HOSA Cumulative Review 2026

Atkins Diet

Based on a very low carbohydrate intake that avoids foods with refined flour or sugar and encourages the use of lean protein and low-starch vegetables; divided into four phases, with each phase becoming less restrictive.

DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

Focuses on eating low-fat dairy, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains while limiting salty goods and processed foods; promoted as a heart-healthy diet to lower hypertension (high blood pressure).

Mediterranean Diet

Promoted as a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, and olive oil; encourages moderate consumption of poultry, cheese, and eggs; suggests eating red meats and sweets only on special occasions.

Nutrisystem Diet

Commercial diet that allows clients to choose prepared meals from a list; the number and types of meals are selected based on the client's body build and weight loss goal; meals stress healthy carbohydrates and lean proteins; more expensive than other diets.

Paleo Diet

Also called the Caveman Diet because it concentrates on foods eaten by primitive men; encourages eating fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, lean meat, and healthy fats.

Probiotic Diet

Encourages food rich in probiotics or healthy bacteria; main sources are cultured foods such as yogurt and buttermilk, fermented vegetables such as pickled beets and sauerkraut, and microalgae or ocean-based plants such as chlorella and blue-green algae; promoted as a diet that can improve digestion, boost immune system, and possibly reduce the risk of cancer.

Slim-Fast Diet

Commercial diet that provides shakes and meal bars for two meals and two or three snacks each day; only one additional 500-calorie meal is eaten per day.

South Beach Diet

Focuses on replacing bad carbohydrates and fats with good carbohydrates and fats; encourages eating lots of vegetables, fish, eggs, lean meats such as chicken, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products; divided into three phases, with each phase becoming less restrictive.

Volumetrics Diet

Based on classifying foods into four density levels that range from low-density foods in level 1 such as fruits, vegetables, and nonfat milk to high-density foods in level 4 such as cookies, butter, and candy; encourages concentrating on foods in the lower density levels.

Weight Watchers

Uses a point system to track foods eaten; encourages a balanced diet but stresses fruit, vegetables, lean meat, and low-fat dairy; provides group support to help an individual achieve his or her weight goal.

Zone Diet

Stresses five to six meals with smaller quantities; suggests that each meal contains 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent healthy fat.

Vitamin A (Retinol) {fat soluble}

Growth and development, health of eyes, structure and function of the cells of the skin and mucous membranes, antioxidant to protect cells from free radicals.

Vitamin D (Calciferol) {fat soluble}

Growth, regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption and metabolism, builds and maintains bones and teeth.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol) {fat soluble}

Necessary for protection of cell structure, especially red blood cells and epithelial cells, antioxidant to inhibit breakdown of vitamin A and some unsaturated fatty acids.

Vitamin K {fat soluble}

Normal clotting of blood, formation of prothrombin.

Thiamine (B1) {water soluble}

Carbohydrate metabolism, promotes normal appetite and digestion, normal function of nervous system.

Riboflavin (B2) {water soluble}

Carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, health of mouth tissue, healthy eyes.

Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, B3) {water soluble}

Carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, healthy skin, nerves, and digestive tract.

Pantothenic Acid (B5) {water soluble}

Metabolism of energy, production of hormones and cholesterol.

Pyridoxine (B6) {water soluble}

Protein synthesis and metabolism, production of antibodies.

Biotin (B7) {water soluble}

Healthy bones and hair, metabolism of energy, synthesis of Niacin.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) {water soluble}

Metabolism of proteins, production of healthy red blood cells, maintains nerve tissue.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) {water soluble}

Healthy gums, aids in wound healing, aids in absorption of iron, formation of collagen.

Folic Acid (Folacin, Folate, B9) {water soluble}

Protein metabolism, maturation of red blood cells, formation of hemoglobin, synthesis of DNA, reduces risk of neural tube defect (spina bifida) in fetus - important for pregnant women to consume recommended daily amount.

Calcium (Ca)

Develops/maintains bones and teeth.

Phosphorus (P)

Develops/maintains bones and teeth, maintains blood acid-base balance, metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, constituent of body cells.

Magnesium (Mg)

Constituent of bones, muscles, and red blood cells, healthy muscles and nerves, metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.

Sodium (Na)

Fluid balance, acid-base balance, regulates muscles and nerves, glucose (sugar) absorption.

Potassium (K)

Fluid balance, regular heart rhythm, cell metabolism, proper nerve function, regulates contraction of muscles.

Chlorine (Cl) (Chloride)

Fluid balance, acid-base balance, formation of hydrochloric acid.

Sulfur (S)

Healthy skin, hair, and nails, activates energy-producing enzymes.

Iron (Fe)

Formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells, part of cell enzymes, aids in production of energy.

Iodine (I)

Formation of hormones in thyroid gland, regulates basal metabolic rate.

Copper (Cu)

Utilization of iron, component of enzymes, formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Fluorine (Fl) (Fluoride)

Healthy teeth and bones.

Zinc (Zn)

Component of enzymes and insulin, essential for growth and wound healing.

Selenium (Se)

Metabolism of fat, acts as an antioxidant.

MyPlate Recommendation: Fruits

2 Cups

MyPlate Recommendation: Vegetables

2.5 Cups

MyPlate Recommendation: Grains

6 Ounces

MyPlate Recommendation: Proteins

5.5 Ounces

MyPlate Recommendation: Dairy

3 Cups

MyPlate Limit: Sugar

<50 grams

MyPlate Limit: Saturated Fat

<22 grams

MyPlate Limit: Sodium

<2.3 grams

MyPlate Recommendation: Children Activity

60 minutes per day

MyPlate Recommendation: Adult Activity

2.5 hours per week

Baptist

Restricted Coffee & Tea; Prohibited Alcohol.

Buddhist

Some sects prohibit Coffee & Tea, Alcohol; Some sects abstain Pork, Meat.

Christian Scientist

Most avoid Coffee & Tea, Alcohol.

Greek Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox)

Dairy & Meat restricted on Wednesday and Friday during Lent and other Holy Days.

Hindu

Most avoid Alcohol, Pork.

Islamic

Prohibit Alcohol, Pork; Do not eat or drink during daylight hours during Ramadan, Shellfish is forbidden, meat must be slaughtered.

Jewish

Dairy must not be prepared or eaten with meat; Pork is prohibited; Meat must not be prepared or eaten with dairy products; Forbids cooking on Sabbath, Shellfish forbidden, food must be prepared according to Kosher rules, may fast on certain holy days.

Mormon

Coffee & Tea, Alcohol are prohibited; encouraged to eat meat sparingly.

Roman Catholic

Refrain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent.

Seventh Day Adventist

Coffee & Tea, Alcohol, Pork prohibited

Carbohydrates

Provide heat and energy, supply fiber for good digestion and elimination.

Lipids (fats)

Provide fatty acids needed for growth and development, provide heat and energy, carry fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) to body cells.

Proteins

Build and repair body tissue, provide heat and energy, help produce antibodies.

Vitamins

Regulate body functions, build and repair body tissue.

Minerals

Regulate body functions, build and repair body tissue.

Water

Carries nutrients and wastes to and from body cells, regulates body functions.

Therapeutic diets

Modifications of the normal diet and are used to improve specific health conditions.

Regular diet

Balanced diet usually used for the patient with no dietary restrictions.

Liquid diet

Includes both clear liquids and full liquids, which may be used after surgery, for patients with acute infections or digestive problems, to replace fluids lost by vomiting or diarrhea, and before some X-rays of the digestive tract.

Soft diet

Similar to the regular diet but foods must require little chewing and be easy to digest.

Diabetic diet

Used for patients with diabetes mellitus, which is also called a carbohydrate-controlled diet; usually 40-60% of calories are from carbohydrates.

Calorie-controlled diets

Include both low-calorie and high-calorie diets; low calorie diets are used for patients who are overweight; high calorie diets are used for patients who are underweight, have anorexia nervosa, hyperthyroidism, or cance.

Low-cholesterol diet

Restricts foods that contain cholesterol and usually limits fats to less than 50 grams daily, used for patients who have atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Fat-restricted diets

Also called low-fat diets, usually limits fats to less than 50 grams daily, which may be used for obese patients or patients who have gallbladder and liver disease or atherosclerosis.

Sodium-restricted diets

Low-sodium or low-salt diets, which are used to reduce salt intake for patients who have cardiovascular diseases (hypertension or congestive heart failure), kidney disease, and edema.

Protein diet

Include both low-protein and high-protein diets, which are used for patients who have certain kidney or renal diseases, certain allergic conditions; may be used for children if growth is delayed, pregnant or lactating women, before and/or after surgery, and patients suffering from burns, fevers, or infections.

Bland diet

Consists of easily digested foods that do not irritate the digestive tract, avoids foods that are coarse, fried, highly seasoned, pastries, candies, raw fruits and vegetables, alcoholic and carbonated beverages, smoked and salted meats or fish, nuts, olives, avocados, coconut, whole-grain breads and cereals, and typically coffee and tea; used for patients who have gastric disorders, colitis, and other digestive diseases.

Fiber diets

Usually classified as high-fiber or low-fiber; high-fiber diets usually have at least 30 grams of fiber without seeds or nuts and is used to stimulate activity in the digestive tract; low-fiber or low-residue diet containing less than 10-15 grams of fiber per day which is used for patients who have digestive and rectal diseases, such as colitis or diarrhea.

Louis Pasteur

Discovered that germs caused disease, discovered the first vaccine, the rabies vaccine, and developed pasteurization

Hippocrates

Father of Medicine

Aristotle

Father of Science

Claudius Galen

A physician, described the symptoms of inflammation and studied infectious disease in addition to dissecting animals and determining the function of muscles, the kidney, and the bladder; one of the first roman surgeons who performed surgery on gladiators

Jonas Salk

Developed the first polio vaccine using dead polio virus

Rhazes (al-Razi)

Arab Hippocrates; based dx on observations of the signs and symptoms of disease, suggested blood was the cause of many infectious disease, began the use of animal gut as suture material

Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci

Used dissections to draw the human body more realistically

Andreas Vesalius

Published the first anatomy book

Roger Bacon

Researched optics and refraction (bendling of light rays)

Bartolemeo Eustachio

Identified the tube between the ear and throat

Paul Ehrlich

Cure for syphilis and Gram staining bacteria technique; German bacteriologist, developed methods to detect and differentiate between various diseases, developed the foundation for modern theories of immunity, and used chemicals to eliminate microorganisms

Robert Koch

Another individual who is also called the "Father of Microbiology"; developed the culture plate method to identify pathogens; isolated the bacteria that caused tuberculosis

Gregor Mendel

Established the principles of heredity and dominant/recessive patterns

Wilhelm Roentgen

Discovered roentgenograms (X-rays)

Ambroise Pare

A French surgeon; known as the Father of Modern Surgery: Established the use of ligatures to bind (use of thread or suture to tie off) arteries and stop bleeding; promoted use of artificial limbs

Gabriel Fahrenheit

Created the first mercury thermometer

John Hunter

English surgeon; established surgical procedures; introduced tube feeding

Benjamin Franklin

Invented biofocals for eyeglasses

Dr. Jesse Bennett

Performed the first successful Cesarean section operation to deliver an infant in 1794

James Lind

Prescribed lime juice containing vitamin C to prevent scurvy

James Blundell

Performed the first successful blood transfusion on humans

Dr. Philippe Pinel

Began humane treatment for mental illness

Theodor Fliedner

Started one of the first training programs for nurses in Germany in 1836, which provided Florence Nigthingale with her formal training

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Improved the microscope and discovered microorganisms

Edward Jenner

Smallpox vaccine