The question of drinking coffee for pancreatitis concerns almost every gastroenterology patient. The coal-black drink has long become a cult morning attribute for the adult population of the planet. Also, regular consumption of energy drinks causes addiction, which is difficult to overcome. But if you have inflammation of the pancreas, you will have to do this. The chemical composition of the grains will only aggravate the condition of a sick person. There is an opinion that this energy drink is one of the causes of pancreatitis. But scientists have not yet proven this fact.
How does coffee affect the pancreas?
So far, the effect of coffee on the liver and pancreas is an open question. In this case, it is almost impossible to judge based on the composition of the raw materials for preparing the drink. Even roasted grains contain more than 2,000 different chemical compounds with varying effects on human organs. Most active:
- Caffeine. An alkaloid that makes a cup of espresso super invigorating in the morning. But it also activates the secretory activity of the pancreas.
- Tannin. Source of vitamin PP after roasting. Thanks to it, a black color and a bitter taste appear.
- Chlorogenic acids: quinic, cinnamic, ferulic, caffeic. This is 10% of the chemical composition of coffee beans. After frying, their quantity is reduced almost threefold. These substances, among other things, stimulate the pancreas and gastric secretions.
- Vitamins A, D, E, B3, as well as minerals, essential proteins.
- Carbohydrates: sugars, fiber. This is 50% of the grain composition.
Actually, the myth that drinking too much interferes with the absorption of vitamins should not be scary. Natural ground grains can restore the supply of some of them. But coffee leaches calcium, which should be taken into account by the elderly and pregnant women.
One fact is undeniable. The benefits and harms of the drink for pancreas with pancreatitis are incomparable. When an organ requires complete rest, the energy drink will stimulate its work, which is fraught with complications.
Benefits and harms
Coffee is a drink rich in caffeine.
Benefit:
- improves attention and reduces fatigue;
- reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases;
- increases the secretion of gastric juice;
- reduces the risk of developing diabetes;
- improves metabolism.
Harm:
- causes anxiety and addiction;
- constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure;
- reduces control of fine motor movements;
- makes it difficult to absorb calcium;
- stimulates diuresis.
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With pancreatitis, some of the beneficial properties of caffeine lead to exacerbations and deterioration of the functions of the digestive system:
- increased secretion of gastric juice leads to increased appetite and overeating;
- regular effects on the stimulation of the central nervous system lead to fatigue and exhaustion, which leads to an increase in the load on the nervous system and reduces the recovery function after an illness;
- caffeine interferes with the absorption of magnesium and calcium, and also leaches potassium from the body, which negatively affects the body’s recovery after the acute phase of pancreatitis;
- Instant coffee may contain additional chemical additives that have a negative effect on digestive function.
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Is it possible to drink coffee if you have pancreatitis?
You will definitely have to give up your favorite instant coffee during an exacerbation period. Severe pain and spasms develop due to the fact that the pancreas is corroded by its own enzymes. The organ requires complete rest to heal. Therefore, it makes no sense to ask a doctor whether or not coffee is ok for pancreatitis. The refusal will be clear.
The energy drink stimulates the secretion of enzymes for food processing. Therefore, coffee and the pancreas are incompatible for acute symptoms of pancreatitis, as well as for gastritis. Only a couple of months after the attack has stopped can you gradually return the drink to your diet. In the chronic course of the disease, the principle is the same.
If you do not follow the doctor's instructions, the pain will return. By choosing coffee over one's own health, a person may lose an inflamed organ. After this, you will have to follow completely different, more stringent nutritional rules.
general information
If you drink a mug of strong coffee on an empty stomach in the morning, this can provoke an attack. Why? The fact is that caffeine can stimulate the entire digestive system.
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First, active production of gastric juice occurs, after which the inflamed gland begins to secrete enzymes. Therefore, if you drink coffee on an empty stomach, then all the enzymes will not be released into the duodenum, they will begin to actively affect the entire body from the inside.
Of course, coffee has a number of positive qualities. For example:
- It contains vitamin P, which helps tone the body, thereby strengthening blood vessels.
- Contains many useful elements: iron, magnesium or potassium.
- Natural coffee can stimulate digestion, which is why many people use it for quick weight loss.
Negative aspects of coffee drinks:
- Can increase blood pressure.
- With frequent use, it causes nervous excitement.
- Cholesterol levels increase.
- Frequent consumption of coffee leads to increased acidity, thereby increasing the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract.
If we are talking about pancreatitis, then you need to know during what course of the disease you can drink coffee, and when it is better to give it up.
Also read: Watermelon for pancreatitis, possible or not, recipes
What kind of coffee can you drink if you have inflammation of the pancreas?
When the organ recovers from the attack and is able to gradually release substances for processing food, doctors will allow drinking coffee for pancreatitis of the pancreas. But not just anyone:
- Soluble is completely prohibited until completion of treatment. This is the most harmful type of drink. Granules contain no more than 20% caffeine, and much less other substances. The rest is chemical additives that negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.
- Natural ground beans brewed in a coffee maker are possible, but not just any kind. It is better to choose Arabica beans due to their lower caffeine content. The drink should be weak, half diluted with low-fat cream. If you have pancreatitis, you can drink coffee with milk strictly in the first half of the day after meals. Maximum – 2 cups per day.
- Green coffee. It is considered a panacea for patients with pancreatic inflammation. Improves digestion, prevents the development of diabetes. But the rules for its use are the same as for black, due to the high content of chlorogenic acids.
You can start drinking the drink only after consulting your doctor. At the first sign of discomfort or mild pain, it is better to stop. Otherwise, there is a high risk of exacerbation, which means another refusal of coffee for several months.
Chicory as an alternative
The most compromise solution is chicory. The drink does not contain caffeine, but it does contain vitamins, protein structures and tanning components. The inulin content in the root of the plant is about 75%, thanks to which the drink improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves intestinal obstruction and lowers cholesterol levels in the body. Chicory also has many other beneficial qualities:
- Accelerates metabolic processes, promotes fat burning.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Shows antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Prevents diseases of the heart and nervous system.
- Reduces the amount of sugar in the blood, thereby reducing the load on the pancreas.
- Prevents stone formation in the gallbladder.
- Calms the central nervous system and helps cope with sleep disorders.
- Has choleretic properties.
During the acute phase, drinking chicory is contraindicated, since it has a choleretic effect and can have an irritating effect on the susceptible pancreas.
Drinking the drink in the acute phase of pancreatitis is strictly contraindicated. Coffee beans increase the production of enzymes and gastric juice and damage pancreatic tissue, as a result of which the patient’s condition may worsen. During remission, the doctor may make a relaxation and allow the drink if the necessary conditions are met. If pain, heartburn or nausea occurs, the drink is completely excluded from the diet.
Until it's not too late
If pain in the upper abdomen bothers you quite often (at least 3 times a week), if diet and normalization of lifestyle do not lead to an improvement in the condition, you should definitely contact a gastroenterologist, who will recommend the necessary examination and prescribe treatment.
When treating acute pancreatitis and exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis, the patient should completely abstain from eating for the first 2–3 days. In addition, the doctor prescribes special enzyme preparations.
After a period of fasting for 5–7 days, a strict diet is prescribed. Eating 5-6 times a day in small portions. Spicy, fatty foods, smoked foods, raw vegetables and fruits, legumes, meat, fish, mushroom decoctions and broths, coffee and cocoa, sour fruit and vegetable juices, carbonated drinks, kvass are excluded from the diet.
Alcohol in all forms is excluded.
A week after acute inflammation has resolved, when the recovery phase begins, the diet is still followed: food should be mechanically and chemically gentle. Juice products are excluded (promoting the abundant secretion of digestive juices): raw vegetables, juices, meat and fish broths, as well as carbonated and alcoholic drinks, mushrooms, milk, honey, jam, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, legumes, vinegar.
Positive effects of coffee on the liver
The positive aspects of drinking coffee for liver function do not apply to instant drinks at all. On the contrary, the artificial additives contained in it in large quantities clog and overload this important organ, interfering with its normal functioning. And the beneficial compounds that the natural product is rich in are practically absent in the soluble product. It is for this reason that you should always give preference to a drink brewed from high-quality grains, and, if possible, avoid substitutes.
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Chicory or coffee
To experience a taste that is similar to coffee, without encountering secondary phenomena, it is better to change coffee to an alternative that will be acceptable for pancreatic disease. This step will help you give up a product that has a negative effect on the body. Replacing a coffee drink with cocoa is not advisable, since cocoa will dangerously stimulate secretions in pancreatitis.
It is possible and recommended to replace coffee with chicory, which has many advantages. These positive aspects include the resumption of pancreatic activity, removal of bile, normalization of cardiac function, improvement of metabolism, and elimination of constipation. For pancreatitis, chicory will be an additional method for complex therapy. However, it is forbidden to drink chicory during an acute course and acute stage of the disease.
Inulin, which is part of chicory, normalizes the microflora of the intestinal tract and reduces the amount of glucose in the blood. It will be useful for pancreatitis due to the pathology of insulin production.
If you do not buy chicory rhizomes at the pharmacy, do not brew infusions, but buy chicory in the supermarket, then it is better to choose expensive brands of chicory that do not contain harmful additives. Chicory should be introduced into the menu gradually - from 0.5 teaspoon per 200 ml of water. Instead of sugar, you can use honey, which will bring even more benefits.
