What does a nutrition & dietetics program mean?
A nutrition program advocates eating a healthy and balanced diet and staying active. It means a balance of all the food groups like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, low fat dairy products and healthy fats in moderation. Going on a nutrition program does not mean starving or crash dieting at all. It is more about controlling portion sizes, choosing healthy, staying active and changing your unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits.
Who can benefit from the consultations?
Almost anyone can benefit from nutrition consultations, but nutrition guidance is especially important for those with excessive weight, diabetes, blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases.
What are the advantages of nutrition programs?
Benefits could include improvement in glucose control, improvements in lipid profile, blood pressure, cardiometabolic fitness and weight loss if added with exercise, and an overall good quality of life and longevity.
What are the objectives of a Nutrition and Dietetics department?
- To ensure provision of safe, nutritious and balanced meals food suited to the therapeutic dietary needs of our patients.
- To provide nutrition consultations and individualized medical nutrition therapy for both inpatient and outpatients.
- To provide education and counseling to patients and families to inculcate healthy diet and lifestyle modifications to promote health.
- To raise nutrition awareness in the community.
What kind of inpatient services are provided under nutrition & dietetics?
- Nutritional screening of all inpatients and detailed nutrition assessment for at risk and referred patients.
- Implementation and monitoring of nutrition care plans.
- Facilitating provision of in-patient meals based on age, cultural needs, preferences and therapeutic dietary needs.
- Discharge planning and nutrition and lifestyle education of patients and families.
Are there any outpatient services provided too?
Yes. Under outpatient services, nutrition consultations and provision of medical nutrition therapy for a wide array of clinical conditions can be provided, including:
- Nutritional deficiency disorders: iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, and more
- Food allergy and intolerances
- Obesity and weight management
- Undernutrition
- Bariatric surgery pre-op and post-op advice (Sleeve surgery, mini gastric bypass), management of post bariatric surgery nutrition complications (dehydration, dumping syndrome, nausea and vomiting, constipation)
- Metabolic syndrome
- Cardiovascular disorders – hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, heart failure
- Endocrine disorders – prediabetes, diabetes type 1 and 2, hypothyroidism
- Gastrointestinal disorders – gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis and diverticulitis, alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and more
- Post-surgery dietary advice for hemorrhoids surgery, gall bladder removal surgery, bowel resection, colostomy, ileostomy, gastric surgery, and more
- Kidney disorders – kidney stones, chronic kidney disease (non-dialysis and dialysis)
- Women’s health issues – polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, lactation, gestational diabetes, and more
- Cancer/oncology nutrition
- Pediatric malnutrition – obesity, growth faltering, nutrition deficiency disorders
