diet, this also applies to drinks. Fortunately, you don't have to give up tea. Experts in the field of healthy nutrition believe that it is not only not harmful, but can also bring some benefits. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of specialists.
During the period of exacerbation
For pancreatitis, green tea is an excellent option for quenching thirst. But there is one unshakable rule. During an exacerbation, it is necessary to stop using it and leave only clean water. That is, periods of drinking tea should be completely painless for the patient. If there is an exacerbation of the inflammatory process in the pancreas, then you should immediately stop drinking the drink. Green tea for pancreatitis, as well as any other, is permissible only during a period of stable remission.
All features of the disease, as well as its treatment, are included in a special classifier. It is updated periodically as new data becomes available. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10), classified pancreatitis in class XI. These are diseases of the digestive system. This includes codes K00 - K93. If you receive a sick leave certificate, you may see similar designations on it. Pancreatitis is classified by ICD-10 as diseases of the gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas. Disease code K87.
Drink recipes for acute pancreatitis
Gentle brewing, moderate consumption at the right time blocks the stimulation of pancreatic secretion. It does not change the functional activity of the liver and does not affect the processes of bile formation. The functioning of blood vessels and the cardiovascular system is gradually normalized. The patient's appearance improves, the person is on the mend.
The therapeutic activity of the drink can be enhanced by medicinal herbs: immortelle, elecampane, fireweed, lingonberry leaves, wormwood. But, without the consent of the attending physician, adding additional medicinal herbs is strictly prohibited.
Medicinal herbs will accelerate the healing of the gastrointestinal tract. Over time, the production of digestive enzymes will be restored. Sour belching will decrease due to a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice, and excess gas formation and heartburn will also go away.
Important. During the treatment of pancreatitis, both lemon and adding its juice to tea are strictly prohibited. An excess of vitamin C increases stomach acidity. This can lead to the opposite destructive effect instead of a healing one.
Ginger green tea
The root of the plant promotes the production of gastric juice. Metabolism starts, due to this metabolic processes are accelerated. It helps strengthen the immune system due to its high concentration of amino acids and vitamin C.
Green tea with spices for pregnant women
Ginger is completely prohibited for people suffering from pancreatitis. Based on this, we can safely write that ginger green tea for inflammation of the pancreas is strictly prohibited.
To summarize, we can answer the question: is it possible to drink green tea with pancreatitis? Moderate consumption of this drink, with prior agreement with the attending physician, is permitted. Before drinking tea for the first time, it is necessary to discuss the permitted volume, recommended tea drinking time and methods of preparing the tea drink.
Proper drinking will help you quickly cope with a serious illness, which without proper attention risks turning into a malignant neoplasm. Green tea will help you calm down because tenin has a calming effect on the central nervous system, softening the effects of caffeine.
Blood pressure will normalize, the walls of blood vessels will be strengthened, and blood will more quickly deliver nutrients to the damaged organ. The gradually restored acidity of the stomach will promote the healing of wounds in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. And tannins will help relieve the inflammatory process.
Your joint actions with your doctor will help you defeat the disease faster. Green tea, as an additional remedy, will help facilitate and speed up the healing process. Then it will help consolidate the effect of recovery.
How to drink tea
In fact, today there are few specialists who are well versed in the characteristics of tea varieties. But there are dozens of them, and each of them has its own characteristics. Green tea for pancreatitis should be consumed taking these nuances into account. Experts recommend consuming different varieties in the morning and afternoon, after meals.
But it’s better not to use it for evening tea. If a person suffers from insomnia, the condition can only get worse. Moreover, the patient may begin to complain of aching pain in problem areas and feel completely overwhelmed.
Different types of tea for illness
Of the many varieties, many have beneficial properties that are used when prescribing a pancreatic diet.
Different types of tea and their main effects on the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas:
- Regular black tea. One of the few types of tea that is allowed during the acute phase. It has no effect on the acidity of the stomach, especially if it is not strong. The drink normalizes peristalsis, accelerates tissue regeneration, and expands blood vessels locally.
- Green tea. Contains many useful elements, vitamins B, A, C, has a beneficial effect on blood pressure, calms the autonomic nervous system, and helps in stressful situations.
- Herbal teas for pancreatitis, pancreas (herbal tea), lack of certain enzymes, dysfunction requires help to improve digestion. Collections of various herbs with a variety of beneficial properties are designed to relieve symptoms and improve well-being.
An important part of drinking different types of tea is a preliminary consultation with a doctor. It is necessary to make sure that there are no individual hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, and start consuming new varieties in small portions.
Healthy eating rules
Recommendations from experts
First of all, consult your doctor. If he believes that there are no contraindications for you personally, then you can safely include tea in your daily diet. Pancreatitis is a serious illness that most often occurs in a chronic form. You should not hope that you will undergo treatment once and forget about it forever. Inflammatory processes will return if you violate the diet, work and rest.
It is worth adhering to the basic rules of use, which include:
- Only the highest grade varieties should be brewed. Avoid the temptation to brew tea in bags. By the way, granulated tea is also not a good choice, since its production involves tea dust and other waste.
- You only need to brew tea for one time. A fresh drink has all the beneficial properties.
- Strong drinks are not for you, so do not exceed the recommended dosages. A standard 0.4 liter teapot uses 1 teaspoon.
- You cannot add milk or cream, sugar or flavorings to the finished drink.
Pancreatitis is a disease that causes too much discomfort to make reckless food and drink choices. Any violation of the diet can lead to a worsening of the condition and severe pain.
Diet for inflammation of the pancreas
In the acute period of the disease, diet plays a leading role in treatment. Difficult release of enzymes leads to failure in the absorption of “heavy” foods. It is worth excluding from the patient’s diet fatty foods, fried and spicy foods, the processing of which requires a large amount of enzymes.
The inflamed pancreas cannot supply the intestinal tract with them in sufficient quantities.
It is important to follow the drinking regimen recommended by your doctor during an exacerbation . This is necessary in order to remove toxins from the body that are formed in the organ due to stagnation of pancreatic juice.
Among drinks, herbal teas and traditional infusions of tea leaves occupy a worthy place. They relax smooth muscles, have an antioxidant effect, and fight inflammation.
Impact on the body
So, we have dealt with the first question. But if tea is allowed, then you need to understand how useful it is in this situation. And be sure to evaluate your condition. This determines whether green tea is ok for pancreatitis. If in the last few weeks you have felt heaviness or pain in the abdomen and lower back, then you should wait a little while introducing the drink into your diet.
But let’s return to how a drink can be useful for a patient with pancreatitis:
- Green tea relieves swelling of the pancreas. It has a diuretic effect.
- If you regularly include tea in your diet, you will be able to appreciate the effect of strengthening the vascular walls.
- Symptoms of residual inflammation gradually disappear after treatment is completed.
- Today, there is verified evidence that green tea can reduce the growth of tumor cells.
- If you suffer from chronic bouts of diarrhea, then you are definitely advised to drink green tea.
- This drink reduces the desire to drink strong and alcoholic drinks.
- The properties and contraindications of green tea should be studied before you start drinking it. It effectively lowers blood sugar levels, dissolves fats and cholesterol.
What tea is best to drink for pancreatitis?
The method of treating the disease itself is based on hunger, and then a strict diet. These periods are really difficult to survive, but one thing saves many - such patients are allowed to drink. Thus, approaching hunger and the temptation to eat something for 10 or even 20 days are extinguished with ordinary black tea. In addition to its other medicinal qualities, it:
- covers the daily fluid requirement;
- slightly reduces the risk of diarrhea or calms what has already begun;
- reduces the activity of inflammation, because it contains antioxidants;
- reduces swelling of the pancreas, because it has a diuretic effect.
Read about the symptoms and treatment of acute pancreatitis here.
But not every tea is suitable for this ailment. Some teas can be harmful and provoke a new attack of the disease. Therefore, tea also has its own requirements. Firstly, it should not be strong, because strong tea activates enzymes that begin to “digest” the pancreas. Secondly, it should not contain sugar, because glucose makes the organ work hard. Thirdly, it should not contain any flavorings, food additives or other elements of chemical origin. In this case, it is recommended to take most of the daily dose in the first half of the day.
In case of chronic pancreatitis, the patient may also be prescribed fortified tea, but this does not eliminate the consumption of black tea. The preparation technology itself remains the same, but in addition to the above, tea also extinguishes cravings for alcohol, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, maintains blood vessels in their elastic form and even inhibits the growth of malignant tumor cells. In order to fully express itself, the tea must be freshly brewed (that is, it can be consumed within 2 hours after brewing) and loose, and not granulated or in bags.
Proper preparation
The first step is to buy high-quality, loose-leaf tea. Rinse the teapot with boiling water and put a teaspoon of tea leaves into it. Now pour boiling water and close the kettle with a lid. Wrap it in a towel and leave for 20 minutes. After this, the drink is completely ready for consumption. It does not need to be diluted with water, you can drink it as it is.
When brewed correctly, the drink contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. This is exactly what is needed when fighting the disease. Many experts recommend this drink as an excellent preventative for pathologies affecting the gastrointestinal tract. This list includes any pancreatic disease, not just pancreatitis.
How to eat with pancreatitis
This question will sooner or later arise before every person affected by this disease. In the chronic form of the disease, diet No. 5 is recommended. It can have individual preferences, sufficient in terms of daily caloric content, complete in the amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. The diet is divided, foods that mechanically irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract are excluded.
What can you eat
In case of exacerbation in the first 3 days, fasting is recommended. During this period, only mineral water and rosehip decoction are allowed. The total volume is about a liter per day.
From day 4, you can add unsweetened tea with crackers, pureed mucous soups and porridges to your diet.
Starting from day 6, you can add cottage cheese and white bread to your diet in small portions, as well as pureed vegetable soups.
From day 8 you can gradually introduce meat and fish. This can be a soufflé or steamed cutlets.
If painful symptoms do not return, then you can gradually include eggs, dairy products, cereals and vegetables, fruits and sweets.
Sweets with pancreatitis: can you eat them?
By the term “sweets” we are accustomed to understand an extensive list of products containing sugar or its analogues.
The first month is a strict diet that prohibits even hints of sugar. And in the second month you can indulge in jelly, compote with sugar analogues, and pudding.
Features of nutrition in remission for those with a sweet tooth:
- Any dessert should be homemade, made from natural products, without additives;
- Give preference to fructose, you can buy it in its pure form. Add to sweets when cooking;
- Dessert should not be fatty, sour, or spicy;
- Eat only fresh dessert;
- Do not overdo it.
What sweets can you eat:
- Sugar – in remission, no more than 10-20 grams per day;
- Honey - in remission, in the absence of suspicion of diabetes, 2 tbsp. l per day;
- Jam, not sour;
- Mousses, fruit jelly;
- Marshmallow;
- Pastila;
- Marmalade, not sprinkled with sugar;
- Soufflé with milk, for example, “bird's milk”;
- Candies made from boiled sugar;
- Cracker;
- Sweets;
- Nuts in sugar syrup;
- Inconvenient pastries.
Strictly prohibited:
- Chocolates;
- Ice cream (due to fat content, additives);
- Condensed milk;
- Caramels, lollipops;
- Pastries, cakes;
- Waffles;
- Chocolate covered sweets with chocolate filling;
- Halva.
What to give up
Medical nutrition requires the exclusion of a number of foods. Moreover, they should not be used under any circumstances, even during remission. Let's look at what you can't eat if you have pancreatitis.
- Any alcoholic drinks, even low-alcohol ones, should be completely excluded.
- Hot spices and seasonings.
- Any snacks for beer: nuts, crackers and chips.
- French fries, hot dogs and other harmful things. This is something that you should never eat if you have pancreatitis.
- Dumplings and manti.
This is not a complete list. If you also have a negative reaction to one of the approved products, then you should include it in the same list.
Features of use
In case of pancreatitis, special attention should be paid to the quality of the drink. It is better not to buy tea in bags or granules, but to give preference to loose leaf tea, without flavorings or other additives. The drink must be freshly brewed. It should be remembered that black tea is brewed only once, while green tea retains its taste and beneficial properties for up to 5 brewings.
We recommend reading: Is it possible to drink chicory if you have pancreatitis?In order not to overload the pancreas, it is better to give up sugar and instead add a small slice of lemon or 0.5 teaspoon of honey. You should refrain from drinking drinks with ginger, which increases secretory functions, which can provoke another attack of pancreatitis.
In acute form
In case of acute pancreatitis, it is allowed to drink only weakly brewed tea without flavoring additives, since essential substances can negatively affect the gland and stimulate the production of enzymes that digest the pancreas itself.
During the acute course of the disease, it is forbidden to add sugar, so as not to create additional stress on the inflamed organ.
To provide the amount of fluid required by the body, the maximum daily drink intake can be 2 liters. It can be drunk throughout the day, but no later than 3-4 hours before bedtime due to its tonic effect.
In the chronic stage
In the chronic stage, the choice of permitted drinks is wider:
- Patients can drink tea with milk to reduce pain, normalize the gastrointestinal tract and relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane.
- A herbal decoction of medicinal plants, for example, chamomile, fireweed and mint, relieves spasms, has regenerating, choleretic, and antibacterial properties.
- Pharmacy stomach preparations will not only replenish the body’s need for fluid, but will also enhance the effect of traditional therapy. It is recommended to drink herbal tea 15 minutes before meals three times a day; the drink should be fresh, warm, without sugar.
- Hibiscus has an antioxidant effect, reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Due to its ability to increase acidity, this tea can only be drunk during remission.
Cholecystopancreatitis
For cholecystitis and pancreatitis in remission, you can drink leafy green and black tea of medium strength, herbal and special pharmaceutical preparations recommended by your doctor. A decoction of rose hips will also be useful.
A week on a diet
To make it easier to stick to your diet, you need to plan your menu for the week. For pancreatitis, it is important to eat small meals, 5-8 times a day. Let's look at an approximate diet for each day of the week:
- Monday. Oatmeal with chicken breast, toast and rosehip infusion. Yogurt and baked apples. Vegetable soup and fish fillet with baked vegetables. Cottage cheese casserole and jelly. Mashed potatoes with vegetables and compote.
- Hard-boiled egg, biscuits, tea without sugar. Non-acidic fruits. Rice soup, buckwheat with meat cutlets. Fish souffle. Casserole with cottage cheese, a glass of milk.
- Semolina porridge with dried apricots. Protein snowballs with sweet sauce. Chicken soup, baked pumpkin, boiled meat. Pasta with bechamel sauce, carrot salad.
- Egg white omelette. Cottage cheese with fresh fruit, tea. Milk soup, grilled fish, vegetable stew. Biscuits, cheese, rosehip broth. Salad of boiled beets, carrots and potatoes, steamed turkey meatballs,
- Friday. Rice porridge, dried fruits, tea. Curd pudding, bun with poppy seeds. Cheese soup with vegetables, steamed meatballs. Casserole with vermicelli and fruit, jelly. Fish dumplings, baked zucchini.