How to Maintain Your Health With Different Dietary Requirements
It’s no secret that your everyday diet can have long-lasting effects on your overall health.
While many people can seemingly eat all the sweets and fatty meats as they please, some of us aren’t as blessed with a capable stomach.
In fact, some conditions could even lead people with different dietary requirements to be particularly sensitive with even just limited exposure to these delights.
If you fall under this category of people—such as the case of people suffering from diabetes or phenylketonuria (PKU) —it’s important to be proactive over what you eat to maintain optimal health.
What you eat isn’t the end of it, either. You should consider uplifting various areas of your health to remain disease-free and full of energy.
Here are some tips on maintaining your health while dealing with a medical diagnosis.
- Evaluate Your Health With A Professional
While everyone has their fair share of anecdotes on what works for them and what doesn’t, not everyone’s body makeup is exactly like theirs.
For instance, some people may be lucky to withstand eating more than the recommended daily amount of added sugars a day, while others could have symptoms by just eating a single cookie.
Another example is allergies. Some people abide by a heavy seafood diet and look and feel physically fit when doing so. Others could suffer from a bout of swollen lips or worse if they take even just a little bit of shrimp.
While you know your body best, it’s important to seek advice from a licensed medical professional to get a proper diagnosis. They possess the expertise and knowledge to identify any problem points in your body and diet plan.
From there, you can both work together to formulate a customized treatment or management plan, whether it be taking supplements or restricting a diet.
Whatever the method, meeting with a doctor can give you access to a targeted goal that’s based on your actual dietary limitations, which can help ensure that your health’s on track.
- Eat According To Your Deficiencies and Limits
Discussing your health with a doctor is the first step in your health plan. The next step is to ensure that you follow through with their advice and eat a diet based on their recommendations.
If you’re nutritionally deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, focus on incorporating food rich in that vitamin source into your daily meals. For instance, eating salmon is usually a good way to offset an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.
Just as important as eating the right foods is avoiding the wrong ones. For example, people with phenylketonuria should avoid high-protein foods because they contain an amino acid called phenylalanine, which their bodies can’t process.
If you or a loved one is suffering from PKU, find more information here for a closer look into this life-threatening health condition.
In a similar vein, people with diabetes should refrain from eating foods loaded with sugar because doing so can spike their blood sugar levels.
Besides these restrictions, it’s also essential to keep your diet as balanced as possible. For instance, if you don’t have any allergies or related conditions, it’s good to include fruits, lean meats, and complex carbohydrates in your daily meals.
Even if a food is healthy, be sure to eat it in moderation—approaching obesity through constant weight gain can lead to a slew of health risks that are best avoided.
- Hydrate Yourself Regularly
An alarmingly high number of people forget to drink the recommended amount of water every day, often opting to drink sugary drinks or other substitutes.
This can have devastating consequences. For one, it can lead to dehydration, which can lead to lightheadedness and a loss of energy due to depleted electrolyte sources. Furthermore, more severe cases can also lead to permanent damage to the organs, particularly the kidney, brain, and urinary tract.
While everyone and their mothers tout the importance of drinking eight glasses a day, the truth is that the amount of water everyone is required to drink is quite variable. A good way to test your hydration levels is by looking at the color of your urine—the paler it is, the more hydrated you are. By keeping yourself fully hydrated, you’ll prevent any negative conditions from occurring while simultaneously keeping your current bodily functions in top shape.
- Participate in Regular Exercise
While different conditions may dictate what type of exercise is safe or beneficial, all individuals can benefit from some form of physical activity.
For instance, yoga is a low-impact exercise that can help improve your mobility, dexterity, and balance. It also raises the heart rate and gets your body moving.
Running, cycling, hiking, and swimming are forms of cardiovascular exercises that are also beneficial for your health. These can improve blood flow in various parts of the body, allowing you to gain increased stamina and energy throughout the day.
Of course, with different dietary requirements, it’s necessary to consult with a doctor before undergoing a massive lifestyle change like switching from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one.
Regardless, there are many reasons why exercise is a popular activity among health-conscious folks. If your body permits, do consider getting some sweat in, even if it’s just a light one. It can pay dividends in the long run.
- Get Tested Annually
Even if you’re living a healthy lifestyle, people with genetic and dietary conditions are still prone to developing worsening health over time. As such, it’s crucial to get tested annually or as often as recommended by your healthcare provider. These tests are intended to monitor your health and detect any potential problems before they get worse.
The type of tests you’ll need to undergo depends on your diagnosis. For instance, blood tests can help track the level of vitamins and minerals in your body, or detect signs of conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disorders.
For people with dietary restrictions, specific tests may be necessary, such as phenylalanine levels for individuals with PKU.
Bone density scans, eye exams, and heart health assessments may also be necessary based on your risk factors. Regular screenings are vital to catch any changes early and adjust your diet or treatment plan as necessary.