General Information
Nutrition is the balance between the nutrients and energy that comes from the food we eat and the body’s demand from them to ensure growth, health maintenance and specific functions.
The Canada Food Guide supports a healthy balance of lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.
Important things to know to manage your health with your diet:
Nutrition Imbalance: whether overnutrition or undernutrition, nutritional imbalance can cause increased fatigue, low mood, increased risk of hospitalization and slow your recovery from illness or exacerbation of your lung disease.
Why weight matters
- Being overweight – your heart and lungs have to work harder to supply oxygen to your body
- Being underweight – you are greater risk of infection
- In either case, losing muscle mass weakens the muscles that help with breathing
Extra calories may be needed because you use more energy to breathe, cough, and fight infection.
- Choosing the nutrient rich foods to increase calories makes a difference
- Preventing weight loss as your disease progresses is an important discussion to have with your healthcare team or a registered dietitian. Supplements may be necessary to improve your nutritional wellness.
This module contains disease specific considerations and recommendations. Symptoms of your chronic lung disease can make it difficult to eat which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and unwanted weight loss.
