Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes your body to manufacture unusually dense, sticky mucus. It builds up in your lungs and pancreas, causing breathing problems and digestive disorders. Teenagers and adults with cystic fibrosis often need to consume a high-calorie, high-fat diet. Vitamin supplements and pancreatic enzymes are usually required as well, according to PubMed Health. If you have nutritional questions, consult a registered dietitian.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis, CF, is a recessive genetic and life-threatening disease that requires both parents to carry the defective gene. An estimated 30,000 people in the United States have this disease, with 70,000 patients around the world, notes the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CFF. The disease is most common among Caucasian people with Northern or Central European roots. CF's abnormally thick mucus can result in lung inflammation and infection. Your digestive system is also affected because the mucus prevents proper pancreas function and inhibits the production of digestive enzymes. The average lifespan of CF patients is 37 years, which represents great strides in treating this disease.
General Guidelines
CF sufferers need to eat a nutrient-rich diet that includes high levels of fat and carbohydrates. Breathing problems along with difficulty assimilating nutrients requires you to eat more than someone without CF. In fact, teens with CF need from 30 to 50 percent more calories than non-CF young adults. You also need to take pancreatic enzymes before and after eating, according to CFF. Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes, CFRD, can be a complication and often requires insulin and a specific nutrition and exercise regimen.
Vitamin Supplements
Due to digestive complications, people with CF often have difficulty absorbing fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K comprise this group of nutrients. They are termed “fat-soluble” because they are stored in your liver and fat tissue. Daily supplementation of these vitamins is usually needed for CF patients. Vitamin E deficiency, for example, can lead to neurological problems such as difficulty balancing. It can also cause muscle weakness and vision problems.
Phytochemicals
Fruits, vegetables and other plant foods contain phytochemicals, natural plant components important for your health. Perhaps best known are the antioxidants, which include vitamins A, C and E as well as beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein. Antioxidants halt oxidation, a normal process that happens when your body metabolizes toxic substances such as cigarette smoke and industrial chemicals. Oxidation can injure cellular DNA and cause cells to mutate. In their “Color Your Calories” pamphlet, CFF recommends that people with CF eat foods high in antioxidants, such as citrus fruits, dark green leafy vegetables and bright orange vegetables like butternut squash and carrots.
