Foods to Avoid for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
spinal cord injury, a person's metabolism often changes significantly.
Because they use fewer muscles, people with a spinal cord injury require fewer
calories per day. However, if their eating habits do not change after their
injury, they may be at risk for obesity and other related health conditions.
Avoiding certain types of food after a spinal cord injury can help a person
maintain a healthy weight.
Fast Foods
Fast foods are high on the list of foods to avoid after a spinal cord injury,
or SCI, as they tend to pack excessive calories into a single meal. The Spinal
Cord Injury Network reports that the average fast food meal contains around
1,200 calories. For some people, this may be half of their entire daily
recommendation after their spinal cord injury. According to the National
Guideline Clearinghouse, a person with a spinal cord injury usually requires
around 10 percent fewer calories per day than the average person. They may need
even less if they are severely impaired or inactive. Avoiding fast foods can
help a person reduce his caloric intake, as well as avoid the excess fat,
cholesterol and sodium that these foods tend to contain.
High-Sodium Foods
The Spinal Cord Injury Network recommends people with paraplegia or
quadriplegia limit their sodium intake to between 500 and 1,000 mg daily. More
than this amount may cause excess fluid retention, which can leave their bodies
more vulnerable to related health conditions. Excess sodium can raise blood
pressure, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Sodium is found not only
in salt but also in many sauces, condiments and pre-made meals. Reading labels
and avoiding high-sodium foods can help people living with SCI reduce their risk
of heart attack and stroke.
Sugary Foods and Beverages
Foods that contain large amounts of sugar should also be avoided by those
living with SCI. Sugary foods tend to be higher in calories, without the added
benefit of extra nutrition. In other words, many high-sugar foods are empty
calories. The Baylor College of Medicine recommends such foods make up only a
minimal part of the daily diet for those living with SCI. These include sodas,
candy, cookies and cakes. In addition, sweetened beverages, such as juices or
tea mixes, may also contain excessive amounts of sugar.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol is another empty calorie beverage, which not only adds to the daily
calorie count without adding any nutrition but has other potential side effects
as well. Alcohol can have an increased effect for someone with a spinal cord
injury; because of this, daily consumption should be limited. Baylor recommends
one drink per day for women with SCI and two for men with SCI as a maximum.
Other High-Fat Foods
In addition to fast foods and sweets, other junk foods, such as chips, should
be limited by people with SCIs. However, even healthy foods can become high-fat
foods if prepared a certain way. For example, fried chicken has substantially
more calories and fat than baked or roasted chicken. In addition, limiting the
amount of oil and butter used in food preparation can reduce calories while
maintaining the same nutritional content. Finally, leaner cuts of meat can
reduce saturated fat intake for those living with spinal cord injuries.
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