Week 3 Discussion: Exploring Popular Diet Trends

An anti-inflammatory diet is a diet based on eliminating foods that can contribute to inflammation. The idea is that eliminating these foods will decrease or eliminate inflammatory conditions. (Janet R. Weber Rn Edd & Kelley, 2018) Inflammatory conditions are diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. Inflammatory foods are foods such as processed sugars, processed flours and bread, and most dairy products. This also includes nightshade vegetables, including tomatoes, white potatoes, and eggplant. (Bustamante et al., 2020) Red meat is discouraged on this diet, and it is recommended that one eat two servings of fatty fish per week to, “Lower the omega6 /3 ratio 2:1” (Bustamante et al., 2020, Table 1) There is also a push toward increasing probiotic intake, which includes supplements, yogurt and kefir. The diet I follow also includes soaking all nuts, grains, and beans overnight before eating to remove phytic acid enzyme inhibitors. Phytic acid enzyme inhibitors prevent the absorption of nutrients in these foods. (Gupta et al., 2013) Anti-inflammatory diets are very restrictive, and can be expensive. Most of the ingredients in cooking are fresh, not frozen or canned. It is recommended that you use olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, which are also expensive. Sweeteners are pure maple syrup and local honey. Supplements include Turmeric, ginger and cinnamon. It is important to know that these may also increase bleeding risk. That being said, it is possible to get all of the food categories and all of the nutrients you need in a day with adaptation and planning.

Questions I would ask my cousin:

* Do you have an inflammatory condition?

* What do you hope to achieve with this diet?

* Are you prepared to adapt this as a lifestyle vs. a “fad diet”?

* Are you prepared to permanently eliminate certain foods from your diet, like bread, tomatoes and alcohol?

* Do you do most of your own cooking?

* Are you aware that this is an expensive diet?

* Do you take blood thinners? Are you at an increased risk for bleeding?

* Do you like tuna, sardines, and other fatty fish?

* How do you tolerate yogurt and probiotics?

References

Bustamante, M. F., Agustín-Perez, M., Cedola, F., Coras, R., Narasimhan, R., Golshan, S., & Guma, M. (2020). Design of an anti-inflammatory diet (itis diet) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 17, 100524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100524Links to an external site.

Gupta, R., Gangoliya, S., & Singh, N. (2013). Reduction of phytic acid and enhancement of bioavailable micronutrients in food grains. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52(2), 676–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-013-0978-yLinks to an external site.

Janet R. Weber Rn Edd & Kelley, J. H. (2018). Health assessment in nursing (6th ed.). Lww

Diet Chosen for discussion:  Ketogenic Diet

Ketogenic Diet:  The Ketogenic diet usually consists of high-fats, moderate proteins and very low carbohydrates.  It was originally introduced back in 1921 by a man named Russel Wilder as a therapeutic diet to treat pediatric epilepsy. (Masood et al., 2020)  Decreasing the total carbohydrate intake significantly reduces the secretion of insulin and causes the body to enter a catabolic state.  Stored Glycogen is depleted which then forces the body to go through metabolic changes.  The metabolic processes that initiate when there is a low consumption of carbs is gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis.  The way the Ketogenic diet is successful for most people is it causes a rapid weight loss of up to ten pounds in roughly two weeks or less.  It has a diuretic effect so initially it is water weight lost, then followed by fat loss.  With this diet lean body muscle is spared then as the nutritional ketosis state is sustained, hunger pangs subside, people then have a reduced amount of caloric intake which then helps to further weight loss. (Masood et al., 2020)  Unfortunately most people who attempt this diet maintain it short term.  This diet also has been found to be associated with increased trips to the emergency room with admissions to the hospital for dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and hypoglycemia. (Masood et al., 2020)

Important information to obtain from my cousin would be:

What makes you interested in possibly beginning this diet?

(This will give background information as to body image feelings, whether they believe their health is poor/lacking/in need of adjustment.)

Have you spoken to your primary care physician regarding beginning a diet regime?

(This gives information to know whether they will be followed closely by a licensed professional, monitored with testing, etc.)

Have you completed your own research after speaking to your doctor to find the best diet/exercise regime that is right for you?

What have you already tried for weight loss prior to looking into this specific diet?  Did any of it work?  What has worked and not worked for you in the past?

Do you have any medical problems (diagnoses) that could be detrimental to starting this particular diet?  What medications do you currently take, including OTC meds/supplements?

Current height and weight to calculate BMI to know where they are as to being normal/overweight/obese/morbidly obese.

Then discussing and offering my advice I would start by making sure my cousin understands that to have adequate nutrition your body requires essential nutrients which include: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. (Weber, Kelley, 2018)  I would stress/educate the importance that when beginning any exercise/diet regime that you should be monitored by a licensed practitioner because they are skilled to assist you to make sure you are completing weight loss safely as well as assisting with keeping the weight off long-term unlike most “fad” diets we hear about today.  I would tell my cousin that is is great that their friend is having success with the Ketogenic diet, but due to the fact that I do not know their friend, their friends health history, background or situation, that I professionally could not endorse them starting any change without having that discussion with their doctor because I want them to be safe and healthy.  Considering there is “no scientific recommendation formulated to guide evidence-based or rational use of ketogenic diet in obesity and diabetes management” (Kalra et al., 2018) it would further back my stance of wanting my cousin to be safe when attempting to manage weight loss.