People with the medical condition dysphagia have problems swallowing food and drink, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website. In children, this condition can be caused by malformations or diseases; in adults, tumors, strokes or reflux disease can cause dysphagia. People with dysphagia may have difficulty obtaining proper nutrition because of the problems getting food down. One way to ensure adequate nutrition is through a specialized diet; the content of the diet varies depending on the amount of dysphagia a patient has.
Level 1: Puréed Foods
In the Level 1 dysphagia diet, foods are puréed to a smooth, pudding-like consistency, according to the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force in the 2002 book "National Dysphagia Diet: Standardization for Optimal Care." Broth can be added to reach the desired thickness, according to the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology website. For patients who have problems getting enough calories, adding powdered milk, puréed baby food and juice can add calories. Foods that do not blend uniformly and consistently should be avoided. Some food that may be included in Level 1 include puréed meats, poultry, fish, baby cereals, puréed fruit and thick milkshakes.
Level 2: Dysphagia -- Mechanical Altered
People who need a Level 2 dysphagia diet must be able to chew, according to the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force. These patients must be able to tolerate some liquids and small solid pieces in their diet. The Task Force recommended that foods in this level should be cut into 1/4-inch pieces. Appropriate foods in this diet can include minced meat and fish, flaked fish, puréed vegetable soup, minced buttered noodles, minced canned fruits and junior baby desserts. Puréed foods included in Level 1 can also be eaten in the Level 2 diet.
Level 3: Dysphagia -- Advanced
In the Level 3 dysphagia diet, soft foods and other foods of nearly normal textures are included for patients, according to RD411.com. Crunchy, sticky and hard foods should be avoided by these patients. Foods included in the Level 1 and Level 2 diets are also allowed for patients on a Level 3 diet. Acceptable foods include thin-sliced meats, well-moistened fish, well-moistened breads, yogurt, all canned and cooked fruits and cooked tender vegetables.
Other Dysphagia Diets
Other organizations have expanded upon the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force's dysphagia diet classifications. The Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology website has created five levels of the dysphagia diet, as opposed to the three associated with the American Dietetic Association. Level 1 is similar in both systems; however, the second level in the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology system calls for foods to be cut into 1/8-inches pieces. In Level 3, pieces of food should be cut into 1/4-inch cubes; in Level 4, the foods need to be 1/2 inch in size. Level 5 is similar to Level 3 in the ADA system and includes soft and moist regular foods; hard or crunchy foods are avoided in Level 5 of the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology dysphagia diet.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dysphagia
- "National Dysphagia Diet: Standardization for Optimal Care;" National Dysphagia Diet Task Force and American Dietetic Association; 2002.
- RD411.com: Dysphagia Level 3 Diet
