John Irvan, Research Paper Example

The purpose of this paper is to give a useful recommendation for a nutritious menu of John Irving, aged 90 years old, weighing 135 pounds and standing 5’10’’. John has been recently diagnosed with Fibro Calculous Pancreatic Diabetes, which is a subtype of malnutrition related diabetes. Based on this evidence, it is to be assumed that John has not been eating properly for a significant amount of time. At the present time, however, he wants to improve his eating habits. Unfortunately, John is taking medications that are at times counterproductive to his goal of improving his nutrition. Since he is also suffering from depression, he is taking a drug called triacyclic, which is an anti depressant. One of the common side effects of this drug is changes in appetite; John might experience an increase or a decrease in his appetite. At times, John might not be hungry, which is likely to exacerbate his state of malnutrition. In addition, John is also taking medication that helps alleviate his bothersome symptoms of diabetes. This medication is called Thiazolidinediones. One of the main side effects of this drug is water retention, which can lead to weight gain. This could be a concern for John if he is watching his weight because it could prevent him from eating enough calories to give his body enough nutrients. John’s depression might be an obstacle to improving his nutrition. He might be at times so depressed that he skips meals. This could also exacerbate his already developed state of malnutrition.

The analysis of John’s diet reveals that he might not be eating enough calories. It is strongly suggested that seniors should consume at least 1,000 calories a day. Eating less than 1,000 calories can cause a slowing down of metabolism. In addition, John is not eating enough vegetables. During a course of 24 hours, John only eats a cup of carrots and a cup of broccoli. John should be eating at least three cups of vegetables a day. One other concern is that John might be eating too much saturated fats and fatty acids. He loves to have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Peanut butter contains both Omega 3 fatty acids and saturated fat, which are good for his health if he exercises portion control. However, there is no indication that John exercises portion control; he might be eating too much peanut butter.  Also, based on the example of John’s diet within a 24 hour period, there is no evidence that John consumes any plant oil. He might want to add a tablespoon or two of olive oil or peanut oil a day to his menu. He might also want to add a cup of starchy vegetables to his menu a couple of times a week. In addition, John should have two or three servings of fruits a day. His present menu does not show that he eats any fruits on a daily basis. Last but not least, John should include fish in his menu.