What Is Diet Therapy? All You Need To Know About Therapeutic Diets.

The modification of a normal diet to meet the daily requirements of sick individuals is known as Diet Therapy or Therapeutic diets.
The nutritional needs of a normal person from infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age are modified according to the demands of growth and development at different stages of life.

Firstly, A Balanced diet at these stages prevents the precipitation of the demands of growth and development at different stages of life And it also prevents the deficiency symptoms of any nutrient from any nutritional disorders as well.

Secondly, diseases that are mostly infections caused by lowered resistance due to under-nourishment or malnutrition Diet therapy can be considered as a shield which, when effectively used, can protect a person from further attack of the disease & helps restore normal health.

Moreover, Therapeutic Diets are advised by the doctor who is normally attending to the patient in the hospital or the nutritionist who is assigned by the designated doctor of the Patient.

Aims & Objectives of diet therapy

1. To maintain good nutritional status.
2. Correcting any deficiencies that have occurred so far.
3. Giving rest to the body.
4. To have certain body Capabilities to metabolize the nutrients.
5. Lastly, increase or decrease body weight whenever necessary.

Following are some cases, where therapeutic diets may be required-

1. Conditions like impaired appetite, gastrointestinal disease, traumatic neurological disorders interfering with self-feeding, neuropsychiatric disorders, pregnancy, food allergy & disease require a restricted diet.
2. The absorption interferes with the absence of normal digestive reactions, and intestinal hypermobility, drugs prevent absorption.
3. When utilization or storage interferes with impaired liver function hypothyroidism, drugs, or radiation therapy.
4. The function is impaired when tissues are destroyed, for example, a chlorohydrin in the gastrointestinal tract, heavy metals & other antagonists.

Types of Therapeutic diets-

The progressive therapeutic diet in a hospital is classified as follows- 

1. Liquid diet – It is of two types

a) clear fluid diet is usually prescribed for patients in the postoperative stage for 1-2 days & the diet is free of any solids completely.

b)  Full fluid diet – It is used for patients who are patients who are ill and who are unable to chew or swallow food. 

2. Soft diet – This diet is a link between a liquid diet & a light diet is reserved for patients who recovered from surgery like gastrointestinal disturbances or acute Infections etc.
3. Light (normal) diet – This diet is very similar to a soft diet and it includes all foods mentioned in the soft diet & in addition, it also includes simple salad fruits, etc.
4. Mechanical diets – This diet is prescribed for the individual who has difficulty chewing either because of a lack of teeth or ventures
5. Bland diets – This diet is prescribed for the patient with ulcerative gastritis or diarrhea
6. Tube feeding – This diet is used in cases of extreme emergency when swallowing is difficult.
7. Restricted residue diet – This diet is used for patients suffering from severe diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, typhoid, fever, or partial destruction in the intestine as well as after GI tract surgery.
8. High fiber diet – this diet is prescribed either in atomic atmosphere or diverticulitis.