Diets to Reverse Disease
Subtitle
Can Special Diets Reverse Certain Diseases?
An old adage goes like this – “you are what you eat”. If you literally eat like a pig, you will definitely become obese. The rise in the number of people suffering from diseases like high blood pressure, fatty liver, diabetes, kidney failure and other dreaded conditions has dramatically risen over the years. This is due to factors like unhealthy diets and poor lifestyle choices.
Let’s take a brief look at a few diseases, and what types of special diets can help reverse them.
Heart Disease Diet Suggestions
Heart disease is mainly caused by consuming foods that are
rich in fat and bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), which clog the arteries, and
lead to strokes or heart attack. Dietitians and other health experts however
agree that a range of special diets can help reverse this terrifying specter.
Instead of eating lots of red meats, the person should be served more fruits and vegetables, whole wheat grains, sweet potatoes and legumes. When using added fat, use monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats, and these are found in peanut and olive oil. It would also help if you stop smoking, and reduce alcohol intake.
Diets for Fatty Liver Disease
The liver serves as the body’s main filtration and
metabolism unit. An unhealthy liver can impair the absorption of vitamins and
minerals, as well as the filtration of harmful substances from the blood.
A diet program for fatty liver sufferers includes consuming large amounts of carbohydrate-rich food, moderate fat intake, and taking vitamin B supplements. (Source: Fattyliverdietguide.org) A sample breakfast for liver disease patients includes cooked oatmeal with milk and sugar and strawberry and jam for breakfast. For lunch, 4 ounces of lean fish, potatoes, two slices of whole-grain bread, cooked vegetables, fresh fruit and salad would suffice. For dinner, 4 ounces of lean meat, whole-grain rolls, salad and potatoes would be appropriate.
Diet Suggestions for Diabetes Sufferers
For people who suffer from diabetes or extremely high blood sugar levels, there is this diet called MNT, or Medical Nutrition Therapy, which means that the person should eat a variety of nutritious food, in moderate amounts during meal time. MNT though is not a very restrictive diet, but it puts more emphasis on eating healthy carbohydrate and whole-grain foods, fiber-rich foods, vegetables and fruits.
For healthy carbohydrates, the suggested items include legumes (peas, lentils and beans), low-fat dairy products, and whole-grain bread. The fiber-rich foods include fruits, nuts, almonds, avocado, vegetables and legumes. Fish should also be a major part of the diet, and among the suggestions include salmon, mackerel, cod and herring.
Diet Suggestions for Kidney Disorders
What causes kidney disorders? There are many reasons for the onset of various kidney disorders. Among these include congenital defects, the wrong use of medicines (such as NSAID’s), exposure to chemicals and other toxins, drug abuse, and the onset of certain diseases/infections.
A diet program for people who have failing kidneys includes eating a low-protein diet, restricting salt, phosphorous and potassium intake (source: Medical College of Wisconsin). The person must also consume generous amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole-wheat grains and breads, monounsaturated fats (olive oil, canola, safflower oil) and lean meats. If the person is undergoing dialysis, they may need to eat at least 8 to 0 ounces of high-protein food items each day. Just make sure to talk to your doctor or dietitian about this.
Can special diets help reverse the negative effects of certain diseases or medical conditions? The answer is yes. However, before creating your own “special” diet, make sure you consult with your health care provider and dietitian first, so that the food items you partake will both be nutritious, and beneficial to your specific medical disorder or condition.
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