Download Special Diets Transcript Title Slide: This presentation is about

Special Diets Transcript
Title Slide: This presentation is about special diets.
Slide 1: There are many reasons for following a special diet. A few examples are being a vegetarian,
having diabetes, having a food allergy, being pregnant, or being an athlete.
Slide 2: Vegetarians have specific dietary requirements. They do not eat meat, poultry, or fish. As a
result, they have to get their protein from other sources. They must make sure they get the right plant
sources to get complete proteins. Many vegetarians take steps on their way to full vegetarianism.
There are some who eat eggs or milk products, or both. There are some who eat fish as their only
animal protein source. The strictest are vegans. They eat no animal products. Not only will they not eat
animal flesh, they will eat nothing or use nothing that comes from an animal. That means no milk,
honey, eggs, and they won’t wear leather.
Slide 3: Diabetics have to follow certain guidelines. People with diabetes have blood glucose levels that
are too high due to their bodies not making enough insulin. Diabetics can eat carbohydrates, but they
have to be careful. They need to avoid too much and they need to make sure the carbohydrates they
take in are complex rather than simple. Diabetics need to get enough fiber, healthy fats, and lean
proteins. They need to avoid saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and excess sodium. A plan is needed
for a diabetic to follow.
Slide 4: Many people are allergic to certain foods. A food allergy occurs when a person’s immune
system reacts to certain proteins in a food. The top allergens are milk, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts,
soy, wheat, and eggs. Reactions can range from mild things like rashes to anaphylaxis which involves
the throat swelling and difficulty breathing. An anaphylactic reaction can result in death. There is no
cure for the allergies, but sometimes if a person has an allergy before age 5, they can grow out of it. A
person with an allergy to a food need to avoid foods that contain the foods they are allergic to.
Slide 5: Pregnancy is a condition that requires a special diet. The diet needs to be balanced. Because a
baby is growing, the woman needs to take in more calories than normal to support herself and the baby.
About 300 extra calories per day is the recommendation. Pregnant women should avoid certain foods.
They need to avoid foods that are potential allergens, caffeine, and foods that can carry pathogens.
Possible pathogen sources would include unpasteurized milk products, lunch meats, and raw foods in
some cases. All food needs to be handled in a safe manner to avoid contamination.
Slide 6: Athletes have important nutrition requirements. Athletes need a balanced diet. They need to
get extra calories to fuel their performance. Some need 5000 or more calories per day. If an athlete
doesn’t eat enough, performance can suffer.
Sources: The sources are listed below.