Therapeutic diets are prepared to optimize the nutritional requirements of an individual in order to treat a range of ailments or to improve one’s ability to eat. A diet prescribed by a physician is a part of the treatment plan for a clinical condition or a disease to eliminate, increase, or decrease specific nutritional needs in the diet and minimize the risk of injuries.
Dieticians recommend therapeutic diets either to improve the patient’s overall health or to maintain a healthful lifestyle. For example, many patients undergoing dialysis are on diets that are therapeutic to their cure so that they observe maximum improvement in condition from the dialysis.
Purpose of Therapeutic Diet:
The following are the main purposes of therapeutic diet-
Therapeutic diets can prove beneficial to certain conditions such as-
Along with dietary management, injury and safety concerns are also a major factor. The capability of swallowing food may affect the choice of diet consistency that needs to be followed. Dieticians recommend particular therapeutic diets for patients who have difficulty swallowing. They should be served foods that are chopped, thickened liquids, or pureed, to reduce the risk of choking.
Types of Therapeutic Diet:
A therapeutic diet, also known as a clinical diet, refers to a special diet plan that manages the intake of certain nutrients or foods. It is usually an alteration of one’s regular diet. Some common clinical diet examples include-
The dietician or physician may recommend changes in one’s therapeutic diet, depending on the patient’s response and development in overall health condition. Remember, a specific diet that may suit one person may not be ideal for another. It is best to leave up to your physician/dietician to decide which particular diet you should stick to.