Getting Your Nutrients

Getting Your Nutrients

Nutritional needs for people with cystic fibrosis are determined by their degree of malabsorption, activity level and the severity of lung disease. Individuals with CF typically need 1 ½ to 2 times as many calories as people without CF.

Getting Your Nutrients

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Nutritional Basics

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.

7 min read

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Vitamins

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.

9 min read

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Minerals

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

6 min read

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The Importance of Proteins: Muscle Mass

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.

4 min read

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Antioxidants

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).

3 min read

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Healthy High-Calorie Eating

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.

7 min read

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Eating Well During Your Pregnancy

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

5 min read
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