| Eating when you are not feeling well is not always | | | | supplement, and consume up to 75 grams per |
| easy, whether you have the common cold or you | | | | day using this supplement type. |
| have a more serious, chronic illness like cancer or | | | | The nutritionist has worked out a diet plan for |
| depression. In some cases, it is not just the illness | | | | Wendy, including a set schedule for small meals |
| that is the problem but the treatment that you | | | | throughout the day if she is up to them. This |
| must endure as well. You may be nauseous or | | | | way, she does not wait for the feelings of hunger |
| lack an appetite completely. You may also be so | | | | and will continue to get nutrition. She may also use |
| tired that you won't be able to eat at all. | | | | other protein supplements in addition to the liquid |
| You need to eat enough calories so that your | | | | protein. Of these, she can use whey, soy, egg or |
| body can fight off the disease. One of the major | | | | rice protein powders, which she can either use as |
| factors that you need to consider when you are | | | | a beverage or stir into other foods. Whey protein |
| sick is additional protein. Protein is the key to | | | | is the most common type of protein powder and |
| building and repairing cells and can help you to | | | | is the easiest to find. There are two types of |
| prevent the loss of muscle mass. In addition, | | | | whey protein, a concentrate and an isolate. The |
| protein will help to maintain your fluid balance (as | | | | concentrate is the cheaper of the two and is |
| you are at a higher risk for dehydration when you | | | | usually the easiest to find in most retailers; |
| are sick) and can help the body to heal. Because | | | | however, for anyone who is lactose intolerant, it |
| antibodies are made of proteins, your body needs | | | | might be important to avoid whey protein. (Whey |
| additional amounts of this nutrient. Protein also | | | | is a derivative of cheese-making, a milk |
| helps to regulate other body functions, including | | | | byproduct). |
| sleep and digestion, so without enough it may be | | | | It is important to make sure that no matter what |
| hard to get the sleep that is needed. | | | | you are consuming, the protein you have chosen |
| Everyone knows that there are two forms of | | | | is easily digested. The last thing that you need |
| protein: animal- and plant-based, but getting | | | | while you are not feeling well are foods that your |
| enough of either kind can be very difficult when | | | | body has to work extra hard to break down and |
| you are not feeling well. Plant-based protein | | | | use. Eggs are considered to be the perfect |
| requires that you eat more foods than you | | | | protein; all of the protein in a single egg is broken |
| ordinarily would to get enough protein in a day, | | | | down and used by the body. Scrambled eggs, |
| difficult to do when you are healthy and practically | | | | especially with a little sprinkle of cheese or |
| impossible when you are not feeling well. It is also | | | | veggies, can be a perfect meal and is easy to |
| hard to eat certain animal proteins when you are | | | | make. |
| not feeling well. It may be hard for the body to | | | | Protein supplements are also easy to digest in |
| break down a chunk of meat, which may not be | | | | most cases, however, protein bars may have |
| appetizing to someone who is not at their usual | | | | additional fiber which may make them harder to |
| strength or appetite. | | | | break down. |
| Wendy has cancer, and while her prognosis is | | | | It is also important to keep in mind your own |
| good, she is not doing very well with maintaining | | | | personal preferences. For instance, if you know |
| her weight and her strength at this time because | | | | that certain foods make you more nauseous, you |
| of the chemotherapy that she has just started. In | | | | should avoid them. Tomatoes and tomato-based |
| addition, she is going to be treated for depression, | | | | foods are a problem for Wendy, so she steers |
| which is related to her cancer, and is still | | | | clear of them as much as possible. She is also |
| recovering from her initial surgery. For all of these | | | | allergic to a number of foods, so she still must |
| reasons, she needs to boost her protein intake as | | | | stay away from those. |
| well as her overall calorie intake. All of the rules of | | | | As she goes through her treatment, it is |
| good nutrition, meant to prevent weight gain, high | | | | important for Wendy to discuss her changing |
| cholesterol and other conditions, are no longer | | | | needs with the doctor and the dietician. It is also |
| applicable for her. In fact, her nutritionist is | | | | important for her to pay attention to her own |
| suggesting that she eat cheeseburgers and other | | | | body's clues and cues. She may go through |
| high-calorie foods. | | | | several changes in taste and may like one food |
| In addition, Wendy may also add a protein | | | | on Monday and then hate it on Friday. She will also |
| supplement to her diet as well, with several | | | | have days where she does not want to eat |
| options to choose from, including powders, bars | | | | anything solid at all. |
| and protein puddings. There are other nutrients | | | | In addition to eating whenever she feels like she |
| that she should consider getting enough of, | | | | can, she is also trying to nap whenever she can |
| including fiber and vitamins, but she can also | | | | so that she can get her strength back sooner. |
| supplement those as well. If she does increase | | | | Trying to get enough nutrition in her diet is |
| her fiber, she has to be careful about her fluid | | | | important - she is at bigger risk for dehydration. |
| intake or she could end up being very constipated. | | | | Dehydration can be dangerous because it may |
| Some of the suggestions that are made by the | | | | cause her to have irregular heartbeats, and may |
| dietician include switching from low-fat to full-fat | | | | also cause her to be more susceptible to infection |
| milk and cheeses and adding cream to soup, | | | | (Source: Griffin). While Wendy should refrain from |
| fruits, cereals and other foods. She will also use a | | | | drinking liquids while she is eating, she should be |
| special fortified milk made by adding dry milk | | | | trying to get at least the minimum of fluids the |
| powder to her whole milk and then adding this | | | | rest of the time. Wendy may notice that her |
| boosted milk not only as a beverage but in | | | | meds do not work as effectively when she is |
| recipes as well. | | | | dehydrated, and she may also notice that she is |
| She will be adding a 'clear liquid' protein | | | | feeling pain more acutely as well. |