nutrition: Specialized Diets

Specialized diets are useful in the treatment of certain disease states; the most common is a low-calorie diet to produce weight loss in obese persons. A diet low in phenylalanine is used to treat phenylketonuria. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats seems to be useful in the treatment and prevention of heart disease. Elimination of certain foods from the diet may be necessary to control allergies in some individuals. In all cases, however, specialized diets must provide all classes of essential nutrients in adequate amounts to maintain health in adults and support growth in children.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Specialized Diets
• The Food Guide Pyramid
• Importance of Good Nutrition
• Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
• Fats
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Human Nutrition
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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