Department of Food

Technology

22FT22C4
Topic:
Introduction to Therapeutic Foods

Session - 01

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 AIM OF THE SESSION

To familiarize students with the Fermented and Therapeutic Foods

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

This Session is designed to:

1. Describe the significance of Fermented and Therapeutic Foods
2. Describe the Need for learning Fermented and Therapeutic Foods
3. Summarize Fermented and Therapeutic Foods

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this session, you should be able to:

1. Describe the significance of Fermented and Therapeutic Foods
2. Describe the Need for learning of Fermented and Therapeutic Foods

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 Fermented and Therapeutic Foods

• Therapeutic foods play a crucial role in addressing malnutrition and

supporting the nutritional needs of individuals who face challenges in
obtaining adequate nutrients from regular diets. Here are some key reasons
for the need for therapeutic foods.

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 Diet therapy

• Diet therapy means the use of diet ( food and drink) not only in the care of the sick, but also in the
prevention of disease & the maintenance of the health
OBJECTIVES OF DIET THERAPY

• To maintain a good nutritional status.

• To correct nutrition deficiencies

• To afford rest to the whole body or to specific organs affected by the disease.

• To adjust the food intake to the body’s ability to metabolize the nutrients during the disease.

• To bring about the changes in the body weight whenever necessary.

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 key reasons for the need for therapeutic foods

• Nutrient Supplementation.
• Treatment of Malnutrition:
• Support for Vulnerable Populations
• Convenience and Accessibility
• Medical Conditions and Special Diets:
• Medical Treatments
• Special Dietary Needs
• Prevention of Undernutrition
• Community-Based Programs
• Rehabilitation and Recovery
• Post-Illness or Surgery
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 Continue…

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 key reasons for the need for therapeutic foods

Nutrient Supplementation

Micronutrient Deficiencies: Therapeutic foods are designed to address specific nutrient deficiencies, such as vitamins
and minerals, which are essential for overall health and development. For example, vitamin A, iron, zinc, and iodine
deficiencies can lead to various health issues, and therapeutic foods can help supplement these nutrients

Treatment of Malnutrition:
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM):
Therapeutic foods are often used to
treat severe acute malnutrition in both
children and adults. These specially
formulated foods provide a
concentrated source of energy, protein,
and essential nutrients to help restore
and maintain nutritional balance
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 Support for Vulnerable Populations:

Children: Therapeutic foods like Ready-to-Use Therapeutic

Foods (RUTF) are commonly used to treat malnourished
children, especially those suffering from conditions like severe
acute malnutrition or moderate acute malnutrition.
Pregnant and Lactating Women: Certain therapeutic foods are
designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of pregnant
and lactating women to ensure proper fetal development and
support breastfeeding

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 Convenience and Accessibility

Emergency Situations: In emergency situations such as natural

disasters or conflict, access to regular, diverse diets may be
compromised. Therapeutic foods, particularly those that are
shelf-stable and require no preparation, can be crucial in
providing quick and accessible nutrition to affected
populations.
Medical Conditions and Special Diets:
Medical Treatments: Certain medical conditions, such as cancer
or digestive disorders, may affect nutrient absorption or increase
nutritional requirements. Therapeutic foods can provide a
convenient and targeted way to supplement the diet in these
cases.
Special Dietary Needs: People with specific dietary restrictions,
such as those with food allergies or intolerances, may rely on
therapeutic foods that are tailored to meet their nutritional needs
without triggering adverse reactions

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 Continue…..

Prevention of Undernutrition:
Community-Based Programs: Therapeutic foods may be used as part of community-based nutrition programs to
prevent Undernutrition and improve the overall health of vulnerable populations, particularly in regions with high rates
of malnutrition.
Rehabilitation and Recovery:
Post-Illness or Surgery: Individuals recovering from illness or surgery may have increased nutritional requirements for
healing and recovery. Therapeutic foods can aid in the rehabilitation process by providing essential nutrients in a
concentrated form.
In summary, therapeutic foods play a crucial role in addressing nutritional deficiencies, treating malnutrition, and
supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in various contexts. They provide a practical and
effective means of delivering essential nutrients, especially in challenging circumstances where traditional diets may be
insufficient or inaccessible

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 Continue…..

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 Health - The World Health Organization
(WHO) defines,
“Health is a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.”

Malnutrition: Undesirable kind of

nutrition leading to ill health. It results
from lack, excess or imbalance of
nutrients in the diet. It includes both
under and over nutrition. Under nutrition
is a state of insufficient supply of
essential nutrients.

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 Malnutrition can be primarily due to insufficient supply of one or more essential nutrients
or it can be secondary, which means it results from an error in metabolism, interaction
between nutrients or nutrients and drugs used for treatment.
Over nutrition refers to an excessive intake of one or more nutrients which creates a stress
on bodily functions.
Malnutrition (mal means faulty) is an impairment of health resulting from a deficiency,
excess, or imbalance of nutrients in the diet. It includes both under nutrition or deficiency
and over nutrition or excessive consumption.
Undernutrition
It refers to a deficiency of calories and/or one or more nutrients in the diet. An
undernourished
person is underweight.
Overnutrition
It refers to an excess of calories and/or one or more nutrients in the diet. An excessive
intake of calories results in overweight which can lead to obesity. An excessive intake of
fat-soluble vitamins can cause Hypervitaminosis or vitamin toxicity
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 Malnutrition can be primarily due to insufficient supply of one or more essential nutrients or
it can be secondary, which means it results from an error in metabolism, interaction between
nutrients or nutrients and drugs used for treatment.
Over nutrition refers to an excessive intake of one or more nutrients which creates a stress on
bodily functions.
Diet – refers to what ever is eaten or drunk each day. It includes normal diet that is consumed
either individually or in groups. Diets may be modified for making it suitable for sick
individuals as a part of treatment – therapeutic diets.

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 Nutritional Status
The nutritional status of an individual is defined as the
condition of health as influenced by the utilization of
nutrients in the body.
The nutritional status of an individual or a community
can be assessed by surveying the kind and amount of food
being consumed, signs of ill-health or deficiency symptoms
if present, height, weight, and other measurements as well
as level of nutrients in the blood and
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 Summery

Foods provide nutrients that are necessary for

growth, maintenance, and repair of the body’s tissues.
Food selection by people varies based on habit,
preference, culture etc but not always based on the
nutrition value of foods. Food choices can alter the
health of an individual both negatively and positively .

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 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

1. 1. ________has been a basic part of our existence ( )

(a) Food
(b) water
(c) table
(d) None

2. Over nutrition refers to an ______intake of one or more nutrients which creates a stress on bodily functions

(a) Low
(b) Excessive
(c) Adequate
(d) None

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 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

3. – refers to whatever is eaten or drunk each day

(a) Food
(b) Diet
(c) Water
(d) None

4. _____state of the body as a result of foods consumed and their utilization by the body

(a) Nutritional Status

(b) Nutritional care
(c) both a & b
(d) None

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 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

5. Due to insufficient supply of one or more essential nutrients to the body ____ occurs.

(a) Malnutrition
(b) Health
(c) Disease
(d) A or c

Fill in the blanks

a) Foods provide nutrients that are necessary for growth, maintenance, and repair of the body’s tissues.
b) Nutrition is a basic human need and a prerequisite to a healthy life,
c) A typical Indian balanced diet should provide 60-70% of energy from carbohydrates,
d) Malnutrition means an undesirable kind of nutrition leading to ill-health.
e) The nutritional status of an individual is the condition of health as influenced by the utilization of nutrients in the
body

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 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
(a) F
(b) T

State True (T) or False (F) (c) F

(d) T
(e) T

a) The nutritional status of an individual is the condition of health as influenced by the utilization of carbohydrates in the body
b) Under nutrition is a deficiency of calories and/or one or more nutrients in the diet
c) Over nutrition is a deficiency of calories and/or one or more nutrients in the diet
d) The World Health Organization - WHO defines Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
e) EAR means - Estimated average requirements .

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 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Describe Need for Therapeutic Foods.

2. List out various definitions related to Diet therapy.

3. Explain the nutrients.

4. Summarize the types of Malnutrition.

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 REFERENCES FOR FURTHER LEARNING OF THE SESSION

Reference Books:
1. 1. B. Srilakshmi, Food science, New Age International Publishers (India), 2003
2. 2. N Shakuntalamanay, M. Shadakshara Swamy, Foods : Facts and Principles - New Age Publishers, 2004
3. 3. M. Swami Nathan., Food science, Chemistry & Experimental Foods, BAPPCO (2003)
4. 4. Norman N. Potter and Joseph H. Hotchkiss. Food Science

Sites and Web links:

5. https://ugcmoocs.inflibnet.ac.in/assets/uploads/1/132/4536/et/1%20Script200302090903033030.pdf

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRl89TmnCdQ

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 THANK YOU

Team – Food Technology

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