The importance of the nutrient can never be overemphasized as it plays an integral part in both the health of the body and the management of diseases. Adequate nourishment nourishes the body alongside serves as a significant component in the prevention and control of many diseases. The focus of this article is to explore the options as regards nutritional care interventions for diseases to influence health.
The Case for Illness Control
Nutrition provides the basis upon which diseases are managed alongside other treatment approaches. Foods contain nutrients and our bodies need an appropriate amount of nutrients from the foods we take daily. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats as the Macronutrients, and vitamins, and minerals as Micronutrients help in sustaining and supporting various body processes for bodily health.
Carbohydrates supply energy, proteins are involved in tissue repair and growth, and fats are involved in hormone synthesis and as well act as the cell membrane fluidity. Micronutrients even though needed in small proportions are important for immunity, bone strength, and metabolism.
When provided to the body in the right proportion, these nutrients enhance the body’s ability to cope with the physiological demands of the disease. For instance, a healthy diet can support the healing of injured tissues, boost immunity, and ample energy needed in chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers, among others.
Nutritional Strategies for Specific Diseases
Diabetes Management
Diabetes is one of the most researched areas that touches on the aspect of nutrition in management. The main area of nutrition in the diabetes subject is sugars, including the regulation of blood sugar by diet. The fundamentals of the diet strategies include carbohydrate counting, consuming low glycemic index foods, and a proper balance of macronutrient intake.
A healthy diet that incorporates whole grain foods, vegetables, lean meats, and good fats will go a long way in managing blood sugar levels. For instance, fiber-rich foods delay the action of sugar in the bloodstream thereby avoiding the highs and the lows. Also, helping yourself to small portions of food and eating them at fixed intervals will enable your blood sugar levels within the day to be regulated.
The diet plan specific to the diabetic patient also helps in weight loss, which is important since this condition is a known risk factor for overweight people to develop type 2 diabetes. Managing a diet plan works for weight loss so that insulin requirement will also come down and the person does not need a sugar tablet always.
Cardiovascular Disease
CVD comprises a group of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels such as hypertension, CAD, and stroke. Dietary changes are known to be equally important in the prevention and treatment of CVD.
A heart-healthy diet plan could help recommend the several groups of foods that one should take including fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, lean meat, and fats, relatively avoiding foods rich in fats, cholesterol, sodium, and sugars. High fruit and vegetable consumption in combination with nuts, a high intake of olive oil, and moderate fish and poultry are said to offer protection from cardiovascular diseases.
Foods with high amounts of Omega-3 like fatty fish, salmon, mackerel and very helpful to the heart.Advertisement They assist in rumouring inflammation, lowering triglyceride levels and decreasing the risk of arrhythmia. Also, those vitamins that counteract free radicals from fruits and vegetables lower oxidative stress which is a causative agent of atherosclerosis.
Cancer
Another aspect of healthcare is also nutrition which plays a significant role in combating cancer and its development. It has been established that some foods increase the susceptibility of the human body to cancer while causing the disease to advance more aggressively. For instance, studies have found that brown and green, that is carbohydrates, typically contain low calories and have appreciated contents of vitamins, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that help reduce the risk of developing ‘’cancers’’.
Some of the side effects of cancer treatment include anorexia, nausea/vomiting, and altered taste sensation all of which negatively impact the patient’s nutrition status. Nutrition constantly needs to be adjusted to accommodate for these side effects. Large quantities of calories and protein are advisable when a patient is on treatment because weight and muscles may waste away. Also, dividing foods into five to six small portions throughout the day and healthy snacks can be helpful for consumers with low appetite.
In addition, certain cancer therapies compromise the proper absorption of nutrients and therefore, entail a need for evaluation of the individuals’ nutrient status. Pay attention to the vitamins and minerals; they should be consumed to help the body recover since treatments cause stress to the system.
Obesity and Weight Management
Overweight and obese raises the risk of developing several chronic diseases such as T2DM, CVD, and some types of cancer. The nutritional plan for obesity is about developing a proper meal plan that should be followed by a person to lose extra weight and sustain the loss.
The ultimate goal of weight loss is usually characterized by the ‘magic’ equipment comprising of low-calorie foods, or portion control if it came down to it. Replacing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains together with lean meats, for processed foods, sugars, high-fat foods, and drugs can also lead to weight loss.
Other aspects also include behavioural strategies like mindful eating, engaging in physical activities and keeping records of foods eaten. These strategies assist people in making the right dietary decisions and sustaining weight loss in the future.
Gut Health and Digestive Disorders
Gut health and its related functions are vital for the overall health of an individual and Nutrition is irrefutably essential for good digestive system health. Several chronic ailments can be prevented through diet and these include; IBS, IBD, and celiac disease.
For instance, people with IBS are encouraged to take a low FODMAP diet which is a reduced amount of carbohydrates that causes slow digestion in the small intestine. DIV clients may need to avoid fibre during periods of active disease because of increased discomfort; CD clients must avoid gluten, so they will need to be counselled about appropriate meals.
Other substances, such as probiotics in yoghurt and kefir, and prebiotics, found in garlic and onions, also help to stabilize the composition of microorganisms in the gut. This balance is of importance in digestion, absorption of nutrients, and immune response in animal bodies.
Conclusion
The management of diseases with nutritional interconnections is a progressive and changing area of knowledge. Diet therapy not only aids in the reduction of the disease symptoms but also increases the quality of life for the patient besides raising the levels of health. Thus, information regarding nutrient profiles linked to various illnesses would enable healthcare professionals to be more accurate and personalized in attending to patients’ requirements. As more research is carried out to determine the relationship between food and diseases, nutrition will remain a critical determinant in a patient’s overall treatment.
We are India’s first comprehensive continuum care provider. We provide multidisciplinary out of hospital care to acute and post-acute and chronically ill patients at our critical care facilities and your home.