Diet for intestinal inflammation in an adult

What diseases of the gastrointestinal tract will require a special diet?

The causes of intestinal disease are:

• functional disorders caused by altered motor skills (dyspeptic, dyskinetic);
• inflammatory reactions caused by autoimmune processes and infections;
• benign and malignant neoplasms.

The stomach may hurt due to damage to neighboring organs and other parts of the intestine. Pain in the stomach and intestines is observed in patients with an allergic reaction to drug therapy, and is typical for patients with an incorrectly selected diet, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and heavy lifting.

Consequences of not following the diet

The main task of following a diet for kidney inflammation is to reduce the load on these paired bean-shaped organs. They are constantly busy filtering, collecting and excreting urine. Therefore, when the kidneys are damaged by the inflammatory process, there is a significant decrease in their functional activity. This is typical for all nephritis, including pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.

If the diet is not followed, the effectiveness of drug treatment is significantly reduced. The inflammation spreads to healthy kidney structures, and the severity of symptoms increases.

The therapeutic diet is determined only by a nutritionist. It necessarily takes into account the type of inflammatory pathology, its stage and form. The criterion that determines the choice of food package is also the patient’s age and the presence of other chronic diseases of internal organs.

Author: Lyudmila Sheveleva, doctor, especially for Nefrologiya.pro

Symptoms

With an inflamed intestine, especially during an exacerbation, the following symptoms occur:

• pain near the navel, in the lower abdomen of a cramping and pulling nature, caused by eating;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• lack of appetite;
• the presence of blood and mucus in the stool;
• slight hyperthermia;
• fast fatiguability;
• weight loss.

Diseases of the small and large intestines (including Crohn's disease) can be effectively treated with thoughtful drug therapy, regimen and proper nutrition.

For inflammation of the large intestine

The menu will vary depending on which part of the large intestine is inflamed. This determines what kind of stool disorder the patient will have. For constipation, it is recommended to add bran before each meal and include foods that are high in animal protein and fiber. Nutritionists allow the addition of dried fruits, celery, beets and dill. It is recommended to eat natural sugary substances that have a laxative effect (honey, sweet fruits and juices from them).

For diarrhea, increase the content of animal protein in products by adding low-fat broths from chicken, veal, as well as simply boiled meat to the diet. Lean fish can be steamed. Excluding the consumption of whole milk, plums, legumes, beets, flour products, grapes and sorrel quickly improves the patient's condition. Doctors also insist on complete abstinence from coffee and carbonated drinks.

Rules for forming a diet for diseases of the small intestine accompanied by pain:

Nutrition for pain in the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract is designed to provide:

• food intake 5-6 times a day in small portions, preventing overeating;
• elimination of mechanical and chemical irritants - pickled, fried, smoked, spicy foods, pickles, alcohol and canned food;
• intake with a nutritious diet of all compounds that ensure normal metabolism;
• prevention of the development of dysbacteriosis;
• gradual transition to standard nutrition.

A measure to prevent intestinal disorders is steaming, boiling or stewing foods.

General rules of nutrition for arthritis

In order for the diet to bring a tangible and lasting effect, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. The diet for arthritis should be prescribed by a nutritionist or therapist.
2. The daily calorie intake should not exceed 2500 kcal; overeating increases inflammatory processes.
3. The volume of water is at least 2 liters per day. The exception is the rheumatoid type of arthritis, in which it is necessary to reduce the amount of fluid in the synovium of the joint.
4. Reduce the amount of animal fats and proteins consumed, replacing them with plant-based analogues and Omega-3 fatty acids, which promote anti-inflammatory effects.
5. Switching to a fractional nutrition system - 5-6 meals in small portions. To the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner, you should add a second breakfast, an afternoon snack and a snack.
6. Changing food preparation habits. Boiled, baked and steamed dishes are welcome. Fried foods should be avoided.
7. Chronic forms of the disease require lifelong adherence to healthy eating rules. In the acute form of the disease, you must strictly adhere to dietary rules. When arthritis and arthrosis are in remission, the nutritional rules are more loyal - in addition to healthy foods, you can occasionally indulge in unhealthy ones.
8. It is necessary to identify and eliminate allergenic foods, since their consumption enhances the inflammatory response.
9. If you have arthritis, you should limit your salt intake as much as possible - no more than 8 grams per day.
10. In patients who are overweight, the diet is aimed at reducing excess body weight in order to eliminate pressure on damaged joints. Fasting and sudden weight loss (more than 4 kg per month) are prohibited. It is enough to reduce your daily calorie intake by 200–300 kcal.

What is good to eat to restore intestinal function?

The diet for intestinal pain depends on functional changes, manifested by constipation or diarrhea. Nutritionists advise using table No. 3 or No. 4.

With difficulty defecation

The third table optimizes intestinal function when constipation occurs. Cooking dishes involves minimal chopping and serving in pureed form.

Allowed:

• low-fat and low-fat lactic acid products, for example, cottage cheese;
• dishes made from lean, not fatty meat and fish;
• buckwheat and oatmeal;
• vegetable soups (beets, carrots, pumpkin or potatoes, tomatoes);
• dried fruit mixture;
• fruit and berry compotes;
• tea;
• vegetable oil, as well as butter.

Dishes can be decorated with herbs, which stimulate the appetite.

How to choose the right products

When creating a menu for an adult with intestinal inflammation, you need to take into account the effect that foods have on the contractility of the organ walls. There are 3 types of products:

The list of products recommended by the doctor depends on the condition of the intestines and the clinical manifestations of inflammation in a particular patient. Fried foods, foods that increase fermentation and putrefaction processes in the intestines, coarse fiber, as well as dishes that stimulate bile secretion, the secretion of gastric juice, and the pancreas are prohibited.

What is allowed

Basic list of products for creating a menu for intestinal inflammation:

• dried yesterday's wheat bread (about 200 g);
• first courses in low-fat meat broth with the addition of decoctions of rice and semolina;
• soups with boiled, pureed meat, steamed meatballs, egg flakes;
• lean meat - young veal, chicken, turkey, rabbit;
• fish dishes with minimal fat content - cutlets, dumplings, boiled pieces;
• freshly prepared low-fat cottage cheese;
• butter in limited quantities - no more than 5 g per finished dish;
• no more than 2 soft-boiled chicken eggs or as part of a steam omelet;
• pureed porridge from semolina, rice, pearl barley;
• vegetable decoctions;
• raw apple puree;
• green tea, cocoa in water, decoction of rosehip, black currant, bird cherry;
• juices from sweet fruits, diluted with water.

For dessert, it is allowed to eat jelly from blueberries, dogwoods, and pears. Sugar is not recommended.

Prohibited

The following are excluded from the diet for intestinal inflammation:

• fresh bread and pastries: buns, pies;
• borscht and soups cooked in strong broth;
• first courses with the addition of vegetables, cereals (oatmeal, barley, millet);
• fatty meat and fish;
• milk, fermented baked milk, cheese, sour cream with a high fat content;
• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• legumes: peas, beans, soybeans;
• products with cream, chocolates;
• carbonated drinks, alcohol;
• coffee and cocoa with milk.

If you have colitis or enteritis, you should not eat caviar, seasonings, sauces, sausages, or pasta. Gastroenterologists do not recommend dried fruits, compotes, jam, honey, or snacks for people with intestinal problems.

If diarrhea occurs

The fourth table is recommended for an inflammatory reaction of the digestive organs, accompanied by diarrhea. Mechanical and chemical irritants should not be included in the diet. Food recipes are chosen in such a way as to inhibit peristalsis. You should drink at least two liters of liquid; you can make a decoction of rose hips.

Allowed:

• blueberry jelly;
• wheat bread croutons;
• pears and apples;
• potatoes and carrots;
• cutlets from lean meat or fish;
• slimy soups made from rice and semolina;
• scrambled eggs;
• non-sour cottage cheese.

Acute inflammation and exacerbation of chronic: diet

Symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas are pronounced. The first thing a person experiences is an acute pain attack, which can be localized in both the right and left hypochondrium, depending on which part of the organ is affected by inflammation. In this case, the painful syndrome always has a shingles character. It covers not only the hypochondrium area, but also almost the entire abdominal cavity and can radiate to the shoulder blades, lower back and sternum. The pain simply constrains the patient, and every movement causes it to intensify even more.

When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the overall clinical picture may be supplemented by:

• increased temperature;
• nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• chills;
• weakness;
• paleness of the skin, etc.

In case of acute pancreatitis and exacerbation of a chronic patient, it is necessary to immediately hospitalize, since only qualified medical care will prevent the processes of self-digestion in the pancreas and relieve pain. In this case, exclusively drug therapy is used, with all drugs administered either intravenously or intramuscularly.

Diet also plays an important role in the treatment of acute or exacerbated chronic inflammation. And speaking of what you can eat in this case, the answer is simple - nothing. The patient will need to fast for several days, as this is the only way he can reduce the secretion of digestive enzymes and reduce inflammatory processes.

Following a fasting diet during an acute attack is a key point of therapy

All that is allowed when an acute attack occurs is to drink still mineral water in very small quantities and at regular intervals. The patient is allowed to eat for the first time only when the doctors manage to completely stop the attack. As a rule, this happens within 2-3 days.

In this case, all dishes should be served only warm and pureed. During this period you are allowed to consume:

• mashed potatoes prepared in water without the use of milk or butter;
• porridge with water;
• jelly;
• compotes;
• crackers.

The patient will have to adhere to this diet for about 2-3 weeks. And only after all signs of acute inflammation of the pancreas disappear, the following are added to the diet:

• fish and lean meat;
• fermented milk and dairy products;
• milk soups and porridges;
• vegetable and fruit juices;
• dried bread.

Compliance with a strict diet should occur not only in a hospital setting, but also after discharge

You need to switch to a “normal” diet gradually and only 8-10 weeks after inflammation. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to certain restrictions and rules that will prevent the recurrence of an attack. And now you will find out what diet is prescribed for patients with pancreatitis.

What to exclude from the diet for intestinal pain

If there is difficulty in bowel movement

The following products are prohibited:

• semolina and rice;
• canned and smoked products;
• chocolate;
• pasta and products made from it;
• hot sauces;
• radishes and potatoes;
• coffee, jelly.

For diarrhea

In this case the following are excluded:

• very hot and cold dishes;
• poorly digestible vegetables;
• fried, fatty and smoked foods;
• milk;
• spicy seasonings.

What diet to follow for intestinal inflammation in an adult, and what you can eat, is determined by a specialist.

Maintenance nutrition during recovery

After the symptoms of inflammation have reduced, the amount of carbohydrates and fats in food can be increased to 400 and 100 grams per day, respectively. The amount of protein can be reduced to 120. Salt can be consumed about 10 grams.

Recommended dishes:

• Low-fat soups: there is no need to grind vegetables and meat, just chop them finely.
• Porridge cooked in a 3:1 mixture of water and milk, well cooked, but not mashed.
• Boiled potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin. Maybe in pieces.
• For sweets, you can eat marmalade, marshmallows, jam, and savory cookies.
• From dairy products - fermented milk, white soft mild cheese, a little low-fat milk.
• Fruit juices with water 50:50 (except citrus).
• Steam puddings and casseroles.
• Baked apples and pears.
• Soft green peas.
• Lightly dried white and black bread.
• You can add a little vegetable oil to your food.

After the symptoms of intestinal inflammation disappear, you need to begin resuming the intake of solid foods, as well as foods rich in plant fiber. If you delay the diet too much, it will become addictive, and it will be difficult for the intestines to reconfigure to normal operation.

Sample daily menu

https://youtu.be/gn2YeHwXBQA

The diet is compiled individually for each patient, based on the diagnosis and complaints.

3rd table

For constipation, food should stimulate intestinal peristalsis:

• for breakfast : you can have buckwheat porridge with butter, tea with honey.
• second breakfast : cottage cheese with sour cream.
• for lunch : serve borscht with beef, veal cutlet, compote of a mixture of dried fruits.
• for an afternoon snack : drink kefir.
• for dinner : beetroot salad, fish cakes, tomato juice are recommended.

4th table

During the period of exacerbation of the underlying disease, you are only allowed to drink boiled water or black tea, only without sugar. It is allowed to eat wheat crackers and rice porridge.

After normalization of the condition, they offer:

• for breakfast : oatmeal porridge cooked without milk, soft-boiled egg, unsweetened black tea.
• second breakfast : blueberry jelly.
• for lunch : pureed soup made with rice water with potatoes and carrots, steamed veal cutlet, apple compote.
• for an afternoon snack : oatmeal jelly is allowed.
• for dinner : served with rice and fish meatballs, mashed potatoes, tea.
• before going to bed : it is useful to drink chamomile tea.

General information

Before talking about how to eat with pancreatitis, you should say a few words about the disease itself and the mechanism of its development. As was already said at the very beginning, the main reason for its development is poor diet and alcohol abuse. It is these factors that negatively affect the condition of the pancreas, putting a heavy load on it and stimulating the production of digestive enzymes.

If a person constantly eats “heavy” foods, sooner or later the pancreas begins to “get tired,” which leads to damage to its cells and a decrease in the synthesis of digestive enzymes. This, in turn, causes digestive disorders and an even greater increase in the load on the organ. As a result, acute inflammatory processes develop in the pancreas, leading to spasms in the ducts through which digestive enzymes flow into the duodenum. As a result, they accumulate in the gland and begin to digest its own cells, thereby causing severe pain and necrosis (tissue death).

This is how acute pancreatitis develops. And if it is treated incorrectly, the inflammatory processes take on a chronic form and it becomes impossible to eliminate them later. The peculiarity of chronic pancreatitis is that it tends to periodically worsen, causing the same clinical picture that occurs with acute inflammation. Only in this case, self-digestion processes are activated in the pancreas every time an exacerbation occurs, which sooner or later leads to complete dysfunction of the gland.

Poor nutrition is the main cause of pancreatitis

Proper nutrition during inflammation of the pancreas allows you to avoid frequent exacerbations and prevent the progression of the disease. Since in this case, the diet completely excludes from the patient’s diet foods that place a strong load on the gland, which allows it to be maintained at rest for a long time.

Do not forget that the functionality of the gallbladder and liver depends on the work of the pancreas, provoking the development of hepatitis, which significantly complicates the treatment process. And if the development of pancreatitis is started, a person will have serious health problems, which will further worsen his well-being.

Therefore, when primary signs of the development of this disease occur, doctors are required to conduct a full examination, which allows them to give an adequate assessment of the functioning of the liver and pancreas, as well as other organs that make up the gastrointestinal tract. Since if their functionality is impaired, the patient requires additional therapy that helps restore their functioning.

Recipes

Below are recipes for dishes recommended for patients with difficulty defecating.

Borsch

Ingredients:

• water – 2 l;
• beets – 1 pc.;
• carrot – 1 pc.;
• potatoes – 300 g;
• tomatoes – 2 pcs.;
• sunflower oil, herbs - to taste.

Boil water in a saucepan. Pre-washed and peeled potatoes are lowered. Carrots and beets are washed, peeled, grated and sautéed in a frying pan with sunflower oil, tomatoes cut into rings are added and simmered again. After boiling the potatoes for 20 minutes, add the dressing to the pan and cook for another 10 minutes. Sprinkle with herbs and serve.

Pumpkin baked with honey and dried berries

Ingredients:

• pumpkin pulp – 400 g;
• honey, raisins, dried cranberries - to taste;
• water – 2 dessert spoons.

First, prepare the pumpkin so that the peeled pulp is 400 g. Dried berries are poured with hot water. The vegetable pieces are placed in a baking dish. Berries are placed on top and watered with honey diluted with water. Close with a lid or cover with foil and place in a preheated room at 180 degrees. oven.

Products that stimulate inflammatory processes

• Saturated fats are found primarily in animal products such as red meat and whole dairy products, as they raise LDL cholesterol levels and contribute to inflammation in the body.
• Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats are found in corn, soybean, and sunflower oils. Until recently, omega-6 was considered healthier than saturated and trans fats because it did not raise cholesterol levels as much. However, research now suggests that in the fight against heart disease and possibly other diseases, lowering cholesterol may not be as beneficial as lowering inflammation. This is where the dark side of omega-6 comes into play: it increases inflammation.
• Sugar and other simple carbohydrates can raise your blood sugar; and this is also associated with a higher likelihood of the onset of inflammation. High sugar intake may not cause inflammation on its own, but it may help the effects of unhealthy fats.

Approximate recipe for a weekly diet for diarrhea

Pancreatitis requires special attention to the diet. Quantitative and qualitative indicators of daily nutrition are determined individually for each person. For example, with frequent diarrhea, experts advise sticking to one diet, and in other cases, when stool is irregular, a completely different one.

If an adult has loose stools, the weekly menu should look like this. On the first day of the diet, you can prepare chicken cutlets or meatballs for breakfast using buckwheat. It is recommended to drink breakfast with compote. After a few hours, you should make a small snack of low-fat cottage cheese, to which you can add a little honey for sweetness. For lunch you should prepare low-fat vegetable broth and fish soufflé. Rusks and tea are a good choice for an afternoon snack. For dinner, you can prepare a vegetable or cottage cheese casserole. 1.5 hours before bedtime you should drink a glass of low-fat kefir.

You can replace breakfast with anything. Some experts recommend eating various porridges (semolina, pearl barley, oatmeal) in the morning. Patients often eat cottage cheese with fresh fruit in the morning. Breakfast can be varied, as the stomach will have time to digest even complex food throughout the day.

We must not forget that lunch is the main meal, which should be the most high-calorie. It should include first, second and third. It is at lunch that you should eat meat and fish.

For dinner, it is recommended to lightly unload the stomach, so you need to monitor the amount of food you eat. Almost all experts recommend drinking jelly in the evenings, as it helps relieve diarrhea.

Best Foods for an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

• Fish, rapeseed oil, walnuts. These foods are rich in omega-3 and other polyunsaturated fats, which, unlike omega-6, can help counteract inflammation. Aim to get more than two grams of omega-3s per day from plant sources and fish. A 100g serving of salmon has 1.2 grams, and one 30g of walnuts contains 2.6 grams.
• Olive oil, peanut butter, nuts, avocado. These foods are rich in monounsaturated fats. Mono is generally anti-inflammatory and has already been linked to improving cholesterol balance in the body. But according to research, olive oil may have unique anti-inflammatory properties. Experts have noticed that extra virgin olive oil causes an effect in the throat similar to that of ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In testing, they discovered a compound in olive oil called oleocanthal that may fight inflammation.
• Fruits, vegetables, whole grains. These products also provide protection against inflammation: the antioxidants they contain directly affect inflammation. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, as well as phytonutrients such as carotenoids (found in orange and yellow vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes) and flavonoids (found in red and purple fruits such as apples, berries and grapes). Look for foods with deeper or brighter colors, which tend to contain the most antioxidants. The guidelines say you should eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables every day, choosing from a variety of colors throughout the week.
• Herbs, spices, teas. Cinnamon, curry, dill, oregano, ginger and rosemary are all concentrated sources of antioxidants that can fight inflammation. Most teas are chock full of them too, including green, black, white and oolong.

Even more tips and tricks

1. If you don't eat fatty fish at least twice a week, take fish oil supplements in capsule or liquid form.
2. If you don't consume ginger and turmeric on a regular basis, try taking them in supplement form.
3. Add CoQ10 to your daily diet: 60 to 100 milligrams in capsule form, taken with dinner.
4. If you are susceptible to metabolic syndrome - Alpha lipoic acid 100-400 mg per day.

Drink pure water or drinks that contain it (tea, diluted fruit juices, sparkling water with lemon) throughout the day.

Use bottled or highly purified water if your tap water tastes like chlorine or other contaminants, or if you live in an area where the water may be contaminated.