Dietetics and Therapeutic Diets

Dietetics

• Objectives of dietetics: suit the manifestations, meet dietary needs, compensate for deficiency, and restore tissue and reserve body resistance.

Difficulties with Therapeutic Diet

• Unbalanced diet
• Monotonous and non-appetizing food
• Difficulty in preparation
• High expense

Requirements of Dietetics

• Follow rules of adequate balanced diet
• Minimal modification
• Alternative menus with same value
• Supplementation and fortification to compensate for restriction
• Nutrition education to patient and family about allowed food, preparation, and supplementation
• Medical supervision to ensure good nutrition status
• Diet sheet illustrates quantitative and qualitative aspects of diet required for treatment of diseases

Therapeutic Diet for Hypertension

• DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a lifelong eating plan
• Lower blood pressure through eating foods rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium
• Reduce intake of sodium, salt, sweetened beverages, fats, red meat, and processed meats
• DASH diet can lower blood pressure, reduce risks of CAD and stroke
• DASH diet suggests daily servings of:
  • Grains: 7-8
  • Vegetables: 4-5
  • Fruits: 4-5
  • Low-fat or fat-free dairy products: 2-3
  • Meat, poultry, and fish: 2 or less
  • Nuts, seeds, and dry beans: 4-5 per week
  • Fats and oils: 2-3
  • Sweets: less than 5 per week

Therapeutic Diet for CAD

• Dietetic risk factors for coronary artery diseases:
  • Hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL)
  • High LDL level (> 130 mg/dL)
  • Low HDL level (< 45 mg/dL)
  • High VLDL level (> 250 mg/dL)
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides > 150 mg/dL)
• Strategies for planning meals for someone with heart disease:
  • Serve more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes
  • Use complex carbohydrates like brown rice and whole grain
  • Use variety of protein-rich food from animal and plant sources
  • Choose fat calories wisely