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“My diet is important to my recovery so how do I know my body is getting the nutrients it needs?”

Improve your nutrition. Improve your life

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The risk of not getting enough or the right nutrition is higher than you might think, especially when you are ill or injured. And the consequences can affect your body’s ability to heal itself. Here’s a simple self-survey:

1. Are you sick or injured?1 YES

2. Have you lost your appetite?2

3. Have you lost weight without trying?2

If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, you or your loved one may be having trouble healing or recovering. This could be due to inadequate nutrition.

YOUR RECOVERY

When you’re sick or injured, you may not

be able to eat the way you normally would.

This can make getting the nutrition you need

difficult, but it also makes it more important

than ever, especially as you get older. Eating

right is vital to healing, being healthy, feeling

well, and living a full life.

YOUR RECOVERYNUTRITION IS IMPORTANT TONUTRITION IS IMPORTANT TO

NUTRITIONNOT ENOUGH OR NOT THE RIGHT

YOUR RECOVERYNUTRITION IS IMPORTANT TO

NUTRITIONNOT ENOUGH OR NOT THE RIGHT

SPECIAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS WHEN YOU’RE

SICK OR INJUREDEven if you are used to eating a well-balanced diet or you are generally a healthy person, your needs now are different. A healing body needs more nutrients and a different mix. But this can be difficult to achieve for the following reasons:

1. Not just any food will do. You need protein for healing and strength. Carbohydrates for energy. Vitamins and minerals to keep cells healthy and help fight disease.

2. It can be hard to simply eat enough food to get everything your body needs.

3. Where you live in the world affects what you eat. For example, some cultures eat more of certain nutrients than others. This may make it challenging to find a diet that is best for healing and recovery.

4. Your mouth or digestive system may not be working right.

5. You may not want to eat. Just when you need it most, your appetite may go away.

Even if you are used to eating a well-balanced

diet or you are generally a healthy person, your needs

now are different.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF

MALNUTRITIONMalnutrition occurs when nutrient intake doesn’t meet nutrient needs.

20-50% of hospitalized adults are already malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.3

Studies have shown that nutrition has a direct impact on hospital outcomes—from reducing complications4-6 and length of stay4,7-11 to

helping avoid readmissions.4,7-11

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR NUTRITION AND FEEL EMPOWERED ABOUT

YOUR RECOVERYYou may benefit from supplementing your diet with an enriched nutrition

drink, which will help give you the right balance of calories, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that

your body needs to recover.

Oral nutrition supplements provided during hospitalization are associated with decreased length of stay, lower costs, and a decreased probability for

readmission within 30 days.8

Abbott is the maker of specialized nutritional products designed for specific conditions. As a leader in the industry, Abbott is dedicated to the science of

nutrition and providing patients like you with the highest quality products.

Studies have shown that nutrition has a direct impact

on hospital outcomes.

Oral nutrition supplements can be an integral part of your recovery.

TIPS FOR GETTING THE RIGHT NUTRITION

IN THE HOSPITAL • Talk with your care team about a healthy

eating plan.

• Keep a diet diary.

• Enlist your loved ones to eat with you.

• Sip enriched nutritional drinks through the day.

• Sometimes nutritional drinks are available in different flavors. Find the one you like the most.

• Sometimes nutritional drinks can be used in recipes.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THE

RIGHT NUTRITION FOR YOUBe proactive by talking to your physician, nurse, or dietician about your specific nutritional needs. The time to do it is now—at admission. Each hour that your injured or sick body isn’t getting the nutritional support it needs makes it harder for you to heal. Fortunately, getting the nutrition you need while you’re in the hospital doesn’t have to be hard. Nutrition drinks or shakes are often part of meal planning in hospitals around the globe. They can help you feel confident that you’re getting what you need to heal, maintain, and enhance your health. There are many factors that affect the nutrition you receive each day. Find out what’s most practical for you.

Developed with a global panel of respected physicians and nutrition experts, feedM.E. is a nutrition awareness, education, and call-to-

action program designed to highlight the value of good nutrition and optimizing health.

A BETTER LIFE THROUGH

BETTER NUTRITIONWhen you’re in a hospital, eating right can positively affect your health, recovery, and quality of life. By being aware and taking action, you can

take charge of your future.

1. Jensen GL, Hsiao PY, Wheeler D. Adult nutrition assessment tutorial. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012;36:267-274 | 2. Ferguson M, Capra S, Bauer J, et al. Development of a valid and reliable malnutrition screening tool for adult acute hospital patients. Nutr. 1999;15:458-464. | 3. Norman K, Pichard C,Lochs H, et al. Prognostic impact of disease-related malnutrition. Clin Nutr. 2008;27:5-15. | 4. Cawood AL, Elia M, Stratton RJ. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of high protein oral nutritional supplements. Ageing Res Rev. 2012;11:278-296. | 5. Stratton RJ, Ek AC, Engfer M, et al. Enteral nutritional support in prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev. 2005;4:422-450. | 6. Milne AC, Potter J, Vivanti A, et al. Protein and energy supplementation in elderly people at risk from malnutrition. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009:CD003288. | 7. Somanchi M, Tao X, Mullin GE. The facilitated early enteral and dietary management effectiveness trial in hospitalized patients with malnutrition. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2011;35:209-216. | 8. Philipson TJ, Snider JT, Lakdawalla DN, et al. Impact of oral nutritional supplementation on hospital outcomes. Am J Manag Care. 2013;19:121-128. | 9. Starke J, Schneider H, Alteheld B, et al. Short-term individual nutritional care as part of routine clinical setting improves outcome and quality of life in malnourished medical patients. Clin Nutr. 2011;30:194-201. | 10. Lee C, Rucinski J, Bernstein L. A systematized interdisciplinary nutritional care plan results in improved clinical outcomes. Clin Biochem. 2012;45:1145-1149. | 11. Stratton RJ, Hebuterne X, Elia M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of oral nutritional supplements on hospital readmissions. Ageing Res Rev. 2013;12:884-897.

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