Avoid fried, creamy, or cheesy foods. You’ll also want to avoid trans fat, a hydrogenated oil and particularly unhealthy fat that’s often found in packaged food, says Massey, and steer clear of alcohol. While it may take some planning, it’s possible to eat a healthy, satisfying diet.
What foods can you eat if you have EPI?
Go for lean proteins, like chicken or turkey breasts, egg whites, or tuna packed in water. This will provide your body with the fuel it needs while keeping your meals low in fat. Avoid too much fiber. Though it’s usually part of a healthy diet, fiber can keep your pancreatic enzymes from digesting fat as well.
Can people with EPI gain weight?
Few people with EPI are likely to gain too much weight, even after they find a combination of foods they can tolerate. Even after you reach a healthy weight, your doctor will continue to monitor you for any vitamin deficiencies.
Can you eat oatmeal with EPI?
If you have EPI, you may want to start your day with a bowl of oatmeal made with low-fat milk — a good source of vitamins A and D, which help maintain your immune system and bone strength.
What foods should you avoid with EPI? – Related Questions
What is the best breakfast for pancreatitis?
Best foods for pancreatitis
- Vegetables.
- Fruits.
- Whole grains.
- Beans, lentils.
- Low-fat or nonfat dairy (almond or flax milk).
Is peanut butter OK to eat with EPI?
Many people with EPI who have symptoms when they eat fatty meals often don’t have a problem eating nut butters, Scheller says. Nuts and nut butters are nutrient-rich, high-calorie foods and can be great additions to a healthy EPI diet, especially if you’re trying to gain weight.
Does fiber help EPI?
Avoid a high-fiber diet.
Research has shown that high-fiber foods can increase the amount of fat a person with EPI loses in their stools and raise the risk of malnutrition. Gerbstadt says fiber doesn’t cause problems for everyone with EPI, so talk to your doctor about whether you need to limit it or not.
Is cheese good for EPI?
If you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) there are lots of reasonably healthy, high-calorie foods you can eat, like cheese and full fat milk, hamburger with cheese, meat coated in breadcrumbs, nuts, ice cream and full fat yogurts.
Can your pancreas recover from EPI?
You can’t cure EPI, but pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy can greatly reduce uncomfortable digestive symptoms. Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for taking PERT, and be sure to take it with every meal or snack. A dietitian can help you get the fats, nutrients and vitamins you need for good health.
Will probiotics help EPI?
A small study on 45 drug-resistant symptomatic epileptic patients showed that a probiotic cocktail was associated with a >50% reduction in seizure frequency in 29% of patients and 77% of them maintained reduced seizure frequency 4 months after discontinuation.
What vitamins should I take for EPI?
- Vitamin A. Thinkstock. Forman says that because people with EPI have trouble digesting fat, they’re especially at risk for deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E, and K — if their condition isn’t adequately treated.
- Vitamin E. Thinkstock.
- Vitamin B12. Thinkstock.
- Calcium. Thinkstock.
What vitamin helps pancreas?
Vitamin D seems to play a role in pancreatic disease, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as pancreatic cancer. Vitamin D’s immune-modulatory action suggests that it could help prevent type 1 diabetes.
What triggers EPI?
EPI often results from damage to the pancreas from diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or cystic fibrosis. Removal of some or all of the pancreas or surgery to other parts of the digestive tract (such as the intestines or stomach) may also cause it.
What are the first signs of pancreatic insufficiency?
Symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency
- abdominal pain and tenderness.
- loss of appetite.
- feelings of fullness.
- weight loss and diarrhea.
Can you reverse EPI?
There’s no cure for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a chronic condition characterized by an inability to digest certain nutrients, especially fat. But EPI can be managed with a type of medication called pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which consists of enzymes that aid digestion.
Can a blood test detect EPI?
Blood tests
Serum iron, vitamin B-12, and folate concentrations may help establish the diagnosis of EPI. Prothrombin time (PT) may be prolonged because of malabsorption of vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin.
What do EPI stools look like?
People with EPI are not able to absorb all the fat that they eat, so undigested fat is excreted, resulting in stools that look oily or greasy.
Who is most likely to get EPI?
Cystic fibrosis: This genetic condition is the primary cause of EPI in babies and children. 1 Children inherit the cystic fibrosis gene mutation from both parents. This condition causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
Can you have mild EPI?
Some people will only have mild EPI and may have few (if any) symptoms. Progression, severe symptoms, and consequences (such as nutritional deficiencies and weight loss) are more likely to occur when EPI is complicated by conditions like cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer.
What does EPI flare feel like?
The symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) — including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and bloating — can surface at any time, which is why you should consider keeping some emergency supplies on hand if a flare occurs.
