Resources
BOOKS
Garrow, J.S., James, W.P.T. and Ralph, A.Human Nutri-
tion and Dietetics10th Edition. Churchill Livingstone.
National Dairy Council.nutrition and Vegetarianism.Fact
File Number 6. National Dairy Council.
Thomas, B.Manual of Dietetic Practice.3rd Edition.
Blackwell Science Ltd.
ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.bda.uk.com/.
http://www.indi.ie/
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/.
http://www.vegsoc.org/
Annette L. Dunne BSc (Hons) MSc RDLatino dietseeHispanic and Latino diet
Liquid diets
Definition
Liquid diets is a term that encompasses a wide
range of diets that serve a variety of functions. It can
mean either partial or full meal replacement by either
clear or non-clear fluids. Doctors often prescribe a
liquid diet for before or after certain surgeries, or for
patients who are medically obese. People also use them
for fasting or weight loss.
Origins
The first uses of liquid diets date back centuries
because ancient religious ceremonies often involved
fasting, and many cultures served only broth to sick
patients. Doctors have been prescribing a liquid diet to
patients before they were to undergo surgery for deca-
des. Only in the past few decades have several medically
monitored weight loss programs, such asOptifast,and
commercially available weight loss programs, such as
Slim Fast, become available.
Description
Liquid diets is a broad category of diets that can
be used for a number of different reasons. In essence, it
means any diet which replaces regular meals of solid
foods, with fluid drinks. For many medical procedures
it is helpful, or even necessary, that patients consume
only liquids before or after the operation. People also
consume only liquids during periods of fasting. When
a person is diagnosed as seriously obese, a physician
may decide that he or she should undergo a medically
observed weight loss program, like Optifast. There are
also several programs like Slim Fast, that mimic the
medically-observed programs, but in a less severe way
that can be followed without supervision.Liquid Diets For Medical Procedures
Before patients undergo certain medical proce-
dures a physician may recommend a liquid diet. This
is done to clear out the digestive system and decrease
the strain on the digestive organs. It allows a patient to
acquire the necessary calories, nutrients, and fluids,
while minimizing the digestive impact. Tests which
might require this include sigmoidoscopy, colono-
scopy, MRI, and certain x-rays. Surgical procedures
that can require a liquid diet include most types of
serious oral surgery as well as almost any stomach or
bowel surgery. Many surgical procedures, such as
bariatric surgery, may also require that a patient fol-
low a liquid diet after the operation, while they regain
the ability to digest solid foods.
Though guidelines will differ depending upon the
procedure, following a liquid diet in preparation for a
medical procedure will generally mean drinking only
liquids that can be seen through at room temperature.
This means thatwater, juice, broth, water ice, and
gelatin are usually acceptable. Soups that contain veg-
etables, noodles, meat, or rice are generally not
allowed. While milk is usually acceptable, yogurt is
usually restricted. When a physician prescribes a
liquid diet he or she will tell the patient the specific
guidelines, including a time period during which the
diet must be followed, and often provide literature
that will describe the types of fluids that are allowed.Fasting
Many people carry out periods of fasting for a
variety of reasons. While some fasts require the faster
to only drink water, or to consume no liquid at all,
fasting typically means to refrain from eating food,
but not drinking liquids. Most of the world’s popular
religions call for periods of fasting at certain times for
tradition, for reasons of atonement, to clear the mind,
as a way of mourning, for purification, as well as for
other spiritual reasons. Jewish tradition says that fast-
ing should be done during Yom Kippur. Many Chris-
tians fast during Lent. Muslims traditionally fast
during the days of Ramadan. Many ascetic Buddhists
and Hindus also practice periodic fasting. Many peo-
ple also fast for health-related reasons, because they
believe that it can cleanse the body of toxins and some
even believe it can cure disease. Historically, fasting
has also been used for political reasons, as a form ofLiquid diets