| Pancreatitis is serious problem. The name is a
medical term for inflammation of the
pancreas, which is an elongated organ about 4 - 6 inches in length in the upper abdomen, surrounded by the stomach and
the small
intestine. The pancreas has two main functions in the human
body. It produces digestive enzymes that are released into the small
intestine, and it produces two hormones, insulin and glucagon, that
are released into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar levels.
Enzymes are delivered from the pancreas to the intestines by means of
the same duct used to transport bile from the gallbladder.
Pancreatitis can result if there is a gallstone blocking this passage.
It can also be a result of damage to the pancreas from alcohol
consumption. In either case, digestive enzymes become trapped in
the pancreas and can actually begin to digest the tissues there,
causing inflammation. Some enzymes may ooze out and find their way
into the bloodstream and/or the abdominal cavity Symptoms of
pancreatitis include upper abdominal pain and tenderness, back
pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and distention of the abdomen.
Blood tests may show elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes, and the
red blood cell count may be affected as well. Pancreatitis may be
complicated by liver problems, with jaundice,
as well as kidney failure. If the damage is severe enough, the pancreas
can become infected, a potentially life-threatening situation, and
pockets of fluid may form. Another situation that may lead to getting pancreatitis is exposure to certain
chemical compounds, like petrochemicals, diesel fuel, gasoline,
acetone, and trichioroethylene - which is a solvent. This type of
exposure is most often connected to the person;s job and work environment,
although there have been instances where children who
played in a diesel fuel shed or rode their bicycles long
distances to school on busy roads where they were exposed to
car exhaust would contract pancreatitis. This is a
bigger problem in Third World and developing countries, where
it is estimated 1 in 20 people suffers from a type of pancreatic
disease, though it can happen anywhere in the world.
Pancreatitis may be either acute or chronic, and even if
healed the problem
can recur, especially in people who are alcoholics (see alcoholism)
or are
prone to developing gallstones. About 10% of cases of
acute pancreatitis will eventually become chronic in nature,
that involves both scarring as well as permanently decreased pancreatic
health and function.
Because the pancreas produces substances necessary for
digestion and for blood sugar regulation, both digestive
difficulties like indigestion and
diabetes are often the result, and both may
be severe to the person. Nutritional supplementation suggested
below can help with healing and prevention of pancreatitis
also helping in all areas of the person's health and well
being.
| Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
A
daily supplement contains nutrients needed for good general
health and well being. Very important for the person with pancreatitis to heal and get the proper nutrients. |
| Bioflavonoids |
9 |
good
antioxidants that promotes healing and resistance to infection and
they work with vitamin C |
| Dandelion |
10 |
helps in
the production of bile and therefore improving the digestion
of fats. It is herb that works well with red
clover and also serves to improve overall health of the
pancreas |
| vitamin
A |
10 |
essential
vitamin that helps with healing in the body |
| Carotenoids |
9 |
work with vitamin A |
| Methionine |
9 |
helps the
metabolism of fats in the body, need to use for at least 3
months. |
| Calcium |
9 |
works with the mineral
magnesium |
| Magnesium |
9 |
aids by counteracting
glandular disorders |
| Pantothenic
acid |
9 |
vitamin B5 works with
niacin in fat and carbohydrate metabolism |
| Niacin |
9 |
vitamin B3 works with
vitamin B5 |
| Golden
Seal |
9 |
have
antibiotic properties and also helps stimulate the secretion
of bile often used in herbal blends with echinacea and reishi
mushroom. |
| vitamin
C |
9 |
is an anti
inflammatory that also aids in healing |
| Lecithin |
9 |
needed
for digestion of fats |
| Inositol |
8 |
aids
with fat digestion |
| Red
Clover |
8 |
herb
that cleanses the liver and bloodstream |
| Olive
leaf |
8 |
herb
serves as anti-inflammatory and helps with infection |
| Licorice |
9 |
herb
used for its anti inflammatory properties and it helps to
increase bile production as well as relieve indigestion and
ulceration. |
| Essential
fatty acids |
8 |
helps
with inflammation problems, good sources of fatty acids include omega , flax seed, and borage seed. |
| Grape
seed extract |
8 |
strong anti
inflammatory and antioxidant |
| vitamin
E |
8 |
needed for tissue
repair and is an antioxidant |
| Zinc |
8 |
mineral required
for proper enzyme activity for cell division and for
production of insulin |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
