Understanding Your Medical Diet
Types of Medical Diets
Your medical diet is an important part of your healthcare journey. Whether you’ve had surgery or you have a medical condition requiring a special diet, the food you eat — and don’t eat — can help you heal in the hospital, as you recover at home, and as you continue managing your health conditions for the rest of your life.
Here, we look at the different types of medical diets and how you can engage in yours to ensure the best health outcomes.
Hospital diets
If you’re in the hospital for a procedure, your doctor may ask you to follow a medical diet to either manage a health condition or to help you heal after a procedure (like reducing nausea). Some diets are short-term and may only need to be followed during your hospital stay. Others are long-term and can be used to control symptoms and reduce your chances of complications once you return home.
Here's a breakdown of common in-hospital diet types:
Nothing by mouth (NPO). NPO stands for “nil per os,” a Latin term meaning “nothing by mouth.” This restriction is often only used for a few hours before or after a procedure. Having an empty stomach keeps you safe if you need anesthesia for a procedure. With a full stomach, it’s possible to aspirate — or breathe in your stomach contents — under anesthesia.
Sips and chips. This diet includes only ice chips and small sips of water. It may be used as an alternative to NPO in some situations.
Clear liquid diet. Includes liquids you can see through. Clear liquids provide hydration and electrolytes but don’t leave food particles in your digestive system. This diet may be used before surgery or during an illness. Some examples of clear liquids are broth, clear juices, gelatin, coffee with no cream, water, and ice pops.
Full liquid diet. Includes liquids and foods that are liquid at room temperature. These liquids can be pulpy or cloudy. A full liquid diet can be a step between clear liquids and a regular diet when you are recovering from a procedure or illness. Some full liquids are ice cream, pudding, pulpy juices, and creamy soup broths.
Regular diet. Includes regular foods. If you already follow a medical diet, such as a diabetic diet or cardiac diet, your doctor may prescribe that diet instead of a regular diet while you are in the hospital. Your regular diet may also be modified, such as chopped or swapped for softer food, to accommodate you if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing during your hospitalization.
Your diet may progress from clear liquid to full liquid to regular diet as you heal.
Total Parenteral Nutrition
If you can’t tolerate food by mouth for an extended period, your doctor may prescribe nutrition through an intravenous line, called total parenteral nutrition (TPN). TPN provides protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes until you can eat food by mouth again.
Medical diets for recovery
Medical diets are changes to your diet that your doctor prescribes. Your medical diet aims to help you manage your health condition with food! By limiting or encouraging certain foods, the goal is to provide all the necessary nutrients you need while improving your health.
Adapting to a new medical diet can be tough, but following your diet plan is just as important to your health as taking your medication.
There are a wide range of medical diets, including:
Diabetic diet. Focuses on controlling blood sugar levels through balanced carbohydrate intake, healthy fats, and protein sources.
Renal diet. May limit fluid, potassium, and phosphorus intake for patients with kidney disease. This diet may also require high or low protein, depending on the stage of your condition.
Weight-Loss diet: Restricts calories and/or certain food groups to promote weight reduction.
Cardiac diet. Limits sodium, fat, and cholesterol and emphasizes fiber to control blood pressure and keep arteries healthy. Your doctor may also recommend the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Limits sodium and highly processed foods and recommends fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats to lower blood pressure.
Ketogenic diet. Strictly limits carbohydrates while using fat as an energy source to manage epilepsy and other neurologic conditions.
Calorie-restricted diet. Limits calories while maintaining adequate nutrition to promote weight loss.
Low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols) diet. Limits gas-producing carbohydrates to manage the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Restricted foods may include dairy, wheat, beans, and certain fruits and vegetables. This diet reduces many foods for a short time, then gradually reintroduces them.
Mechanical soft diet. Includes soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Some examples include eggs, cottage cheese, avocado, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes.
Gluten-Free diet: Eliminates gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, for individuals with celiac disease.
Plant-Based diet: Excludes animal products and focuses on plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
If you have any questions about your medical diet, speak up! Your healthcare providers are always happy to help you and answer your questions.
Getting Enough Nutrition
Medically prescribed diets can be restrictive. If you are following a medical diet, work closely with your doctor and dietitian to ensure you are getting the right nutrition within your approved food options. Keep a food journal and bring it to your appointment to make sure you are on track.
Resources:
Patient education: Diet and health (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
What You Need To Know About Diabetes. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
Meal Prep: How to Plan for Healthy Eating. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
Guidelines for the provision of nutrition support therapy in the adult critically ill patient. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
Kidney Disease. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Cardiovascular Health/Heart Disease/Hypertension. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Low-FODMAP Diet. American College of Gastroenterology.
Patient Meals. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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