Getting Your Nutrients

Individuals with cystic fibrosis require more energy to breathe normally, fight lung infections and compensate for poor digestion. For these reasons, they need more calories than people without CF.

Your body needs vitamins to help it grow, function, and fight off infection. Try to incorporate foods rich in these vitamins and take a vitamin supplement, if necessary.

Like vitamins, minerals also help with normal growth, function and maintenance of good health. Individuals with cystic fibrosis can be deficient in these minerals.

Individuals with cystic fibrosis and other chronic diseases often have a “hidden” loss of muscle mass, despite normal body weight and BMI. Increasing your protein intake and exercising regularly are easy ways to preserve muscle mass.

Part of achieving good lung health through nutrition is maintaining a balance of oxidants (toxic chemicals that kill invaders) and antioxidants (chemicals that control oxidants so lungs aren't damaged).

The thick, sticky mucus that your body produces makes it hard to absorb fat and nutrients, which is why a good cystic fibrosis diet is one that is high in calories and high in fat.

More women with cystic fibrosis are reaching reproductive age, becoming pregnant, and delivering babies. Nutrition before and during pregnancy is essential for all women.