When it comes to taking care of the body, people only think about the parts they can see. That is why people observe routines like brushing their teeth, taking their baths, exercising, cutting their hair, and more. While these are all good practices, you should also take the time to care for the organs in your body. One of such organs is the pancreas.
The name pancreas might even sound strange to some people as they have never heard about it before and would even be surprised to know that it is inside them. But the pancreas is a very important organ in the body. It is located in the abdomen along with other organs like the liver and gall bladder. The pancreas helps with the production of insulin, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. The pancreas also plays a very important role in digestion as it produces digestive enzymes that help to break down fat and protein.
For an organ that has such important functions, you would want to make sure that the pancreas is always properly functioning. Inflammation of the pancreas leads to what is known as pancreatitis. This could cause the digestive enzymes meant to break down food to begin to eat the pancreas itself.
There are two types of pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a pancreatic inflammation is often caused by gallstones.
Chronic pancreatitis is a pancreatic condition that occurs over time. In chronic pancreatitis, your diet and habits might have a lot to do with the problem. Knowing how to take care of your pancreas can help you avoid this condition.
To prevent that, we would be looking at ways you can take care of the pancreas.
Stay Hydrated
Start with something very simple. Make sure you drink water often. As a rule, do not wait till you are thirsty before you drink water. By then, your body must have lost a lot of water. Start your day with a glass of water and take several in-between. This is because the cells of the pancreas need to be hydrated regularly, to prevent inflammation. There are so many reasons why you should drink more water, and taking care of your pancreas is just one of them.
Besides water, you should eat fruits like cucumber, watermelon, lettuce, and more that would keep your body hydrated.
Stay Off Alcohol
Avoiding alcohol would do your pancreas a lot of good. Alcohol contains a lot of toxins that can affect your pancreas. Also, the fact that steady drinking alcohol could leave you dehydrated. If this is a practice you observe every time, this means you could be feeling dehydrated regularly, which is the last thing your pancreas wants. So, cut down on your alcohol intake and drink more water instead.
Cut Down On Your Fat Intake
If you are the type that likes fatty foods, you may want to have a rethink. Excess fat in food can lead to the formation of gallstones. Gallstones are the leading cause of pancreatitis, so you should do everything you can to avoid that. Cut down on fatty or deep-fried foods and eat more whole grains.
Eat More Fruits and vegetables
The pancreas is so closely linked to the digestive process, thus, it is affected by what you choose to eat.
One thing you can do to help your pancreas is to eat more fruits and vegetables. Vegetables, in general, are good but you should eat more cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Other vegetables like spinach, lettuce, pumpkin, carrots, and so on, are also good to eat. Rather than eat sweets and chocolates, double down on your fruit intake. Just make sure you eat healthily. To keep your pancreas healthy, eat more foods that are rich in protein, low in animal fats, and rich in antioxidants.
Exercise Regularly
Staying in shape is a good way you can take care of your pancreas. People who are overweight are at greater risk of having gallstones, which could lead to pancreatitis. Shed that excess weight by going to the gym. Even regular activities like running, jumping rope, and cycling would do you a lot of good if you do it consistently. There are so many simple exercises you can do everyday at home.
Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
