Question

1. Discuss in detail the interrelationship of dietitians with other health professionals in nutritional management of diseases.

2. Discuss food taboos and cultural issues which affect food consumption and how they can be circumvented. (20mks

Answer 1

1. Interrelationship of Dietitions with Other health professionals in nutritional management of Diseases:

Dietition is a person who studies or practice Dietetics. Dietetics is the study of diet and nutrition in relation to health and disease. Many diseases are caused due to or influenced by various type of diet or food items. For example in hypertensive patients, Sodium rich food worsens the condition meanwhile low Sodium diet decreases the Blood pressure. Diabetic mellitus is a Metabolic disorder in which Glucose metabolism is altered and the High carbohydrate diet increases the Blood sugar level and complicates the disease, but low Carbohydrate diet can help to manage the disease condition. Dietition has an important role in the management of such type of diseases.

Dietition has to work with other health professionals in effective collaboration and should have a good interpersonal relationship with the other Co workers of the Healthcare setting. He has to work with Physicians, surgeons, Nurse practitioners, Registered nurses , Nursing Assistants etc in managing the different disease conditions especially chronic disease conditions.  

In many diseases , the Medical management comprises of the Nutritional management , along with pharmacological and surgical management. Nutritional management is an important aspect of the treatment of Chronic conditions. The patients , who are at high risk for developing heart diseases, the physicians used to refer the Dietition in planning a heart healthy diet . People with renal disorders need a special food selections that can prescribe by Doctors and planned by Dietitions and Nurses.

Dietition has to work often in associated with Registered nurses in managing the chronic disease conditions. They also has to work with Certified Nursing Assistants. The settings may be different; it may be in a Hospital, clinic, Long-term care facility , school health clinic etc. For delivering the best patient care, there should be honest and open communication among Dietition with Registered nurses. If there is any question regarding the diet , intolerance, consistency of food etc. , nurse can contact the Dietition and Dietition can guide the nurse regarding the Diet of the patient.  

Many drugs , that used for managing chronic conditions , can interact with cetain food and increases the side effects of the drug. For example Nifedipine and Grapefruit. Dietition can work in collaboration with Pharmacist and nurses for planning the diet for patient.

By working in collaboration with other Health professionals , Dietition can contribute to the Health promotion of community, especially in mother and children's health, also he can play a role in planning balanced diet for low income families by working with nurses working in community settings . He can work for preventing Vitamin deficiency disorders , life style diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, by working alongside with Doctors , nurses , pharmacist etc.

2. Food Taboos and Cultural issues , that affect food consumption:

The word ' Food' refers to Any substance that can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating , in order to sustain life. Many miscoceptions and beliefs are existing in relation with food items and food consumption. Taboo is an inhibition or ban that result from social custom or emotional aversion . Many food taboos and Cultural issues affects the food consumption around the globe, even though many are expelled due to the technolgical and scientific progress occured during the past decades.  

Food taboos that existing in some of the major cultures affect the food consumption of the members of the culture , and may often causes certain nutritional deficiencies among them , especially in children. For example Strict vegetarianism seen in orthodox Buddhists and certain cast from Hindu religion often makes the children vulnerable for protein deficiency, as egg and meat are restricted food for them. In some cultures,  Pregnant women are having certain food taboos on meat, or fruits like mango , papaya etc. This again may cause nutritional problems in pregnant women. For a woman from rich family, these taboos are fine as she can get other food items easily. But women from low income families may suffer as they can't obtain much food items , that don't have a taboo.

In certain Indeginous and South Asian cultures , food is grouped into Hot food ( meat , egg , mango, milktc)  and cold food ( curd , cucumber, water melon , onions etc). These foods are restricted in certain seasons and ages. For example: small children are not allowed to take cold foods.

Religious beliefs also causes food taboos such as Pork is a taboo for Muslims and beef is a taboo for Hindus. Insects are taboo for Americans .Any food that is prepared of insects are hated in American culture, where as Mongolians, Koreans likes insect as a food item. Worldwide many taboos and Cultural issues are affecting the Food consumption among population.