The elemental diet is a liquid diet made up of essential nutrients and vitamins that can be ingested through a gastric feeding tube or intravenously. It is beneficial for people with digestive problems as it allows their GI tract to rest and provides essential nutrients. However, it requires medical supervision and may cause weight loss or muscle wasting.
There are many types of ailments that affect the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other digestive diseases. People with these types of diseases often have nutritional problems because they have poor appetite, diarrhea and insufficient calorie intake. Victims generally require more nutrients and vitamins than people without the disease, which is why the elemental diet was created. The elemental diet is a liquid diet made up of amino acids, sugars, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients can be ingested in liquid form or in extreme forms, such as through a gastric feeding tube or intravenously.
Humans need vitamins, protein, fat, and calories to grow, heal, and function properly. Normal food consumption requires food to be processed in the stomach and intestines, and nutrients and vitamins absorbed through the wall of the small intestine. Waste is eliminated in the form of bowel movements. People who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract have problems with the process and are at risk of growth problems, delayed sexual development, and nutritional deficiencies. The elemental diet serves as a way to help people who cannot eat solid foods get these essential daily nutrients.
The elemental diet works for people with digestive problems because it comes in a digested form. This means that the person can ingest all the essential nutrients and vitamins without further stressing their digestive system. The nutritional composition of a typical elemental diet is made up of fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is a medical diet and often requires the supervision of a health professional, because many people lose large amounts of weight and need to adjust their calorie intake.
There are many benefits of an elemental diet. One important benefit is that it gives a person’s GI tract a chance to heal by allowing them to rest. This diet also provides most of the essential nutrients, so the person can function in daily life without fatigue. The duration of this diet is usually short term and does not require major life changes. There are usually no exercise guidelines for people on this diet.
The elemental diet has some drawbacks. The diet makeup does not include a protein source, because many people have allergic reactions. It requires medical supervision, and IVs and feeding tubes can cause complications. Some people experience drastic weight loss or muscle wasting. Many people who enjoy food and the social aspects of eating also express discontent with this type of diet.
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