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Seafood for pancreatitis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Each disease has its own treatment, diet and exercise regimen. Gastrointestinal diseases, for example, require the patient to follow a diet. Food is assessed in terms of the benefits or harm it can bring to the body. Fish and seafood are necessary for healthy people. But with seafood in pancreatitis, things are not so clear.
Which ones are allowed and which ones are not?
When it comes to seafood during pancreatitis, it is impossible to say in one word. Seafood delicacies are different, as are the methods of their processing and consumption. Which ones are allowed and which ones are not, depends mainly on this. It can be definitely stated that nutritionists completely exclude canned, salted, smoked, fried delicacies and fish from the diet. Fish caviar is also prohibited.
The danger of these products is that harmful components entering the body can provoke inflammation even in a healthy pancreas, and after an attack of pancreatitis, expect even more trouble.
- By eating right, the patient protects himself from danger at least for a while, and better yet, forever. This is possible if you make healthy eating a daily rule.
But there is also good news for seafood lovers. Shellfish and shrimp are not limited if they are boiled or used as an ingredient in pilaf or risotto. For variety, gourmets cook shrimp skewers, bake them on the grill.
- Low-fat varieties of white fish are also allowed. Jellied and baked fish, steamed cutlets are suitable.
Mussels, squids, and scallops are added to vegetable salads, drizzled with oil. If the patient's menu includes popular herring, it should be lean and unsalted.
Such seafood does not cause harm, but, on the contrary, saturates the body with microelements and vitamins, which they are especially rich in.
Caviar for pancreatitis
During an attack of pancreatitis, it is incorrect to talk about any food. Complete lack of food is the main condition for stopping a pain attack and preventing the progression of the inflammatory process. Fish caviar is doubly inappropriate for pancreatitis, because it stimulates the formation of pancreatic juice, and this is unacceptable in this condition.
Salt and cholesterol make this delicacy unsafe, and consumption against doctors’ orders causes side effects and an increase in unpleasant symptoms.
- Neither red nor black caviar, as well as other seafood for pancreatitis, can be present on the patient’s table during the acute phase.
Of course, salmon caviar contains not only harmful substances. For a healthy body, caviar delicacies are useful as a source of iron, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Regular consumption of the product stimulates appetite, supports immunity, accelerates metabolism, and stabilizes the nervous system.
But even with stable remission, the dosage of fish caviar is minimal: 1 teaspoon no more than once every three days, and not on an empty stomach. It should be a salmon product of guaranteed quality, not a surrogate or substitute. After all, it is known that artificial types of caviar do not contain natural components, but harmful dyes, impurities and additives.
Alternatively, it is possible to replace salmon caviar with pike caviar. It has a fairly rich composition and a more gentle effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Shrimp for pancreatitis
A lover of seafood delicacy can remember about shrimps with pancreatitis not earlier than after the pain symptoms stop and the tests are normalized. Although seafood with pancreatitis is not the most popular ingredient of dietary nutrition, but it is impossible to deny their usefulness.
- Proteins with high nutritional value, healthy fatty acids, anti-inflammatory substances, amino acids – such a bouquet of ingredients will satisfy the most fastidious gourmet.
And in the recovery phase, such substances, especially proteins of animal origin, are especially necessary for a weakened pancreas. Iodine and fluorine are also useful elements for an organism with problems of the digestive organs.
- Low-calorie shrimps go well with vegetables, cereals, sauces, and other seafood. Vegetable or cereal soups get a special taste if you add pureed boiled shrimps to them.
Outside the exacerbation process, the product can be added to salads, soups, side dishes whole or in pieces. The period of stable remission allows you to eat baked and stewed seafood. This diversifies the menu of boring dishes, enriches the body with extremely important components, and promotes the patient's speedy recovery.
Cancers in pancreatitis
Tasty crayfish are far from the most necessary food for pancreatitis. It is unlikely that gastroenterologists recommend this delicacy to their patients as an ingredient in a dietary or therapeutic menu.
- Unlike seafood, crayfish are cleansers of fresh water bodies.
They feed on carrion, accumulate radioactive and toxic substances, contain allergens. This is enough to avoid including crayfish in the diet for pancreatitis, no matter how much the sick person would like to return to their usual food. After all, an unhealthy digestive gland is ready to "explode" with pain from any little thing!
- Freshwater crayfish are on par with seafood delicacies because they are similar to them in composition.
Protein compounds, vitamin and mineral sets are easily absorbed and enrich the body. Crayfish meat is tender and soft, but there is one "but": it is not considered as clean as shrimp meat or other well-known products. The softness and tenderness of the product is very deceptive: as has already been said, it can accumulate toxic compounds that can cause diseases in healthy people. And even more so, such questionable food is dangerous for a sick person.
If a person feels normal for several weeks, then the ban on crayfish is softened. A little delicacy will make the diet menu festive and more delicious. You should just remember to be careful, not overeat and constantly monitor your well-being.
Herring for pancreatitis
Any herring is a fairly fatty fish. And fats of this kind stimulate the secretion of the pancreas, which, when inflamed, aggravates the pain and accompanying symptoms of the pathological process. This is too high a price to pay for food that, in principle, can be avoided. Therefore, herring is an unacceptable product for pancreatitis.
- A small piece of tasty fish of moderate fat content can be eaten only after the acute process has ended and the patient's health has returned to normal.
Moderate fat content is when the fat content does not exceed 12/100 g of the product. And we are not talking about the marinated and smoked fish that most people love, but about boiled herring, previously soaked in tea or milk. And if seafood is allowed for pancreatitis, then marinated and smoked fish is strictly prohibited.
- For healthy people, herring, usually frozen, is a healthy fish, enriched with omega acids and nutritious protein, which is absorbed almost completely. The product supplies the body with a unique substance methionine, absent in all types of meat, and many minerals.
In chronic pancreatitis, it is best to boil the carcasses with steam or in water, with the addition of bay leaf, carrots, onions. Such food does not cause bloating, is well absorbed, which is important for a weakened body. The first piece should be miniature; the portion should be increased in agreement with the doctor and depending on the body's reaction.
Cod for pancreatitis
Cod is a very lean fish. Its fillet contains only 1% fat. The rest of the reserves accumulate in the liver, and this delicacy, which everyone has probably heard about, is no longer a dietary product.
Relatively inexpensive fish is an invaluable source of protein. It is as much as in meat, but it is better for the body: it is fully absorbed, included in metabolism and cell construction. These qualities of cod in pancreatitis are invaluable.
Fish and seafood are included in the diet for pancreatitis under different conditions. The advantage of cod is that it does not give negative side effects, but brings a lot of benefits.
- Cod is valued by nutritionists who create diets for weight loss, sports nutrition, children's and medical menus. The product is recommended for pregnant and lactating women.
It is fish, including cod, in the diet that is associated with youth and longevity of residents of coastal regions. And iodine has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland. Potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium - all these important elements are present in food prepared from cod, supporting cardiac and brain activity, strengthening the skeleton, teeth and nails.
The only contraindication is the diagnosis of "urolithiasis". Cod can aggravate its course due to the high percentage of vitamin D.
Mackerel for pancreatitis
Unfortunately for mackerel lovers, with pancreatitis it is completely crossed out from the list of fish dishes - not only during the acute form, but also during the remission stage. There are enough reasons for such a radical decision:
- High fat content, undesirable for pancreatitis.
- Lack of lipase for the breakdown of fats, caused by weak activity of the inflamed organ.
- Without lipase, the pathological condition worsens.
But there is also positive information. Instead of fatty foods, nutritionists allow eating lean fish and seafood for pancreatitis. They contain half as much fat, but the same amount of useful components. Thus, seafood reduces cholesterol, regulates metabolism, and promotes the regeneration of important components of cells in various tissues. Fish contains proteins, vitamins, and microelements. Tuna, chum salmon, horse mackerel, and pink salmon are especially tasty and rich. Among the inhabitants of fresh water bodies, carp, bream, and carp are suitable.
- To speed up recovery, doctors recommend eating only warm food (not cold or hot) that does not stimulate the production of digestive juice.
Do not overeat, so as not to provoke indigestion, diarrhea or flatulence. To avoid overloading the organ, it is advisable to divide the daily norm into 6 meals, control the norm of protein and carbohydrate consumption. Grind dishes, prepare liquid delicate food.
Ear for pancreatitis
Fish dishes are a reliable source of protein and minerals, which are necessary for both healthy and sick people. But if traditional recipes are suitable for healthy people, then cooking fish, the same fish soup for pancreatitis, requires certain conditions to be met.
- The main thing is the choice of the type and variety of fish. Rich thick dishes burden the inflamed organ and threaten relapse, so for fish soup choose fish carcasses with minimal fat content.
Hake, pollock, roach, navaga, flounder, pike perch, blue whiting, pike - any of these species are suitable for cooking fish soup, if we are talking about the menu in the first weeks after an attack. During an exacerbation, as already mentioned, the patient is shown a starvation diet.
As the health condition improves, the range of fish and seafood for pancreatitis expands. Low-fat herring, red species, wolffish, perch, horse mackerel are appropriate fish in the diet during this period, and with the onset of stable remission, halibut is also included in the menu.
The fish soup is prepared without any spices, onions or oil. Excess fat is removed, and it is even better to cook the fish soup in a secondary broth, slightly salted. In no case should the dish be oversalted, otherwise swelling may occur. Salt also promotes the production of excess digestive juice in this situation.
The fish soup is served warm, like the rest of the food. Hot and cold food irritates the digestive gland, and this is not at all appropriate in the presence of inflammation.
Squid for pancreatitis
Squid is a delicacy for an amateur. Specific taste, lack of food tradition do not contribute to the popularity of such food. And even more so, few people would want to eat squid with pancreatitis. And rightly so, because doctors do not recommend including this seafood in the menu for pancreatitis in the acute stage.
- There are at least two reasons: the high content of extractive substances that activate the secretion of the pancreas, and the presence of allergenic components.
The benefits of squid are in their chemical composition and low calorie content. The set of amino acids, fatty acids, the presence of iodine and taurine make the seafood desirable on the table of healthy people, as well as those suffering from chronic pancreatitis in the remission stage.
Squid should be cooked skillfully. The tentacles, fillet, and mantle of this unpleasant-looking cephalopod are edible. The dietary recipe is boiling. The secret is to boil the squid for no longer than 10 minutes, otherwise they become tough.
- The cooked pieces must be chopped before eating.
If the patient feels well and wants to eat squid again, the subsequent processing can be more varied. Stewing, baking, adding to salads and soups are allowed. Minced fillet is used as a filling for rolls and pies.
But salted, marinated, and canned squid are not suitable: they have few vitamins, but a lot of salt, which has a negative effect on an inflamed pancreas.
Pink salmon for pancreatitis
Pink salmon is one of the most valuable and delicious types of fish. It contains many vitamins, omega acids, and protein. The ingredients that pink salmon is rich in help enzymes enter the duodenum, stimulate the functioning of the gallbladder, and normalize the digestive tract.
- In the diet of healthy people, pink salmon or other red fish can be present twice a week. Pink salmon is also recommended for pancreatitis, because this fish does not have high fat content (from 8 percent).
Before including red fish or seafood in the diet for pancreatitis, you should consult a doctor about the quantity, and also consider the possibility of allergic reactions. Especially if we are talking about pink salmon or trout.
Recommended pink salmon, steamed and baked. Minced meat, ground from the fillet, is suitable for steamed cutlets. Soup is not included in the list of healthy dishes.
For steamed cutlets you need the following ingredients:
- 0.5 kg minced lean fillet;
- 2 eggs;
- white onion;
- 100 butter;
- some semolina;
- salt.
Grind the fish and onion in a blender, mix the eggs with the cereal, and stir everything together until smooth. Place the formed cutlets in a steamer or oven on the appropriate setting.
Mussels for pancreatitis
Mussels are sea mollusks. Due to their low calorie content and abundance of proteins, mollusks are considered dietary products. They are also rich in unsaturated fats, vitamins, and microelements. Mussels can be included in the diet for pancreatitis, subject to the consumption regimen and cooking method.
- In acute periods of pancreatitis, seafood, including mussels, is not a healthy food. Their meat is dense, and this is not a sparing factor at all.
During the remission period in the chronic form, boiled mollusks can be included in the patient's menu as a source of animal protein. The inclusion should be gradual, starting with one piece per day. If the body positively perceives the new product, then the portion is increased to 200 g.
- Whole mussels are stewed or baked, served with a side dish or in diet salads. Risotto, paella with mussels are also considered diet dishes. But traditional spicy sauces for mussels, as well as fried, smoked, marinated mollusks are not for patients with pancreatitis.
Fresh mussels are generally only available on the coasts where they are fished. Most people can only buy frozen mussels, which must be defrosted and consumed the same day after returning from the supermarket. Mussels are a perishable product and cannot be refrozen.
Quality meat is light and elastic. If you buy packaged products, pay attention to the packaging, the presence of ice, snow, foreign impurities. If there is a lot of all this, it is better to refuse such a product.
Salted herring for pancreatitis
When talking about herring, the first thing that comes to mind is marinated fish, cut into delicious slices: with onion, bay leaf, peppercorns. Surely, this is the most popular fish snack in some nations, including us. And this is no coincidence: it is the salting technology that preserves the beneficial qualities of herring in the best possible way.
- However, salted herring for pancreatitis somehow does not fit with dietary rules. Fat, spices, salt are clearly not the ingredients that can cure an inflamed pancreas. Quite the opposite.
Fish and seafood are sources of protein for pancreatitis. They are better than meat, even chicken, because they are easier to digest and do not cause stomach discomfort. In addition, herring has a long list of useful properties:
- cleanses blood vessels;
- satisfies hunger;
- lowers cholesterol;
- controls sugar;
- has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- normalizes metabolic processes;
- improves hair structure;
- restores a tired body;
- neutralizes toxins.
The introduction of herring into the diet depends on the stage of the disease and the presence of a relapse. In acute cases, no food, including fish, is welcomed - neither by doctors nor by the patient himself, who suffers from pain and discomfort. The same picture is observed during exacerbation of chronic pathology. And only during remission does fish appear on the table, but dietary: boiled, steamed, no more than 100 g per day. Salted, as an exception - in a minimal dosage, and only after soaking in water, which must be changed several times.
High-quality natural herring, which was mentioned at the beginning, can be allowed to be eaten six months after the exacerbation, if you feel well and are in good health. The fat content of such fish is from 2 to 12%.
Fish milk for pancreatitis
Why are male testicles and fish sperm called "milt"? Probably because of the milky white color of the shell, reminiscent of a film. It is a popular food product that is prepared in the same way as fish itself: boiled, fried in flour, stuffed into pies. Some people value milt as much as fish eggs.
- Fish milk for pancreatitis is a valuable source of vitamins and fat, which, however, should not be abused. This leads to a deterioration in the patient's condition.
Although for a healthy person this is the best option of fats. They prevent heart attacks and strokes, atherosclerotic changes. Most omega acids are in the milk of sturgeon and salmon species. Like seafood in pancreatitis, milk can cause allergies in some people.
In case of exacerbation of pancreatitis or acute form, the patient or nutritionist, who correctly prescribes the diet, will hardly remember milk. So the patient will not need a gastroenterologist's ban.
After this phase is over and a stable remission occurs, the product can be prepared, but in minimal quantities. The portion should be increased gradually, listening to the body's reaction and your well-being.
Sea fish and delicacies are excellent food: tasty, healthy, easily digestible. It is not surprising that such dishes make even everyday meals festive. Unfortunately, doctors, for obvious reasons, do not allow seafood for pancreatitis. But not everything is so hopeless: following the doctor's recommendations normalizes the gland and leaves a chance for a recovered person to enjoy any delicacies in the future.