Nowadays many people have dietary concerns because of health problems, like diabetes, celiac disease, or cardiovascular disease; religious or cultural reasons; or they are trying to improve their overall fitness and well-being by eating food that is healthier for them.
“Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine,” according to Celiac.org.
If you suffer from celiac disease, you cannot eat foods that contain gluten, which can make it difficult for you to find recipes that are delicious and the whole family can enjoy.
Diabetics also have to follow a special diet. You have to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake. According to Diabetes.org, “In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.”
Some of you may be asking – what exactly is cardiovascular disease? According to Heart.org, “Heart and blood vessel disease — also called heart disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries.”
Other types of cardiovascular disease include the following:
- Heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure) – heart isn’t pumping blood like it should
- Arrhythmia – abnormal rhythm of the heart
- Heart valve problem – heart valves don’t open enough to allow the blood to flow through like it should – stenosis; heart valves don’t close properly and allow blood to leak through – regurgitation; and valve leaflets bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber – mitral valve prolapse (Heart.org)
If you suffer from heart disease, you will need to follow a diet low in fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrates.
Some people are vegans – a person who does not eat or use animal products. They follow this type of diet sometimes because of religious reasons, they believe it’s cruel to kill and eat animals, or because they believe animal products are unhealthy.
Other people find the vegan lifestyle a little too strict for their taste, so they are vegetarians instead. According to the Vegetarian Society, the definition of a vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs.
You need to consult your doctor before starting any special diet.
At Aspire Hospital we want to share with you – our patients, community members, and employees – links to healthy recipes that are also very tasty:
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie
We hope you try out some of these recipes, and if you do, please comment on here and let us know how they turned out. You can follow us on Facebook and comment on there as well.
Please remember, before starting any diet, consult your physician first.