I’m on a Diet!

                                       

Fallacy: When we heard about this very famous phrase, we assumed right away that a person saying this is eating less than the usual meal served.

Fact: When a person is on a diet, it means it has a specification of food to eat for a definite reason.

Here are the most common types of Diet and its Indication:

• Hypoallergenic Diet. This is indicated for a person who suffers allergies which may be triggered with food if not cautiously prepared. In order to control allergies, a person must also consider his food consumption with precautions so that it will not aggravate any allergic reactions in the different parts of the body such as skin, lungs, stomach, heart, eyes and etc. 

             FOODS THAT CAN CAUSE ALLERGY:
          
          Chicken and Eggs                                    Milk and Milk Products
                                                                            ice cream                      
          Seafoods:                                                  cheese
          shrimps, yogurt                                             
          squid                                                          Chocolate bars/Chocolate
          oyster                                                         Cakes and Other Types of Cakes, 
                                                                             Brownies
        
     
          Nuts:                                                           Cereals like:
          mussels peanuts and peanut butter            wheat bread
          almond nuts                                                 oatmeal
          walnuts
 
          Certain Kinds of Fishes like:
          tambakol
          tulingan
          tuna
          galunggong
          dilis
          tinapa
          sardines

          Certain kinds of Fruits and Vegetables
           strawberries                                           
           fresh 
           tomatoes 
           citrus fruits like lemon, orange,
           pomelo, grapefruit,pineapple
          
          Yeast-containing Products like:
           beers
           some wines
           Pork in processed form like:
           chinese ham
           salami
           sausages

• Diabetic Diet or Sugar-free Diet. This very common among people who were diagnosed of having Diabetes Mellitus. This is a low sugar or sugar-free diet, one should follow in order to control blood sugar levels. Consumption of rice should be lessen especially Filipinos who are known to eat a lot of rice since it has a high level of carbohydrates which can be turned into sugar. This diet is also indicated for a person who is under weight reduction or weight management program since sugar or carbohydrates contributes a big factor why people is gaining so much weight, leading to heart disease and other health problems.

• Low Salt Low Fat Diet. If you are planning to control your weight this diet is best for you. This is also perfect for a person who is having hypertension or increase level of blood pressure. Salt or Sodium content in foods can trigger increase blood pressure because it increases water absorption in the body thus, increasing the activity of the heart causing venous pressure leading to increased blood pressure. Fats can be deposited to the veins and arteries, with increase fatty deposits, therefore narrowing the veins and arteries causing also hypertension, fatty liver disease and other problems. This diet is very important not just focusing on medications to control your BP.

•  Low Purine Diet. This diet is best for a person who suffers hyperurecemia or increase level  of uric acid in the body causing joint pains and gout. Losing weight can also help reduce symptoms of gout. However, it’s important not to lose weight too quickly. Fasting and rapid weight-loss diets can actually increase the amount of uric acid in your body. Low purine diet includes milk fish (bangus) free meals, avoid shrimps and other sea foods, canned and processed meats, beer, organ meats, such as liver, from any animal source, anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout and haddock and gravy. May have intake of Low-fat and fat-free dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, Rice, noodles, pasta and potatoes, fruits and vegetables. 

•  Liquid Diet. This diet really exists. This is usually indicated for those who are undergoing medical procedures that requires bowel prep. This diet is commonly suitable for patients after a surgical procedure under spinal anesthesia (e.g. caesaran section, exlap, appendectomy, where there is a decreased in intestinal perystalsis, thus flatus is very important to consider a proper diet. This includes tea, water and soup. 

                                        

• Soft, Bland and Low Residue Diet. Having difficulty in digestion? You must try this diet. Soft diet includes oats, crackers, bread, cereals and wheat. Low residue or high fiber diet is to have a good digestion and defecation and prevents constipation.

                       
    

• Ice Cream Diet. Have you heard of this kind of diet? You will surely love this diet if you don’t have any other diet to follow. This diet is best for those who underwent removal of tonsils or tonsillectomy. Merely because, post tonsillectomy sites needed something cold to prevent bleeding and hematoma. Dark colored icecream is not suitable for this, it should be white so that bleeding will be monitored. 

• DAT (diet as tolerated), Regular, Full Diet. The best diet for those who are not diet and weight conscious. Not just eating what you want to eat but this should be full of healthy and nutritious foods because it is still wise if you eat what is healthy to your body.

 



 Any diet will do but most importantly, match it with regular exercise and active lifestyle. As like what the saying goes "you are, what you eat", so be careful with what you eat.