The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ located behind the stomach and is part of the digestive system. It functions to secrete digestive enzymes to digest food and produces hormones such as insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels in our body.

It is said that they are not good at recognizing when the pancreas is deteriorating.

For people with diabetes, especially, managing foods that help the pancreas is an important part.

Late-night snack... Food eaten at night is the most delicious, but I guess I have to resist that temptation first.

 

 

--------------------------------------------

 

"Every day, the pancreas gets damaged"... What is the worst eating habit that must be fixed?

The couple, who had an average physique before marriage, appeared significantly overweight. When asked about the reason for their drastic change, they said, "We both love late-night snacks and enjoyed fried meat and beer, which suddenly caused us to gain a lot of weight." Eating late-night snacks right before bed not only leads to obesity but also harms the pancreas. Let's revisit the topics of food and pancreatic health.

 

"Too hard on the pancreas"... Eating at night damages the pancreas

 

The pancreas in our body performs two main functions. It secretes pancreatic juice that aids digestion, involved in the digestion and absorption of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in food. The other function is secreting insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, which also affects the prevention and control of diabetes. As we age, like other bodily fluids, pancreatic juice decreases and its function diminishes. In particular, there is difficulty in digesting fats and proteins. What happens if we ignore these changes and eat food late at night with little physical activity? It inevitably puts a strain on the pancreas.

The body tries to sleep... but the pancreas accumulates overtime work every day.

 

When late-night snacks are finished, there is no time to move the body. If alcohol is also consumed, one immediately goes to sleep. If the diet mainly consists of high-calorie, high-fat foods, weight gain is inevitable. If this eating habit persists for a long time, the pancreas deteriorates rapidly. Even after going to bed after a late-night snack, the pancreas has to work. It has to perform strenuous 'night shifts' to digest the fried meats and other foods that have entered the body, such as pancreatic juice secretion. In middle age, pancreatic juice decreases, making it even more difficult. Falling into late-night snacking inevitably worsens the pancreas.

 

In the worst case of pancreatic deterioration... pancreatic cancer, also has a strong connection to diet.

 

The worst case scenario for pancreatic deterioration is pancreatic cancer. According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Central Cancer Registry in December 2023, there were 8,872 new cases in 2021 alone. It is on the rise, ranking eighth in overall cancer incidence. Women, who tend to consume less alcohol and tobacco, had 4,280 cases, which is almost the same as men (4,592 cases). Recently, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has been increasingly linked to diet. If diabetes suddenly develops or blood sugar control fails and worsens, pancreatic cancer should be suspected.

 

If blood sugar is not controlled, the risk of pancreatic cancer increases... What are good eating habits for the pancreas?

 

The National Cancer Information Center recommends avoiding high-fat, high-calorie meat-based diets to prevent pancreatic cancer and encourages eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. It is also advisable to frequently consume plant-based proteins such as legumes. Having diabetes increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Consistent treatment and strict adherence to dietary guidelines are essential. Smoking is also a risk factor.

It is best to eat dinner early whenever possible, move your body sufficiently, and then go to bed. Excessive weight gain and poor blood sugar control also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Eating habits are the most important factor in maintaining health.