Assignment: Diet as Therapeutic Agent

Submitted to: Nadeem Ghouri

Submitted By: Sharjeel Basharat

Date: August 5, 2020

 Topic: -Diet as a Therapeutic Agent
Diet: - A special course of food to which a person restricts themselves, either to lose weight or for
medical reasons. Example: -Meat, Eggs, Vegetables etc.

Types of Diets: -

1.Regular Diet 2. Soft or Light Diet

3.Bland Diet 4. Fluid or Liquid Diet

5.Modified Diet 6. High Protein Diet

7.Low Fat Diet 8. Salt-Free Diet

9.Low Calorie Diet 10. Low Residue Diet

11.Diabetic Diet

Now we discuss one by one: -

1.Regular Diet: -

Vegetarian or non-vegetarian which should be well-balanced and adequate for normal nutrition.
This is for patients who do not need any special modifications.

2.Soft or Liquid Diet: -

Which is the step between the full liquid and the diet. This is an easily digested diet, for patients
with moderate fever, after surgery, and in many medical conditions. Conjee, bread, milk may be
served, and coffee, fruit juice and other fluids can be given, fried foods, mutton and excess of
condiments are omitted from the diet.

3.Bland Diet: -

This is soft or easily digestible foods with no condiments. It is often ordered in gastrointestinal
conditions.

4.Fluid or Liquid Diet: -

This is given to patients with high fever, those who are unable to take or tolerate solid food, and
those being fed by tube. Patients on fluid diet should be offered drinks at least every two hour
during the day time, and take a total of about 2000mL or four pints. A liquid diet may be either a
clear or full liquid diet.

The clear diet is used when an acute illness or surgical procedures produces a marked intolerance
to food and it is advisable to restrict the intake of nutrients.

The only foods permitted on this diet are clear tea, weak black coffee, fat-free broth, clear soup,
meat and yeast extracts, soda water and other aerated beverages. Such fluids have practically no
food value other than calories. Calories may be increased by the use of glucose. This diet is usually
continued for only one or two days.

The full diet is given when the total nutrition of the patients must be maintained by fluids for a
long period of time. This is necessary when the patient is unable to swallow solid food or if the
patient must be fed by intra-gastric or gastrostomy tubes. This diet includes all foods liquid at room
temperature and at body temperature. It is free from cellulose and irritating condiments. Milk
usually form the basis of such diets because it provides adequate protein and calcium.

When giving a full liquid diet, six or more feedings must be given daily. The protein content of
the diet ca be increased by adding whole egg, or skimmed milk broth or soup. The calorie value
of diet may be increased by:

a) Adding cream to milk.

b) Adding butter or oil to the cereal gruel and soup.

c) Including glucose in beverages expensive but less sweet and can be used in larger quantities
than sugar.

d)Using ice cream.

If a decreases volume of fluid is desired, skimmed milk powder can be given instead of part of
fluid the milk. If protein must be restricted, starches such as arrow root, sago and cornflour can be
used to increase the calories.

Liquid diet for those unable to take solid food.

5.Modified Diet: -

Modified diet for those requiring modification of the regular diet is ordered to supply various needs
of the body in disease. Modification of the regular diet may be made by:

a) Changing the methods of preparation, e.g.: - Soft diet.

b) Changing the consistency, e.g.: - Liquid diet.
c) Increasing or decreasing the total amount of energy.
d) Adding or reducing one or more nutrients, e.g.: - High protein, low sodium.
e) Increasing or decreasing bulk, e.g:- High or low fiber diets.
f) Including or excluding specific foods, e.g:- For allergy conditions.
g) High Protein Diet: -

This is ordered for patients with burns, protein deficiency disease, pre-eclamptic toxemia, and in
one type of chronic kidney disease. Extra protein can be supplied by adding skimmed milk powder
or egg to the milk, and by eating wheat instead of rice. Non-vegetarians can be given meat and
fish. Vegetarians should include curds and dhal in the diet.

7.Low Fat Diet:-

Fats are restricted in liver and gallbladder conditions such as cirrhosis, jaundice, gallstone. Bile is
necessary for the digestions of fats, and in these conditions, bile does not reach the duodenum in
sufficient quantity. Whole milk is not allowed but skimmed milk can also be given tea, coffee,
sugar or jaggery, bread, rice, dhal, vegetables and plantains and fruits. Care must be taken that no
fat is used in cooking, nuts, egg yolk, biscuits and eatables fried in oil are not allowed.

8.Salt-free Diet: -

Salt is closely connected with fluid balance of the body, and a salt-free diet is ordered whenever
there is edema or collections of fluid, including ascites. Edema occurs in diseases such as nephritis,
anemia, chronic-heart failures and pre-eclamptic toxemia. Salt is present in many foods in small
quantities, but it can be restricted if no salt is added in the preparation and cooking of food, when
eating. Food can be made palatable by squeezing a few drops of lime juice on to the food or by
adding sugar.

9.Low Calorie Diet:-

This is ordered for patients with obesity or heart conditions in which it is necessary to reduce the
weight. When calories are reduced in the diet, the body take and uses fat from its storehouse for
fuel. A low-calorie diet may also be ordered for a patient with mild diabetes.

a) Only a very little fat or oil may be used in cooking.

b) Sugar and jaggery are not allowed, and saccharine tablets may be used for sweetening.
c) Cereals are allowed only in very small quantities. Wheat and ragi are preferred to rice,
which contains more starch.
d) Potatoes and yams are not allowed, but other vegetables and greens may be eaten in greater
quantities.
e) Fruits are allowed, but not more than one plantain a day.
f) Protein foods including milk, curds, eggs, cheese, fish and dhal etc. may be given liberally.

10.Low Residue Diet: -

This is a diet without roughage, or anything which would stimulate bowel action. It is given in
cases such as colitis, colostomy, and may be ordered for a few days after perineal suturing.
Arrowroot, Conjee, milk, eggs, tea, toast, strain fruit juice are allowed, also vegetables and fruits
which have been softened and pressed through a sieve, rough cereals, green vegetables, skins,
pipes, nuts, dhal, peas and beans etc. are not allowed.

11.Diabetic Diet: -

In the disease called diabetic mellitus, there is a deficiency of the hormone insulin normally
secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is needed for the proper use of carbohydrates in body. Diet in this
disease must be strictly regulated according to the amount of sugar found in specimens of urine
and the amount of insulin ordered by the doctor. When an injection of soluble insulin has been
given, food should follow within half an hour. The doctor instruction regarding diet must be strictly
followed. The patient must be helped to understand the Importance of diet in his or her disease,
and about the danger of coma. The nurse must be observant and prevent the patient from taking
forbidden foods such as sweets and deep oil fried eatables and sweetened coffee etc. A diet such
as outlined in low calorie diet is usually ordered.