Liquid diet
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A liquid diet is a diet containing no solid foods. It is usually used by people who have had surgery or have their jaws wired shut. As with any special diet, a liquid diet must take into account a person's nutritional needs.
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[edit] Nutritional needs after jaw surgery
[edit] Calories
The average amount of calories a grown male needs is 2,800. For women it's 2000. After a surgery on your jaw this will increase by nearly 30% depending on the individuals age, weight and gender in order to provide extra energy for healing. In order to get these extra calories it would be a good idea to eat 5-6 times per day as opposed to trying to eat 3 large meals. Another hint for increasing calories is to add things such as peanut butter, soy products, or thinly sliced meats.
[edit] Protein
After surgery protein intake should be 85 grams or higher according to Dr. Victor Escobar of Christie Clinic in Champaign, Illinois. This amount is not only crucial for healing but also plays a critical role in how well a patient will feel during the healing process. Protein is the most important part of a liquid diet because it is the fuel the body uses to build and repair itself.
[edit] Calcium
Calcium is another necessity for the body to heal properly. According to RDA guidelines the daily amount of calcium suggested for adult males and females ranges from 800-1200 mg. According to Answers.com/calcium calcium plays a key role in the development and maintenance of bones, teeth, nerves and muscle. Due to the fact that these areas are precisely the ones affected during the healing of a broken jaw calcium is extremely important.
[edit] Types of Liquid Diets
Whether on a liquid diet for surgical reasons or just for weight loss, there are a few different types of liquid diets. The following is a list of three different types of liquid diets.
[edit] Clear Liquid Diet
This is the diet doctors will assign for right after surgery. Its purpose is to start the digestive system out slowly after anesthesia and to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting during the body’s recovery. This diet consists of anything that "you can see through." This diet is only required for a couple of days or until the doctor says otherwise.
[edit] Full Liquids (Strained)
This liquid diet is anything that can be blended and passed through a strainer to eat. This is the diet that follows the Clear Liquid Diet and will last until the wires come off. Typically that would be 4-6 weeks. This is a long time and creativity and imagination will be necessary to keep from becoming discouraged. This diet provides more calories than the previous but is still liquid and therefore easily digested. This is essential for patients who have their jaw wired shut and do not have the option to chew or swallow solid foods. This is the diet that patients on a liquid diet for their jaw being wired shut will become most familiar with.
[edit] Blended Liquid Diet (Thinned Foods)
These are meals that can be blended and do not need to be strained. This is the last step in the liquid diet and must be approved by the doctor. This is the type patients on a liquid diet for surgical reasons will go on directly after having the wires removed from their jaw. This is a time when the body is still healing and cannot tolerate solid food quite yet. An example of the texture of food allowed for this period would be soft foods such as mashed potatoes. This will last until solid foods can be eaten in a couple of weeks. This is the absolute last step on a liquid diet.
[edit] Thinning liquids
Various liquids can be used to make food thin enough to eat. These include
- Milk or cream
- Chicken broth
- Vegetable broth
- Gravy
- Cream sauce
- Fruit and vegetable juices
