The importance of nurses and nutrition in healthy patients

The importance of nurses and nutrition in healthy patients

 

Proper nutrition plays a big role in disease prevention, recovery from illness and ongoing good health. A healthy diet will help you look and feel good as well. Since nurses are the main point of contact with patients, they must understand the importance of nutrition basics and be able to explain the facts about healthy food choices to their patients. Nutrition classes provide the information necessary to sort the fact from fiction about healthy eating and pass that knowledge on to their patients. Not only must nurses be able to explain the ins and outs of a healthy diet, they must also lead by example.

How does nutrition relate to health?

Healthy food choices are vital to preventing illness, particularly chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings, not just hospitals. While nurses in hospitals may focus more on the dietary concerns of patients recovering from illnesses, community nurses focus more on prevention. Nurses who work at schools or community centers can often provide ­nutritional education to the public to prevent chronic conditions.

One fact about healthy eating that a nurse may provide is how a high sugar diet may cause type 2 diabetes. Nutrition for diabetics is crucial. According to diabetes.org: “One of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes is being overweight, and a diet high in calories from any source contributes to weight gain.“ Of course, eating candy is probably a quicker way to obesity (and type 2 diabetes) than whole grains or fish. It is important that nurses understand proper nutrition as it relates to recovery as well.

Proper nutrition is not only important for preventing disease, it is also crucial to the recovery process. According to an article by Michael Henning titled Nursing’s Role in Nutrition, “The healing of the body can take place only when the nutrients that provide the building blocks for repair are present.“ Due to the lack of trained nutritionists, the responsibility of educating patients on healthy eating habits often falls to attending nurses. They can put together diet plans for patients to take home and use long after they leave the hospital. According to the British magazine Saga, protein is essential to the healing process: “Fats and carbohydrates are also important in helping wounds to heal. They stop your body from ­using protein as an energy source, ­allowing it to be used to heal tissue.“

Not only should people recovering from illness make sure they eat right, they also need to make sure they are eating enough. Many illnesses and treatments can cause a loss of appetite –­ ­including anything from a common cold to chemo­therapy. Weight loss can increase your chances of infection, notes Victoria Taylor, a dietician with the British Heart Foundation. Taylor suggests “having more frequent meals, or little snacks throughout the day.”

Slovníček

recovery – zotavení, uzdravení, rekonvalescence
ongoing – přetrvávající, probíhající, pokračující, trvající
class – kurz, přednáška; třída; hodina
to pass on to – předat (dál), poslat dál, přenést; přesunout
ins and outs – všechny podrobnosti
to relate – souviset, mít souvislost; týkat se, vztahovat se; komunikovat; vyprávět
vital – životně důležitý, nezbytný, nepostradatelný; vitální
concern – zájmy; starost; obavy, znepokojení
weight gain – váhový přírůstek
whole grains – celozrnné obiloviny
to fall to – připadnout na koho
throughout – během, po celý

 

Source: Arkansas state university. The importance of nurses and nutrition in healthy patients. Updated 2018. Available from: https://degree.astate.edu/articles/nursing/the-role-of-nurses-and-nutrition-in-healthy-patients.aspx.

 

 

 

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