Nutrition Therapy

I am an RN working in an intensive care unit at a local hospital. For our patients on a ventilator, we must calculate the calories required. To do this we use the Harris-Benedict formula. My question is what is the correct formula. We have been told to use the factor of 655 when calculation...

Thank you for your most informative page. I have used it to inform myself and others who can use this valuable unbiased information. I am a recovering quadriplegic (central chord syndrome C3,6,7) and am working out in the gym 6 days a week. 3 on, one day off. I do upper body one day, lower...

Please give me some information about the amount and type of dietary protein that can significantly increase the uric acid level in blood of apparently normal individuals. Thank you very much. Please reply soon. High uric acid levels in the blood cause uric acid crystals to build up in joints. This leads to gouty arthritis. Gout...

I've been having problems with gout lately. Can you give me some help with my diet? With gout, the uric acid level in the body goes up and it is the cause of the painful feet you probably experience. Foods high in purines break down in the body to uric acid. However, food sources of...

I am about to have some surgery that will require that I be on a clear liquid diet for an extended amount of time. I must shop for these things before surgery as I live alone. Could you please let me know if there is anything I can have on this diet other than...

I logged onto your site in hopes of finding information on aspiration testing. We currently use a blue dye in our tube feedings. We have heard of a glucose test. I cannot find any information on that subject in reference to aspiration testing. From a physiological viewpoint I do not understand how a glucose...

I am a 53-year-old woman, overweight, cannot play sports since I had three vertebrae broken 8 years back, had a hysterectomy years ago, am on hormone treatment, diagnosed as hypoactive thyroid two years ago and been on thyroid pills and iron capsules. Last week had blood tests done and now hyperactive thyroid. The doctor...

Our epilepsy foundations get inquiries about nutrition from our women clients with epilepsy. Is there a certain diet that would be beneficial to them? Thank you for your input. A ketogenic nutrition therapy to reduce seizures has been discussed in research articles. This should not be confused with the popular Keto diet for weight loss....

I'm writing to you from Uludag University in Turkey. I'm a dietitian like you. I have a little English. Sorry about my mistakes. Which receipts are you using in intensive care for your patients? Could you write me? Your English is just fine. I work with consumers online only and do not have a patient practice....

I have just come down with a case of Gout. Is there a diet that I can follow to reduce attacks in the future? Any advice would be appreciated. Yes, you should follow a low purine nutrition therapy and lose weight if you are overweight. Read more in gout FAQs.