One of the most crucial but largely misunderstood parts of the body is the pancreas, a small gland that can be found just to the rear of the stomach and in the upper left part of the abdominal area. If you’re not familiar with the pancreas, note that its primary functions are twofold: first, to assist digestion through the production of enzymes that help break down our foods and assist the body in absorbing their nutrients. Second, the pancreas helps with maintaining our blood sugar levels, which it does by releasing insulin and glucagon into the blood stream on a regular basis.
Of course, that begs the question — what happens when the pancreas experiences trauma, such as through the development of pancreatic cancer? And what can we do with our diets to help in the fight against this form of cancer? Let’s take a look at some good and bad foods to consume if you’ve been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
1. Mushy Foods
As with many forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer can make it difficult for patients to eat, particularly if they’ve been put on an intense treatment plan, such as chemotherapy. For that reason, may doctors recommend patients eat mushy foods that are easy to consume and digest and pose the lowest threat of causing indigestion.
So, what do we mean by mushy foods? A few examples include apple sauce, mashed potatoes, mushy peas, yogurt, cottage cheese, and pureed fruits and vegetables. Soups and stews are also good choices. For more, talk to your doctor, as your unique health situation may require other foods not listed here.