Today, there are various illnesses or need to recover, that require specific diets depending on the condition. Would you know what to provide?

Appetites usually decrease during a illness or recovery for adults and children. Nutrition is important during these times to prevent infection, heal, replace and/or promote growth of new tissues and cells, eliminate, increase or decrease substances in the diet or to manage weight control. Therapeutic diets are ordered for various conditions that can affect all people.

Diets are necessary and used to encourage recovery and healing but specific to various stages that the body can handle, such as;

Clear Liquids, does not leave residue, is non-irritating, non gas forming. For illness, nausea and vomiting. Water, tea, coffee (no cream or milk) gelatin, clear fruit juices, fat-free broths, hard candy and popsicles.

Full Liquid, foods that are liquid at room or melt at body, temperatures. Prevent stomach irritation, during fever, nausea and vomiting. All clear liquid foods, custard, eggnog, strained soups, fruits and vegetables, creamed cereals, ice cream and sherbet.

Soft Food Diet, semi-solid foods, easily digested. For chewing difficulties, gastrointestinal disorders and infections. All liquids, eggs (not fried) broiled, baked or roasted meat, fish or poultry, strained fruit and vegetables, refined bread, pureed vegetables, pudding, plain cakes.

Low Residue, foods that leave a small residue in the colon. For colon diseases or diarrhea. Soft and liquid foods, canned or cooked fruit without skin or seeds, potatoes (not fried) strained, cooked vegetables, plain pasta.

High Residue, foods that stimulate peristalsis. For constipation or colon disorders. All fruits and vegetables, whole wheat breads and cereals, fried foods, whole grain rice, milk and cheese, meats.

Bland, foods that are chemically non-irritating, low roughage, served at moderate temperatures. For ulcers, gallbladder, intestinal disorders, post-operative abdominal surgery. Lean meats, white bread, creamed and refined cereals, gelatin, plain pudding, cakes and cookies, canned fruits and vegetables, pastas and rice, creamed soups, no fried foods, spice or condiments allowed.

High Iron, for anemia, blood loss, women in reproductive years. Foods such as liver, organ meats, lean meats, egg yolks, shellfish, dried fruits, dried beans, green leafy vegetables, lima beans, peanut butter, enriched breads and cereals.

Low Fat/Cholesterol, increase of protein and carbohydrates with limited fat. For heart disease, gallbladder, fat digestion disorders, liver disease. Allowed– skim milk, cottage cheese, gelatin, sherbet, fruit, lean meat, poultry, fish, fat-free broths, rice, pasta, breads and vegetables.

High Protein, aid and promote tissue healing. For burns, high fever, infection and some liver diseases. Meat, milk, eggs, cheese, fish, poultry, breads and cereals, green leafy vegetables.

Sodium Restricted, specified sodium regulated diets. For heart disease, fluid retention and some kidney diseases. Allowed — fruits, vegetables, unsalted butter, restrict all high sodium foods.

The list of available diets is exhaustive but these are directed for the various stages that a diet is controlled during a stage of recovery or introduced for health reasons. Please refer to your doctor or nutrition consultant for specific diets.

A balance between food and water taken in and lost from our bodies must always be maintained and equal, for optimum health. Water requirements increase with high weather temperatures, exercise, fever, illness and water loss. Infants and children have more body water therefore require more fluids than adults and unable to tolerate excessive fluid loss which can quickly cause death. Read, The Flu.

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