Nutrition 101: All nutrients are provided by the natural foods on the food guide pyramid. To simplify things, I am going back to just four food groups by keeping fruits and vegetables together in just one category.
Post Polio Syndrome is a chronic medical condition. It is in our best interests to eat as well as possible. There doesn't seem to be one best dietary plan for people with PPS. Some are not eating enough necessary nutrients, such as protein. Some are not eating enough calories, and others feel they need to lose weight. All of us need a good basic dietary plan that includes the proper amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
Nutrition 101: All nutrients are provided by the natural foods on the food guide pyramid. To simplify things, I am going back to just four food groups by keeping fruits and vegetables together in just one category.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight: We are all different body types, and if you need to lose a lot of weight, you need to see a professional. Checking your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good place to start, because it will tell you whether or not you are at risk for diseases caused by overweight. There are lots of weight loss programs that don't work, aren't based on facts or research, and will just cost you money. The Mayo Clinic Web site has a lot of information and reiterates that slow and steady weight loss (1 to 2 pounds a week) is what is best. It is then a lifestyle change that you do for life. It is not about denial, but in choosing nutritious foods (at least most of the time).
When choosing a healthy food plan:
A dietary plan that uses exchanges, which are groupings of similar foods, is similar to the Diabetic Dietary Plan or the Hypoglycemia Dietary Plan can be very useful in planning and adjusting what you need to eat to maintain, lose, or even gain weight. Weight Watchers is a program that works for many people and is based on good nutrition information.
According to Susan Creage, a research fellow at the Post Polio Institute: "When we put polio survivors on a hypoglycemia diet, that requires eating protein at breakfast and small, non-carbohydrate snacks throughout the day they had a remarkable reduction in nearly all symptoms of post-polio fatigue."
Making lifestyle and food changes is not easy, but you can eat and live better if you make one small change at a time rather than trying to do it all at once. Be sure to keep the taste and the fun in your foods. If you can't make changes in a favorite food to make it more healthy, then just try to eat it less often. When you decide to eat something less nutritious, don't feel guilty. Enjoy a small serving of a favorite food! I feel food must taste good, so I strive to keep all the taste while trying to eat well, but we are all human and don't always make the best choices. So be it. Tomorrow is another great day.
If you have a condition that restricts the foods you can eat even more, you will have to tailor your diet to meet your needs. There are a lot of organizations that have websites to help you find a support group or to swap recipes. These are some resources for you to try:
Not sure where to start? Try reading "10 Steps to a Healthy 1998" for some good ideas. Try a basic, easy to read book, like Jane Brody's Nutrition Book. A once overweight Jane Brody said that if she couldn't lose weight she was at least determined to be healthy. So, she gave up dieting, starving, and bingeing. She ate wholesome meals and snacks, and exercised regularly. Today she is 35 pounds lighter than when she gave up dieting 25 years ago. Read a USDA booklet about the Food Guide Pryamid online. Get a water filter for your drinking and cooking water. Look up one nutritious, tasty recipe to use in place of something less nutritious. Take one small step at a time. But most of all, be good to yourself: you are worth it!
Post-Polio Health, Summer 2003
Foods that Shut Down STRESS
©2004 JKH