Nutrition Counseling - The Nutrition Unit
The Nawinna Medicare Hospitals dietitians provide a range of services including inpatient nutrition care, outpatient clinics, group programs as well as nutrition support to The Nawinna Medicare Hospital food service.
The Nutrition Unit within the Nawinna Medicare Hospital provides nutritional assessment and counselling to patients, families and staff including advice on achieving and maintaining optimal nutrition, and the most appropriate form of nutrition delivery.
The nutrition department is referred patients from the Medical staff, Nursing staff, and Food Service staff and provides advice about nutrition and diet in relation to health and illness.The department consists of a team of dietitians/Nutritionists employed by the hospital have completed an approved qualification (at degree level) .Registered dietitians /Nutritionists are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level.
Dietitians /Nutritionists use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices
Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition plays an integral role in maintaining health and in the prevention of certain diseases. Our Nutrition Counseling Services offer professional one-on-one nutrition education and dietary counseling for people with diabetes, cardiac disease, excess weight, eating disorders and other nutrition-related problems. Some services may be covered by insurance plans.
Inpatient service
We provide individual nutrition care to patients during hospital admissions on request . We accept referrals from doctors, nurses and other health care professionals for any inpatient with a nutritional problem including:
- Nutritional support (i.e. adults with poor appetite, unintentional weight loss, children with faltering growth)
- Adults / children requiring artificial nutritional support (i.e. feeding via a tube)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Wound healing
- Swallowing problems
- Patients screened at risk of malnutrition on admission to hospital
- Gastrointestinal problems
Diet plays a vital role in the treatment of patients. Proper diet is the key to good health and vigor. The diet and kitchen feature in the Hospital assists the hospital kitchen staff to provide meals to inpatients as per the instructions of the dietitians /Nutritionists and physician. The dietician works with the physician to define the diet for the patients The objective of the Nawinna Medicare Hospital’s dietary service is to make provision for clean, hygienic and nutritious diet for the indoor patient as per their caloric requirement
Outpatient service
We accept both adult and paediatric referrals from a GP or consultant for a wide range of nutritional problems including:
Our outpatient nutrition clinics include:
- Renal disease
- Gasteroenterology
- Paediatrics
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Sleep apnoea weight reduction
- Child Obesity etc
Objective of Nutrition department of NMC
- To maintain good nutritional status of all patients.
- To educate patients about how diet plays a major role in the treatment of various diseases.
- To modify the daily diet pattern of patients to meet their requirement during various diseased condition.
- To correct deficiencies especially in patients with prolonged hospital stay like cancer patients and critical care unit patients.
- Diet therapy in most instances is not a remedy in itself but is a measure which supplements or makes the medical or surgical treatment more effective.
Special Diet Service
The Special Diet Service liaises with the Food Services Department for meal and mid meal service requriements for patients with special dietary needs.
The various types of diet being provided are:
- Regular Normal diet
- Soft diet
- Clear Liquid diet
- Full Liquid diet
- tube feeds
- Jejenostomy feeds
- Diabetic diet
- Renal Diet
- High Protein diet
- Salt free diet
What we are offer?
Weight management
- Under weight
- Over weight and obese
Diet and nutrition is basic factor for weight management. Overweight is main risk factor for many non communicable diseases such as diabetic, hypertension (High blood pressure), cancer, coronary artery diseases etc.
Diet counseling provides knowledge about food which need to high, moderate and lower consumption. Through diet counseling and specialized menu plan helps to change lifestyle practices.
Prevent non communicable diseases (NCD)
- Diabetic
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Strokes
- Heart diseases
are well known NCD s.
What we eat and our nutritional status can affect cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer and diabetes. Foods, diet and nutritional status, including overweight and obesity, are also associated with elevated blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and resistance to the action of insulin diabetic. These conditions are not only risk factors for NCDs, but major causes of illness themselves. Properly planed diet is important prevent NCDs as well as, it helps to medicine for control adverse conditions.
Particular vegetables and fruits, including cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli, and many fruits or vegetables that are rich in folate, also protect from developing cancers of the colon and rectum, mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus. Eating red and processed meat increases risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Saturated fat and trans fats increase blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Higher sodium/salt intake is a major risk factor for elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, and probably stomach cancer. Diets high in meat and dairy also increase blood pressure. Diets high in energy-dense, highly-processed foods and refined starches and/or sugary beverages contribute to overweight and obesity.
Micro nutrient deficiencies
Iron (Fe) deficiencies are common in Sri Lanka. Fe deficiency lead to general fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, a tingling or crawling feeling in the legs, tongue swelling or soreness, cold hands and feet, fast or irregular heartbeat, brittle nails, headaches.
Commonly iron comes from animal origin foods such as fish, meat. Strictly vegetarians or vegans don’t take any animal origin food. Therefore, they need special diet for fulfill iron requirement as well as vitamin B12 requirement.
FAQ
1. PUT ON WEIGHT since going overseas?
Changes of your lifestyle such as
- Activities
- Diet
- Free time……
Therefore, proper diet and exercise helps to maintain your body weight.
2. How to reduce weight AFTER DELIVERY?
You should plan to return to your pre-pregnancy weight by 6 to 12 months after delivery. Most women lose half of their baby weight by 6 weeks after childbirth (postpartum). The rest usually comes off over the next several months. A healthy diet with daily exercise will to maintain body weight.
3. CAN we prevent NCDs ???
These diseases are a consequence of behavioral, hereditary or standard of life factors, such as smoking and an improper diet. Examples of non-communicable diseases include diabetes, cancer, mental illness, common injuries and heart disease. By employing all of the natural preventive measures below, you can safely and effectively defend your body against non-communicable diseases. Exercise every day, Healthy diet, Consume foods high in antioxidants, avoid smoking and minimize alcohol, reduced red meat consumption, are some factors which helps to prevent NCDs.
4. Tips for HEALTHY DIET with SMART SHOPPING.
Keys for making your shopping the most
healthful:
- Know Your Store!
- Bring a List!
- Use the Facts!
5. What Is a Balanced Diet?
A balanced diet is one that gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly. At the core of a balanced diet are foods that are low in unnecessary fats and sugars but high in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.In order to get the proper nutrition from your diet, you should obtain the majority of your daily calories from:
- fresh fruits
- Green leaves
- fresh vegetables
- whole grains
- legumes
- nuts
- lean proteins
- Healthy fat
How to access the Dietetic service
To make appointments or for more information , Please contact us.
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Mrs. Chamila Liyanage |
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Mr. K.L.A Samitha Prasad A Former writer in “RIVIRA SUWANETHA” paper. Member of Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka. |
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