Nutrition and Hydration Vocabulary

Flashcards about nutrition and hydration for caregivers.

Nutrient

A necessary substance that provides energy, promotes growth and health, and helps regulate metabolism.

Nutrition

How the body uses food to maintain health.

Water

Most essential nutrient for life, aids in digestion, absorption of food, elimination of wastes and maintaining normal body temperature.

Carbohydrates

Provide energy and extra protein, provide fiber, complex carbohydrates are bread, cereal, potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables, and fruits, Simple carbohydrates are sugars, sweets, syrups, and jellies

Protein

Essential for tissue growth and repair, provides a supply of energy, includes seafood, poultry, meat, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, nut butters, peas, dried beans or legumes, and vegetarian meat substitutes.

Fats

Help the body store energy, add flavor to food, important for absorption of certain vitamins, Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are healthier fat, Saturated and trans fats can increase cholesterol and the risk of some diseases, come from animal sources, such as butter, beef and dairy products and plant sources such as olives and nuts.

Vitamins

Essential to body functions, Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K, Water-soluble vitamins are B and C.

Minerals

Form and maintain body functions, Include zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus

Special, modified, or therapeutic diets

Diets for people who have certain illnesses, conditions, or food allergies.

Purée

To blend or grind food into a thick paste of baby food consistency.

NPO

Abbreviation meaning nothing by mouth; medical order that means a person should not have anything to eat or drink.

Dehydration

A serious condition that results from inadequate fluid in the body.

Fluid overload

A condition that occurs when the body cannot handle the amount of fluid consumed.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Parenteral nutrition (PN)

The intravenous infusion of nutrients administered directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system.

Nasogastric tube

A feeding tube that is inserted into the nose and goes to the stomach.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube

A feeding tube placed in the stomach through the abdominal wall.

Gastrostomy

A surgically-created opening into the stomach in order to insert a tube.