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Individuals who have medical conditions are often required to be on special diets. These diets help them to manage symptoms from digestive problems, kidney problems, blood sugar fluctuations and other issues. However, sometimes being on a special diet can mean you don’t get all the nutrients you need to keep you healthy. Your physician may recommend a number of other measures to make sure you’re getting the vitamins and minerals required for overall good health. Here are a few options for ensuring good nutrition when you are on a special diet.
1 – Increase Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables
The best way to get the nutrition you need is to consume generous amounts of fruits and vegetables, which contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals needed for good nutrition. Eating fruits and vegetables will provide vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin K and vitamin C. In addition, fruits and vegetables are also rich in minerals like potassium, iron, folic acid, magnesium, and manganese, along with antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lutein. Eating fruits and vegetables can’t be beat for a nutritional punch.
2 –Nutritional Drinks
A number of nutritional drinks are on the market that can supplement a special diet. Some of these products offer a protein boost. Other drinks help to regulate blood sugar levels. Still other products provide additional calories to prevent severe weight loss. Talk to your physician about these products that can help to support a diet designed for special medical needs.
3 – Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
If your diet is limited to certain types of food, you may be missing essential vitamins and minerals that a more varied diet would provide. Supplements, like those offered at AlgaeCal, a convenient way to supplement limited diets, so you can get all the nutrients your body needs. If you’re concerned your body isn’t getting enough nutrients, consider adding a few vitamins and supplements to help get the extra nutrients you need.
4 – Parenteral Administration of Nutrients
If an individual becomes severely malnourished because of a special diet and is unable to get nutrition in other ways, it may become necessary to provide nutrition through intravenous drip or intramuscular injection. Administering nutrition by this method is generally done only in emergency situations, but it may become necessary when an individual becomes too weak or ill to take in nourishment normally.
Vitamins and minerals are critical to body functions such as cell replacement, blood clotting, supporting metabolism and boosting immune system function. Without these components, individuals can become vulnerable to a host of infections and diseases. Although special diets may help an underlying health problem, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies that lead to other critical issues. Talk to you doctor about getting extra nutrition while you are on your special diet.
