Getting Your Nutrients

For people with cystic fibrosis, a healthy diet is very important for staying healthy, growing strong, and recovering from illness.

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 help your body grow, work properly, and stay healthy. People with cystic fibrosis may not get enough of 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.

Eating well helps keep your lungs healthy by maintaining a balance of oxidants (toxic chemicals that kill invaders) and antioxidants (chemicals that control oxidants so lungs aren't damaged).

Some people with CF need a diet that is high in calories and high in fat to help them maintain a healthy weight. But this is no longer the case for all people with CF.

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