Case:
Natasha is a 45 y/o nurse who works for a local hospital. She goes to her doctor for her annual physical. She reports that she has been feeling more tired and has gained about 15-20 pounds in the last year. She has been under much stress at work, raising her teenagers and assisting her elderly parents. At her visit, her doctor voices much concern over her lab work and weight gain. A 24-hour recall of her diet is also recorded (Download file to see food report). She is diagnosed with NAFLD, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and is set up with a follow-up with her physician after she sees a Registered Dietitian.
Anthropometric Data:
Height: 5ft 3 inches Weight: 185 pounds Waist Circumference: 38inches
Blood Pressure: 140/90
Answer the Questions in a post.
The post should thoroughly answer each of the following questions:
- Open the Food Report. Looking at the Macronutrient Distribution within the report, which macronutrients are not in range?
- Looking at the Spreadsheet in the food report, which foods are contributing to the macronutrient imbalances? i.e. what individual foods in her diet caused her macronutrients in Q1 to be out of range?
- Referencing the sources in this discussion and the text, what changes in her food intake would you suggest? i.e. what foods would best replace the less healthy options you identified in Q2. You should identify a replacement food for each of the foods in Q2.
- Natasha’s favorite food is the Beyond Burger. Looking at the Nutrition Facts label, evaluate the macronutrients, and explain if it would be a good choice for her or not. If it is a poor choice, what would be a good plant-based alternative?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
This case study presents a patient with NAFLD, who has gained weight and experienced fatigue due to her stressful lifestyle. In order to address her health concerns, we need to examine her macronutrient intake and identify foods that may be contributing to imbalances. We must also suggest replacements for unhealthy options and evaluate if Natasha’s favorite food, the Beyond Burger, is a good choice for her.
1. Open the Food Report. Looking at the Macronutrient Distribution within the report, which macronutrients are not in range?
From the macronutrient distribution chart in the food report, it can be seen that the patient’s carbohydrate and fat intake are both above the recommended range. On the other hand, her protein intake is below the recommended range.
2. Looking at the Spreadsheet in the food report, which foods are contributing to the macronutrient imbalances? i.e. what individual foods in her diet caused her macronutrients in Q1 to be out of range?
Amongst the foods contributing to the macronutrient imbalances, some of the major culprits are bagels, crackers, butter, and cheese, which are high in carbohydrates and/or fat but low in protein. Additionally, there is a low intake of lean protein sources, such as chicken breast or fish.
3. Referencing the sources in this discussion and the text, what changes in her food intake would you suggest? i.e. what foods would best replace the less healthy options you identified in Q2. You should identify a replacement food for each of the foods in Q2.
To correct the macronutrient imbalances, we should suggest replacing refined and processed carbohydrate sources such as bagels and crackers with whole food-based carb sources such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. For fats, we should suggest reducing high-fat dairy products such as butter and cheese, and instead, focus on consuming healthy fats found in sources such as avocado, nuts and seeds. As for protein, we should suggest increasing intake of lean protein sources such as chicken breast or fish.
4. Natasha’s favorite food is the Beyond Burger. Looking at the Nutrition Facts label, evaluate the macronutrients, and explain if it would be a good choice for her or not. If it is a poor choice, what would be a good plant-based alternative?
Looking at the Nutrition Facts label of Beyond Burger, it can be seen that it is high in fat and carbohydrates but low in protein. Additionally, it contains 20g of fat per serving, which is high and could contribute to further weight gain. Therefore, it would not be the best choice for her. Instead, a good plant-based alternative would be a homemade black bean burger as it is a great source of protein and fiber while also being low in fat.
