Dietary therapy or therapeutic nutrition is the study of the relationship between food and human health, focusing on understanding how food affects the body. Our interest in this field extends to ancient times, where ancient Egyptians linked the quantity of food consumed with various health problems. Dietary therapy has seen continuous development, becoming one of the important branches in the medical sciences.
Today, nutrition scientists are interested in researching how to use food to positively impact human health, a field known as “therapeutic nutrition.” Therapeutic nutrition can be defined as modifications made to a diet by nutrition experts to adjust and adapt it to a specific health condition.
The Importance of Therapeutic Nutrition:
Therapeutic nutrition has diversified to include several areas such as diet preparation, digestive disorders treatment, malnutrition treatment, as well as focusing on the nutrition of athletes, patients, children, and the elderly. Therapeutic nutrition primarily focuses on raising awareness of health safety, with the goal of achieving good physical condition and freedom from diseases in humans.
How Neglecting Proper Nutrition Leads to Various Diseases?
The importance of therapeutic nutrition lies in focusing on meeting the nutritional needs of individuals suffering from various diseases, taking into account a possible period of continued illness.
For example, a deficiency of red blood cells in the body, known as anemia, can reduce oxygen transport to tissues, leading to fatigue and pale skin due to a lack of iron. Protein deficiency also affects muscle mass and overall health.
Similarly, scurvy, resulting from a deficiency in vitamin C, appears with symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, joint and muscle pain, painful bruises, weak connective tissue, slow wound healing, bleeding gums, and loose or falling teeth, and can be fatal if left untreated.
Also, rickets and soft bones, resulting from a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, and potassium in the body, lead to bending of the legs and various bone deformities in children and adults.
Therapeutic nutrition aims to diversify food elements to be suitable for the person according to his environment, with the aim of avoiding health risks. It appears that excessive reliance on specific types of foods in developing countries can cause serious diseases such as anemia. Areas using chemical fertilizers also play a role in causing various diseases, including cancer.
In addition, morbid obesity is considered a common disease globally, resulting from poor nutritional habits and fatty meals. Obesity leads to many health and psychological problems, necessitating therapeutic nutrition for treatment and prevention of its complications.
Types of Therapeutic Nutrition for Obesity:
1. Weight loss stage: Therapeutic nutrition focuses on creating a calorie deficit, meaning that the food content is less than the body’s energy needs, aiming to achieve the targeted weight loss and achieve the ideal weight based on age, height, and physical activity level.
2. Weight maintenance stage: In this stage, efforts focus on maintaining the new weight that has been reached by providing the right balance between the amount of food consumed and the body’s energy needs. This approach aims to ensure the maintenance of healthy weight and prevent a return to the previous condition.
Simply put, in the weight loss stage, food content is controlled to achieve the targeted weight loss, while in the weight maintenance stage, the diet is adjusted to ensure the maintenance of the targeted weight permanently and achieve sustainable physical health.
Examples of Therapeutic Nutrition:
Therapeutic nutrition is an effective tool used by nutrition specialists to improve the condition of patients and promote their health. Here are some examples of the modifications made by therapeutic nutrition specialists to a patient’s diet:
Adjusting protein intake:
A protein-rich diet is prescribed for malnutrition and liver cirrhosis, while reducing protein intake is necessary for kidney inflammation.
Adjusting fiber content:
A fiber-rich diet is beneficial for treating constipation, while a low-fiber diet is necessary for treating diarrhea and ulcers.
Adjusting carbohydrate intake:
A carbohydrate-rich diet is suitable for liver diseases and pre-surgery conditions, while a low-carb diet is necessary for treating diabetes.
Adjusting calorie intake:
A high-calorie diet is necessary in cases of fever, infection, and hyperthyroidism. A low-calorie diet treats obesity, heart diseases, and kidney diseases.
Adjusting fat intake:
A high-fat diet is used in cases of severe malnutrition, while a low-fat diet is beneficial for heart, liver, and obesity patients.
Minerals:
A calcium-rich diet is necessary for osteoporosis and bone fragility patients, while a low-calcium diet is beneficial for kidney stone patients. A low-sodium diet is necessary for high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney diseases.
Dietary therapy aims to improve the health of individuals through the use of food, ensuring that they receive the necessary nutrients while avoiding harmful components. It is essential to consult a nutrition specialist or dietitian for personalized therapeutic nutrition plans tailored to individual needs and health conditions.
The benefits of therapeutic nutrition:
Individuals benefit from several advantages when using therapeutic nutrition, as this diet is designed to achieve specific health goals and treat medical conditions. Here are some key benefits:
Therapeutic nutrition helps improve overall health by providing the necessary nutrients that the body needs for growth and development.
It is used to treat many diseases and health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and arthritis. It can also reduce the risk of certain diseases such as cancer.
It plays a crucial role in weight management, whether the goal is to gain weight for thin individuals or lose weight for those who are overweight or obese.
It improves digestive system functions and reduces digestive problems such as constipation or diarrhea.
It promotes healing processes and strengthens the immune system, making the body more resilient to diseases and injuries.
It is used to improve the performance of athletes, with a specific dietary system designed to meet the body’s needs during training and physical activity.
It improves mental health, showing a positive impact on mood, energy, and an individual’s ability to control stress and anxiety.
It reduces inflammation.
Essentials of Therapeutic Nutrition Guidelines in Following a Healthy Diet:
– Ensure you consume an appropriate amount of calories according to your daily activity, as calories are a necessary source of energy for your body.
– Make sure you eat regularly and in moderate amounts to enjoy a variety of foods, maintaining a balanced diet without overindulging or depriving yourself.
– Train yourself to control food quantities and calculate calorie counts so you can enjoy your favorite foods without unhealthy weight gain or loss.
– Choose healthy foods and avoid processed carbohydrates that may lead to increased blood sugar and insulin levels. Opt for whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, and oats.
– Follow a healthy dietary pyramid and try to make your diet diverse by including plenty of fruits and vegetables.
– Limit saturated fats and sugar intake, and pay attention to the amount of fat you consume, focusing on unsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, fruits, and avocados.
Therapeutic Nutrition Systems:
1. BRAT System for Diarrhea and Vomiting Conditions:
BRAT refers to a group of foods including bananas, rice, apple juice, and toast. These starchy foods help treat constipation and reduce diarrhea, are light and free of stomach or intestinal irritants, which helps soothe irritation caused by vomiting. This diet contains important nutrients and can compensate for losses due to diarrhea and vomiting.
2. DASH System for High Blood Pressure:
The DASH system is low in carbohydrates and rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. It is used to lower blood pressure and reduce saturated fat and cholesterol. It promotes heart health and improves important nutrient levels in the body.
3. Keto Diet for Weight Loss:
It is a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet, based on stimulating the body to a state of ketosis that increases fat burning for energy. It is effective for weight loss and improves the body’s response to fats.
4. Intermittent Fasting System for Fat Burning:
Intermittent fasting is based on periods of fasting followed by periods of eating, and can easily be integrated into daily life. It is used to stimulate burning stored fat and improve overall health.
5. 3000 Calorie Therapeutic Diet for Thinness and Athletes:
It is used to gain weight and provide the necessary energy for athletes. It aims to provide a large number of calories to support muscle growth and improve weight.
6. Circulatory and Surface Anesthesia Diet and Use:
It is used to perform a medical examination or therapeutic procedures, where solutions and medications are provided through intravenous injection tubes. It includes diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures.
These are some of the therapeutic nutrition systems and diets used for specific health goals and conditions. It is important to consult a nutrition specialist or dietitian for personalized therapeutic nutrition plans tailored to individual needs and health conditions.
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