Special Nutritional Needs
- SPECIAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS
°High blood cholesterol
- Causes
- Eating fatty (saturated fats) foods
- Eating high cholesterol foods
- Lack of fiber in the diet
- Symptoms
- Elevated blood pressure
- Elevated HDL/LDL levels
- Foods to include
- Low-fat or fat-free foods
- Whole grains
- Lean meats
- Fish
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Foods to avoid
- Partially hydrogenated oils
- Processed snack foods
- Highly marbled meats
- Hypertension/high blood pressure
- Causes
- Eating foods with a high sodium content
- Eating foods with a high fat content
- Low consumption of foods containing calcium, potassium and magnesium
- Symptoms
- Elevated heart rate
- Shortness of breath with exertion
- Foods to include
- Low-sodium foods
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Foods to avoid
- Highly processed snack foods
- Low fiber content
- High fat foods
- Obesity
- Causes
- Eating high-fat content and low-nutrient foods
- Eating oversized portions
- Limited physical activity
- Inherited genetic traits
- Symptoms
- Increased health problems
- Elevated BMI rating
- Foods to include
- Reduced-fat and fat free foods
- Whole grains
- Lean meats
- Fish
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Smaller portion sizes
- Foods to avoid
- Highly processed snack foods
- Low fiber content
- High fat foods
- Diabetes- Type II
- Causes
- Eating foods high in sugar
- Excessive body weight
- Low consumption of fiber
- Symptoms
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Foods to include
- Low-sugar and sugar-free
- Whole grains
- Protein foods
- Reduced-fat and fat-free
- Foods to avoid
- Foods that are high in sugar
- Foods that are high in simple carbohydrates
- Cause-lack of calcium and exercise
- Symptoms
- Brittle bones or bones that break easily
- Hormonal changes
- Deficiency of vitamin D
- Foods to include
- Calcium and Vitamin-rich foods
- Foods high in phosphorous
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Foods to avoid
- Caffeine
- Soft drinks
- Alcohol
- Tobacco products
- Eating disorders are self-destructive conditions created by emotions, attitudes and behaviors related to food, eating and weight. These disorders are difficult to overcome without professional help. The most common types of eating disorders have major effects on the body.
- Anorexia nervosa the intense fear of gaining weight, although already thin.
- Causes
- An unrealistic body image
- Peer pressure to be thin
- Symptoms
- Eating rituals
- Extensive exercise
- Obsession with dieting
- Bulimianervosais characterized by two traits, binge eating followed by purging. Purging includes the abuse of laxatives, diet pill and diuretics. Bulimics often stay within 10 to 15 pounds of a healthy weight.
- Causes
- Guilt associated by overeating
- The desire to control weight by any means
- Symptoms
- Tooth decay
- Blistered hands
- Ruptured esophagus
- Binge eating is characterized by eating abnormally large amount of food in a short time.
- Causes
- Feeling depressed
- Guilt
- Symptoms
- Consuming 3000 to 5000 calories and day
- Excessive weight gain
- Food sensitivities fall into two classifications, food allergies and food intolerance.
- A food allergy is an abnormal response to certain foods by the body’s immune system. A trace of this food can cause serious health problems and even death. The FDA now requires that all food allergens be clearly identified on food labels.
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soy
- Shellfish
- Food intolerance is a physical reaction to food but does not involve the immune system. An intolerance usually is a less serious digestive problem and may include:
- Lactose intolerance, sensitivity to the sugar in cow’s milk.
- Gluten intolerance, sensitivity to gluten products