Anyone who has ever had to stay in hospital or served as a companion to a hospitalized person at least once in their lives already knows: at mealtimes, it is certain that gelatin will be among the items served.
This food is frequent in the diet of hospitalized individuals because it contains some important properties with regard to restoring health. But what exactly makes gelatin so indispensable for meals served in hospitals?
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In order to answer this emblematic question, the news portal canaltech interviewed nutritionist Layla Louise Mendes Barros dos Santos, who works at Beneficência Portuguesa in São Paulo. The next topics are basically answers to questions asked to the expert. Check out!
After all, why is gelatin always present in meals served in hospitals?
When asked why gelatin is popular in hospital kitchens, Layla Louise Mendes Barros dos Santos explained that this is due to the high amount of water that makes up the food, as well as the nutrients and ease of digestion that it contains. it presents.
In addition, Layla explains that gelatins are, in general, “poor” in sugar and fat, which makes them ideal for debilitated patients who have some comorbidity, such as diabetes or hypertension, for example.
“For these reasons, it is common to offer gelatine in hospitals, with water, teas and gelatine being the first foods offered to patients in the postoperative period or who need attention to the gastrointestinal tract ”, she complements the nutritionist.
Is the gelatine offered in hospitals the same as that found in supermarkets?
Layla Louise explains that yes, the gelatin offered in hospitals is the same that can be bought on the market. However, when purchasing the product for patient consumption, some nutritional details are observed.
“The nutrients provided by gelatine can change in each brand available on the market, as some suppliers add vitamins to their formulas to improve the nutritional value of the preparation”, says specialist.
Can “hospital gelatin” be consumed by anyone?
Finally, Layla Louise Mendes Barros dos Santos was also asked whether all types of patients can consume gelatin in the hospital.
The nutritionist explains that, in general, yes, but before authorizing the inclusion of the food in the patient, the person in charge, in this case the doctor who is following the medical record, must pay attention to the following provisions:
- For patients allergic to dyes and flavors, gelatin free of these products should be served;
- If the person has diabetes, the gelatin served must be of the diet type;
- In the case of patients with dysphagia, which is a difficulty in swallowing food and liquids, adding gelatin to the menu should only be done under the guidance of a speech therapist;
- If the patient declares himself vegan or vegetarian, the gelatin served must follow this dietary pattern.
Observing these details, the consumption of gelatin can be done without major problems.
Graduated in History and Human Resources Technology. Passionate about writing, today he lives the dream of acting professionally as a Content Writer for the Web, writing articles in different niches and different formats.
