Medical Nutrition Therapy Types Of Therapeutic Diets Common ✓ Solved

Medical Nutrion Therpytypes Of Therapeutic Dietscommon Ther

Common therapeutic diets include: Additional feedings – In addition to meals, extra nutrition may be ordered as:

  • Supplements – usually ordered as liquid nutritional shakes once, twice or three times per day; given either with meals or between meals.
  • Nourishments – ordered as a snack food or beverage items to be given between meals mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon.
  • HS snack – ordered as a snack food or beverage items to be given at the hour of sleep.

A dietary supplement is a product intended for ingestion that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to add further nutritional value to the diet. A "dietary ingredient" may be one, or any combination, of the following substances: (a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid), a dietary substance for use by people to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake. Dietary supplements may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, or powders.

Some dietary supplements can help ensure that you get an adequate dietary intake of essential nutrients; others may help you reduce your risk of disease. If you don’t eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish, you may not get all the micronutrients your body needs. A multivitamin or supplement may be able to help.

Other people who may benefit from taking a multivitamin or supplement include:

  • Vegetarians who do not eat any animal products (vegans)
  • Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
  • Women who are breastfeeding
  • Women who experience heavy menstrual periods
  • Women who have gone through menopause
  • People who have had gastric bypass surgery for weight loss
  • People who have a medical condition that affects the way the body digests food, such as gastrointestinal disease, lactose intolerance, or food allergies
  • People who have diseases of the stomach, liver, pancreas, or gall bladder

HS in this context stands for "hour before sleep" or bedtime snack. It can encompass whatever you want for a snack or whatever you are allowed if you have health issues. For a diabetic, it would be a protein and a complex carb. A very popular diabetic HS snack is skim milk and graham crackers or a half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. It is a snack that is generally given to diabetics after dinner to ensure they are getting the carbs they need in a day and at regularly spaced intervals.

Blood sugar levels at bedtime are particularly important to look at. A study recommends having a snack if your blood sugar is less than 126 mg/dl, but to avoid snacking if your blood sugar is higher than 180 mg/dl. If your blood sugar at bedtime is low, then a snack can help to prevent this nighttime dip.

For example, a glass of skim milk and three graham crackers will provide approximately 30 grams of carbs, 8 grams of protein, and 170 calories. Remember, the purpose of snacking at bedtime is to prevent you from experiencing the side effects of hypoglycemia while you sleep.

The following list includes brief descriptions of common therapeutic diets:

Common Therapeutic Diets

  • Clear Liquid Diet – includes minimum residue fluids that can be seen through. Examples are juices without pulp, broth, and Jell-O. It is often used as the first step to restarting oral feeding after surgery or an abdominal procedure.
  • Full Liquid Diet – includes fluids that are creamy. Examples include ice cream and custard. Used as the second step to restarting oral feeding once clear liquids are tolerated.
  • No Concentrated Sweets (NCS) Diet – a liberalized diet for diabetics, including regular foods without added sugar.
  • Diabetic Diet – controls calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat intake in balanced amounts to meet nutritional needs and control blood sugar levels.
  • No Added Salt (NAS) Diet – a regular diet without added salt on the tray.
  • Low Sodium Diet – limits salt and salty foods for individuals holding water or who have high blood pressure.
  • Low Fat/Low Cholesterol Diet – reduces fat levels and is used to treat medical conditions interfering with how the body uses fat.
  • High Fiber Diet – prescribed for the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.
  • Renal Diet – individualized depending on whether the person is on dialysis, restricting sodium, potassium, fluid, and protein.
  • Mechanically Altered or Soft Diet – changes the consistency of the regular diet to a softer texture.
  • Pureed Diet – indicated for those with chewing or swallowing difficulties, changing the regular diet to a smooth liquid consistency.
  • Food Allergy Modification – strict elimination of foods implicated with allergies, ensuring the meal is adequate.
  • Food Intolerance Modification – elimination of foods causing adverse reactions.
  • Tube Feedings – used for people who cannot take adequate food or fluids by mouth.

Conclusion

Therapeutic diets are essential for managing various health conditions through tailored nutrition plans. Understanding the various types of diets and their specific purposes can significantly contribute to improving patients' outcomes and overall well-being.

References

  • American Dietetic Association. (2021). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Nutrition intervention in health care systems.
  • National Institutes of Health. (2021). Dietary Supplements for Health: Evaluation of Evidence.
  • American Diabetes Association. (2020). Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Consensus Report.
  • Davis, N. (2022). Understanding Different Types of Therapeutic Diets. Journal of Nutritional Science.
  • Levine, M. (2019). The Role of Dietary Supplements in Health and Disease. Annual Review of Nutrition.
  • Wang, X. (2020). Therapeutic Diets and Their Role in Managing Chronic Diseases. Clinical Nutrition Insights.
  • Smith, R. (2023). The Importance of Nutritional Support in Medical Treatment. Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • White, J. (2023). Nutritional Needs and Therapeutic Diets. Nutrition Reviews.
  • Chapman, G. (2020). Evidence-Based Dietary Modifications for Various Conditions. British Journal of Nutrition.
  • Green, L. (2022). Dietary Practices in Clinical Settings. International Journal of Health Sciences.

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