Content
Not everyone knows whether it is possible to take pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis. This is a rather controversial question that is difficult to answer definitively. On the one hand, the product contains a lot of fat, which is unfavorable for this disease. On the other hand, it contains useful substances that can alleviate pancreatitis. So, is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis? It’s worth understanding in detail.
Why is pancreatitis dangerous?
According to domestic researchers, Russia leads in the number of people suffering from pancreatitis. It is important to understand what is happening in the body. Leftover food enters the intestines and is digested by pancreatic enzymes. Sometimes the food becomes too rich, fatty, or alcohol enters the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the outflow of pancreatic enzymes is disrupted and the process of digestion of one’s own tissue begins - this is how pancreatitis develops. The inflammation that occurs in this case contributes to the gradual replacement of gland tissue with fatty and scar tissue.
All this leads to the appearance of severe pain, which is constant or increasing in nature. It is localized in the epigastric region, spreading mainly to the left side. You cannot endure the pain of acute pancreatitis, but you must immediately seek medical help, because delay is life-threatening. If a diagnosis is made on time and the severity of the patient’s condition is assessed, this gives a greater chance that the person will remain alive and will have at least some quality of life in the future.
Is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds if you have pancreatitis?
People often eat pumpkin seeds as a treat. They are not only tasty, but also healthy. It is important to understand whether pumpkin seeds can be eaten with pancreatitis, because the pancreas does not like high fat content in food. And, as you know, there are plenty of them in seeds. This is an extremely fatty and high-calorie product.
In addition, pumpkin seeds contain a lot of fiber, which is quite difficult to digest. This is also not very beneficial for the pancreas, so even a healthy person should not eat the seeds avidly, in abnormal doses.
You should start taking it with 10 pieces, gradually increasing to 30-40 g. The seeds can be added to salads, cereals, cocktails or eaten on their own. They go well with many products, primarily milk and its derivatives, vegetables, and cereals.
In what form to use
If you have pancreatitis, eating raw seeds is generally not recommended. They need to be dried a little, but not in a frying pan, where they can burn and overcook. It is best to process seeds in the oven, electric dryer or microwave.For pancreatitis, pumpkin seeds are allowed to be consumed only if there is stable remission, which has lasted for at least 6 months.
In order for the seeds to benefit the body, they cannot be subjected to high-temperature treatment. In this case, healthy fats, which pumpkin seeds are rich in, are transformed into carcinogens, and vitamins disintegrate.
The greatest danger is posed by seeds that are already sold in peeled, fried form. In this case, destructive harmful processes were launched a long time ago and continued for a long period. The next danger that can come from pumpkin seeds lies in their improper storage: without peel, in a ground state. Due to contact with air and light, the same healthy fats are oxidized, which manifests itself in the appearance of bitterness and toxic properties.
What are the benefits of pumpkin seeds for the pancreas?
From time to time, during a period of stable remission, pumpkin seeds can be gradually introduced into the diet of a patient with pancreatitis. With careful and reasonable treatment, you can even get some benefit in alleviating the disease.
Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of zinc, which is very beneficial for the pancreas. To get this element in full, you should purchase seeds in the peel, peel them with your hands so as not to damage tooth enamel, and consume them in ground form.The fact is that most zinc is contained in a thin white film covering the peeled seed.
Zinc has many properties that are extremely necessary for people suffering from diabetes, pancreatitis, and obesity:
- stimulates insulin production;
- regulates glycemic levels;
- facilitates the digestive process;
- “unloads” the pancreas;
- removes cholesterol;
- ensures stability of visual function;
- improves metabolism, including the absorption of carbohydrates and fats;
- activates the activity of the immune system.
These are not all the beneficial properties of zinc. As can be seen from the above, regular consumption of pumpkin seeds in reasonable quantities will help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus as one of the main complications of pancreatitis.
Rules for taking pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis
For any form of pancreatitis, pumpkin seeds should not be taken in excessive quantities. In each case, this product carries a certain degree of risk for the patient. For acute pancreatitis
During the acute phase of the disease, it is recommended to completely abstain from food for 2-5 days. Moreover, you should not eat pumpkin seeds. This can worsen the condition and complicate health problems even more. If during this period you ignore pain and other pancreatic symptoms, do not consult a doctor and do not follow a diet, there is a threat of further severe complications and even death.
At the end of the acute period, doctors also recommend limiting fat intake; fatty meat, sausages, hard cheeses, etc. are contraindicated. Pumpkin seeds are also restricted here, so it is recommended to consume them no more than 2 times a week.
For chronic pancreatitis
If you eat pumpkin seeds during chronic pancreatitis, they can cause an outbreak of exacerbation. Diet in this case is the main therapeutic method for maintaining health. Therefore, the choice of food products must be approached very carefully. If the patient’s condition is unstable, exacerbations often occur, accompanied by a clinical picture characteristic of chronic pancreatitis, it is better to avoid eating pumpkin seeds.
During remission
You can eat pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis if the patient has had a persistent improvement in their condition for quite a long time (>3 months). The seeds should never be fried, spicy, salty or sweet. You can only eat moderately oven-dried seeds without damage.
For pancreatitis and cholecystitis
Doctors do not recommend eating pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis and cholecystitis at all. Very often these two diseases accompany each other. What they have in common is that they are both inflammatory in nature and affect the digestive process. Cholecystitis always accompanies a violation of the outflow of bile into the duodenum and its stagnation. In turn, this causes a disruption in the outflow of pancreatic enzymes, as a result of which the gland tissue degenerates and loses its functions.
Pumpkin seeds have a choleretic effect. And if the cause of pancreatitis is blockage of the bile ducts due to dyskinesia, the presence of stones or parasites in them, the patient’s condition can significantly worsen as a result of eating the seeds.The seeds also contain salicylic acid, which is irritating to the digestive tract and can cause exacerbation of ulcers (stomach, duodenum), gastritis.
Contraindications
During the period of exacerbation, the use of any seeds is prohibited for the patient. During this period, the function of digesting fats in the pancreas is seriously impaired or completely absent. The intake of such food excessively strains the organ, which can result in severe dagger-shaped pain in the left hypochondrium, nausea, and vomiting.
Excessive gas formation also appears, which puts pressure on nearby internal organs, causing pain and disruptions in their functioning. For example, pancreatitis is often accompanied by an irregular heartbeat and pain in this area. As a rule, the true cause of this condition cannot always be determined. And instead of the pancreas, the patient begins to be treated for tachycardia or some other disease, which is in fact only a symptom of pancreatitis.
Conclusion
Pumpkin seeds for pancreatitis should be consumed infrequently and with caution, in small quantities. Otherwise, they will cause harm and lead to serious complications. If you have pancreatitis, pumpkin seeds can be eaten, but they should be taken in the peel, without damage, dried at a gentle temperature. Only such a product will be useful to patients.
