Nutrition and
Diet Therapy
• Nutrition= digestion,
metabolism, circulation
and elimination
• Nutritional Status=
refers to the state of one’s
nutrition
• Wellness= state of good
health with optimal body
function (requires good
nutrition
• Nutrition plays a large role
in determining:
• Height
• Weight
• Strength
• Skeletal and muscle
development
• Physical agility
• Resistance to disease
• Appetite
• Posture
• Complexion
• Mental ability
• Emotional and psychological
health
Immediate effects of good
nutrition includes:
• Healthy appearance
• Good attitude
• Proper sleep and
bowel habits
• High energy level
• Enthusiasm
• Freedom from anxiety
Good Nutrition may
delay or prevent the
following:
• Hypertension
• Atherosclerosis
• Osteoporosis: prevented
by good nutrition
• Malnutrition
• Obesity
• Anemia
If your neighbor tells you her MD has placed her on a
high protein diet with iron supplements based on her diet
which of the above illness is her medical problem?
Essential Nutrients
• Composed of chemical
elements found in food.
• Used by the body to
perform body functions
• Nutrients in foods
replace those used by the
body
• Essential nutrients are
divided into six groups.
Carbohydrates
• Major source of human
energy
• Starches or sugars
• Easily digested, grow
well in most climates,
keep well without
refrigeration
• Main sources: bread,
cereals, pasta, crackers,
potatoes, corn peas, fruits,
sugars and syrups
Cellulose = indigestible
carbohydrate, provides bulk
(bran, whole-grain cereal,
fibrous fruits, & veggies
Aid in absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Fats
• Lipids
• Concentrated form of
energy
• Help maintain body
temperature by providing
insulation
• Help cushion organs and
bones
• Provide flavor to meals
Fats Continued
• Main sources: butter,
margarine, oils,
creams, fatty meats,
cheeses, and egg yolk
• Classified as saturated
or poly unsaturated
Cholesterol: fatty substance found in body
cells and animal fats – eggs, meat, shellfish,
butter cream, cheese, milk, organ meats
Excess
cholesterol is
believed to
contribute to
atherosclerosis
Proteins
• Build and repair body
tissue
• Provide heat and energy
• Help makes antibodies
• Make up to 22 amino
acids (9are essential)
• Main sources complete
protein: meat, fish, milk,
cheese, eggs,
• Incomplete proteins:
cereal, soybeans, dry
beans, peas and peanuts
• Organic compounds that
are essential to life
• Regulate body functions
• Repair body tissues
• Only a small amount
required –well balanced
diet provides required
vitamins
• Excess or deficiency can
cause poor health
• Water soluble or fat
soluble
Vitamins
Someone who eats fat free diet could
become deficient in fat-soluble vitamins
Minerals
• Inorganic (nonliving)
elements found in all body
tissues
• Regulate body functions
• Build and repair body
tissues
• They include: calcium,
phosphorus, sodium,
potassium, iron, iodine,
fluorine and others.
• Found in all body
tissues
• Essential for digestion
• Makes up most of
blood plasma
• Helps body tissues
absorb nutrient
• Helps move waste
material through
body
Average person should drink 6-8 glasses
of water a day.
Water
Utilization of
Nutrients
• Digestion- breaks down the foods we eat by
1. Mechanical or chemical
2. Peristalsis
• Absorption – process of taking in nutrients
by the body
1.
Most absorption occurs in the small
intestine
2.
Water, salts and some vitamins in large
intestine
Utilization.
• Metabolism – use of
nutrients by the body
– 1. Basal Metabolic rate
(BMR)
• Measuring Food Energy
– 1. Calorie- the amount of
heat produced during
metabolism
– 2. Most people use an
average of 3,500
calories/day
– 3. To lose wt. a person must
take in fewer calories then
are burned
– 4. To gain weight, a person
must take in more calories
than the body uses.
Write questions and use the web site to find
answers….
What is a lowresidue diet?
What is not
allowed on a low
residue diet?
Can you have 7up on a clear
liquid diet?
If someone just
had surgery the
next day what diet
would they likely
be on?
Someone with
chronic
esophageal reflux
would be placed
on what kind of
diet?
Someone with
hyperthyroidism
would be on what
type of diet?
A client wakes up
during the night
and asks for
something to eat.
The nurse aide
should :
To prevent
dehydration of the
client, the nurse
aide should:
Could a diabetic
have chicken
broth?
What diet would
be appropriate for
someone with
dentures?
If a person was
retaining fluid
what diet would
be ordered?
A pt. With a
healing wound
would most likely
be put on what
type of diet?
Therapeutic Diets
• http://www.dietsite.com/dt/diets/hearthealth
y/lowsalt.asp
• Regular
Liquid Soft
• Diabetic
Low Calorie
• High Calorie
Low Cholesterol
• Fat-restricted
Sodium-restricted
• Protein
Bland
Low-residue