If you have chronic, long-standing gastrointestinal issues, it is important to pay particular attention to your diet.

There are several reasons why you may be at risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Reasons why you may be at risk include:

• You may have reduced your normal intake for fear of unwanted symptoms (eg pain, nausea, diarrhoea)
• You may have less ability to absorb nutrients from your intestines (eg due to inflammation, infection, surgery)
• You may have increased losses of nutrients (eg due to diarrhoea, bleeding)
• You may have increased nutrient requirements (e.g. due to inflammation, infection, and some medical conditions)

Making changes to your diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which can then lead to other problems.

Ensuring that you are eating enough of the key nutrients is important.

Food factors Sue will consider include:

• Fibre
• Protein
• Kilojoules
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Fat
• Salt
• Lactose
• fluids
• Your body weight changes

Read on to see if the situations below are familiar. Why not make an appointment to discuss your particular situation with Sue now?