Children with CF may need 2,000-2,800 calories daily. It is important to remember that a balanced diet is vital for the whole family. This includes dairy products; grains and starches; fruits and vegetables; and proteins such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and peanut butter.
What is the best diet for cystic fibrosis?
Nutrient Know-How. Like everyone else, guys and girls who have CF should eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and veggies, whole grains, dairy products, and protein. In addition, people with CF have some specific nutritional needs to help them stay healthy.
What foods should be avoided with cystic fibrosis?
Dietary Restrictions
As with any diet, eating foods with empty calories (such as sugar-laden drinks) is not recommended on the cystic fibrosis diet. People with CF need to eat a balanced diet with a variety of bright-colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains, whole-fat dairy products, and healthy protein.
Why is nutrition important in cystic fibrosis?
Individuals with cystic fibrosis require more energy to breathe normally, fight lung infections and compensate for poor digestion. For these reasons, they need more calories than people without CF.
What is the best diet for a child with cystic fibrosis? – Related Questions
What vitamin helps cystic fibrosis?
People with CF also need to get water-soluble vitamins, which include vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid. They are called water-soluble because they are easily absorbed with water in the body.
Do people with cystic fibrosis need a special diet?
People with cystic fibrosis should have a balanced diet although many will require more energy (calories), to maintain a healthy body weight. For some people with CF it can be very difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
How can diet affect cystic fibrosis?
Without enough protein, fat, and other nutrients, it’s harder to stave off colds and other infections. It’s also more difficult for your body to keep your lungs clear and healthy. You may also become underweight. If you have CF, you need to eat a balanced diet consisting of fat, protein, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
Why do people with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients?
In people with CF, malabsorption can be caused in two ways: Thick mucus stops the pancreas from sending enzymes into the intestines, which are needed for the body to absorb nutrients in food. A defect in the intestines prevents nutrients from passing into the bloodstream.
Why is malnutrition a problem in cystic fibrosis?
Malnutrition is an adverse prognostic factor in CF (8–10). It probably promotes morbidity and mortality by impairment of lung function and immune function. Malnutrition causes growth failure (5–7) and reduced ability to engage in physical activity (8).
Why is protein important for cystic fibrosis?
Individuals with cystic fibrosis and other chronic diseases often have a “hidden” loss of muscle mass, despite normal body weight and BMI. Increasing your protein intake and exercising regularly are easy ways to preserve muscle mass.
Do probiotics help with cystic fibrosis?
Probiotics are live bacteria which will provide a health benefit to the individual. Probiotics are available over‐the‐counter, commonly used by people with cystic fibrosis and may improve gut inflammation and overall health.
Why do people with cystic fibrosis need salt?
Sodium Chloride (Salt)
Not getting enough salt can interfere with growth; reduce appetite; and cause stomach pain, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea and headache. People with CF lose a lot of salt in their sweat, so they must eat more salty foods, especially during hot, humid weather.
What vitamin deficiency causes cystic fibrosis?
Vitamin D deficiency occurs frequently in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Vitamin D is important for optimal mineralization of bone and may be important for other comorbidities commonly occurring in patients with CF.
What triggers cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease that is passed down through families. It is caused by a defective gene that makes the body produce abnormally thick and sticky fluid, called mucus. This mucus builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas.
What kills cystic fibrosis patients?
In cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a much-feared pathogen. The bacterium easily colonizes the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, leading to chronic infections that are almost impossible to eradicate and are ultimately fatal.
Is cystic fibrosis inherited from mother or father?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease. This means that CF is inherited. A child will be born with CF only if two CF genes are inherited – one from the mother and one from the father. A person who has only one CF gene is healthy and said to be a “carrier” of the disease.
What gender is cystic fibrosis most common in?
Males account for slightly more than 50 percent of all cases of cystic fibrosis (CF) but generally have better outcomes than females until about age 20. After that, men and women experience roughly equal outcomes for long-term survival. Still, males with CF tend to live an average of 2 years longer than females.
Can a child have cystic fibrosis if neither parent has it?
Can my children have CF even if it is not in my family? Yes. In fact, most couples who have a child with CF have no family history of cystic fibrosis and are surprised to learn that they carry a mutation in the CFTR gene, which causes the condition.
Who is most at risk for cystic fibrosis?
Because cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder, it runs in families, so family history is a risk factor. Although CF occurs in all races, it’s most common in white people of Northern European ancestry.
Can a child with cystic fibrosis live a normal life?
According to the CFF’s Patient Registry, children with CF grow up to lead full, productive lives despite their disease.
