Diet refers to the food, including the drinks, that a person regularly eats. There are broadly two types – the normal diet otherwise known as full diet, and therapeutic diets. In the normal diet, no change in diet composition is needed. In contrast, variations in quality, quantity of food and food components need to be done to fit the health and nutrition needs of a person. In a few cases such as diabetes, even the frequency of meals need to be given attention. Commonly, the word “diet” has been used to refer to the latter and more often, to one that leads to weight loss.
When someone desires to lose weight, a low calorie or weight-reducing diet has to be planned. A gout patient will have to consume a low purine diet. For hypertension, heart and brain attack (stroke) cases, low sodium, low fat diet, low cholesterol diet is almost always prescribed. High calorie diet is for those who want to put on weight as well as during fever, surgery, burn and other times when metabolism is increased. There can be a long list of therapeutic diets.
Whatever the case, a proper diet is one that follows certain principles – adequacy, balance, calorie-control, moderation and variety. Note that there are different food groups – rice and alternatives; fruits; vegetables; meat, fish, poultry, legumes & their products; milk; fats and oils and sugar/sweets. Adequacy means that one’s daily diet should be able to provide all the six nutrients the body needs in the proper quantities. Variety is espoused because there is no single food that can provide all nutrients needed thus different foods from the different food groups should be consumed. Nutrients missing in some foods or food groups can be obtained from other foods. To be balanced, the amount of food from a certain food group be in proper proportion with other groups. Rice and other alternatives should comprise the bulk in a day’s diet followed by vegetables and fruits. Least are fats, oils and sweets. For each food group, there are prescribed number of servings so intake will not be excessive, that is moderation. Most of the foods we eat contain calories which impact on body weight. While all foods that have carbohydrates, protein and fat provide calories, there are specific foods that are higher in calorie content. The difference of actual versus calorie recommendation for each one of us should not be so much if you are to maintain current weight. Those with health issues and those prescribed therapeutic diets better consult their physician and nutritionist-dietitian for proper meal planning.
General guidelines, however, for optimal health are as follows: Go more of whole or less processed foods as they have more nutrients and functional properties. Red or brown rice, boiled camote, for instance, are healthier than white rice. Consume less fried, fatty and salty foods as well as saturated fats and oils.
Highlights on selected therapeutic diets shall be featured in next articles.
