An intense or long bout of illness can quickly deplete some or all essential nutrients in your body. Whilst ensuring that you get most of your nutrition from a healthy diet you can also use supplements to help restore nutrients whilst you are recovering. A supplement in the form of a shake may be extremely helpful especially in cases where you are feeling too ill to eat normal foods.

Nutritional supplements can aid in speeding up your recovery, though they cannot be used as a replacement for the inclusion of wholesome foods and the need for adequate rest.

Illness

Injury

Surgery

Hospitalisation

A good vitamin and mineral supplement can ensure that vitamins and minerals required by the body are present in adequate amounts during the convalescence process. Vitamin C and zinc are essential for additional support during the recovery process.

Vitamin C and zinc are essential for additional oxidative stress and wound healing support during the recovery process 8,9.

LIFEGAIN® benefits for individuals managing illness

Lifegain® is an ALL-IN-ONE Advanced Nutritional Supplement that can assist those with illness by providing high levels of nutrients that the body needs.

  • High in energy.
  • High in protein to assist with regaining physical strength.
  • High in omega-3 fatty acids as well as the combination of key nutrients offers unique support for body functions affected by illness.
  • Provides support for normal psychological function.
  • Supports the immune system.
  • The shake format is easy and convenient to take especially in cases of loss of appetite.
  • Lactose- and gluten-free which may address intolerances which can rise during treatment and management thereof.

Lifegain® has also introduced Lifegain Glutamine powder, which helps to support the body with recovery and repair during periods of physical stress and trauma.

Impact of managing illness

  • A disrupted quality of life
  • Intense stress for the sufferer and their family members which can impact their nutrition
  • Mood changes which can be a complication especially in patients with long term illnesses
  • A rapid depletion of body’s essential nutrients
  • A compromised immune system which may cause further complications

Managing illness

Cancer

A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. Focusing on nutritional support will help your body during treatment.

Cancer can affect taste, smell, appetite, and the ability to eat enough food to absorb the nutrients from food that can cause malnutrition. As a result, an individual may feel weak, tired, and unable to fight infections or even finish cancer treatment.

Treatment options for cancer may cause you to lose your appetite and energy, which could put you at increased risk for malnutrition. Muscle weakness can also be an adverse effect that can influence your ability to perform daily activities.

The good news is many side effects can now be well-managed if you discuss them with your treating team. Let’s talk about nutritional support.

Impact of cancer on the body

Cancer and cancer treatments can result in malnutrition as they may 25

  • Affect taste, smell, appetite, and the ability to eat enough food to absorb the nutrients from food which can cause malnutrition
  • As a result, an individual may feel weak, tired, and unable to fight infections or even finish their cancer treatment

The role of nutrition for cancer patients

When you have cancer, eating the right amount of protein and kilojoules is important for healing, fighting infection and having enough energy.

Nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintain strength, keep body tissue healthy and decrease the side effects both during and after treatment 25.

Whilst nutritional supplement drinks are not meant to be the primary source of cancer patients nutrition, they can help them to get the nutrition that they need. Nutrient supplements provide protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

It is especially important to get nutritional advice from your healthcare professional prior to using any supplements if you are suffering from any type of cancer.

When you have cancer, your body’s requirements for nutrients increase which highlights the importance of including a variety of foods from all food groups daily to assist you to get all the essential nutrients that your body needs.

Careful food choices can help to support your immune system and assist in building body tissues.

L-Glutamine, an amino acid, is particularly useful in helping your body in recovery and repair of tissues after periods of physical stress.Protein plays a key role in maintaining all body functions, as it makes up critical cell structures in muscle, organs, blood cells, connective tissue, and skin. You need protein to heal body tissues. Cancer patient’s protein requirement is in most cases higher than the normal daily recommended amount.

While undergoing cancer treatment, eating the right amount of protein and kilojoules is important for healing, fighting infection and having enough energy.

Nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintain strength, keep body tissue healthy and decrease the side effects both during and after treatment.1

Whilst nutritional supplement drinks are not meant to be the primary source of cancer patients nutrition, they can help patients get the nutrition that they need. Nutrient supplements provide protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

It is important to get nutritional advice from your healthcare professional prior to using any supplements if you are suffering from any type of cancer.

MY LIFEGAIN® STORY

I and doing extremely well because of the right nutrition. During treatment, I stopped eating and lost 22 kg. Lifegain is what sustained me during that period, and I have continued using it right up to now.”

Click here for Chris Grobler’s Lifegain story

Diabetes

Nutrition is an important part of a healthy lifestyle when you have diabetes in order to help you keep your blood glucose level, also called blood sugar, in your target range.

Nutrient requirements for diabetics are likely to be higher than those set for healthy individuals.

  • Diabetics are prone to deficiencies in magnesium and zinc 10,11.
  • Some medications used to treat diabetes can result in increased nutrient requirements 10,11.
  • Nutrition therapy is critical in the management of diabetes to ensure the maintenance of correct blood sugar levels 10,11.

It is important to get nutritional advice from your healthcare professional prior to using any supplements if you are suffering from diabetes.

MY LIFEGAIN® STORY

Within weeks there was a noticeable difference in his health and the lethargy was improving too. Throughout the lockdown my dad continued taking his LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutrition Supplement and he has not looked or felt better in years.

Click here to find out how Lifegain® helped Monique Mentoor with her Diabetes.

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REFERENCES

8. https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/claims/register/public/?event=search. Vitamin C. Accessed: 2020-08-15 9. Lin, P.H., Sermersheim, M., Li, H., Lee, P.H., Steinberg, S.M. and Ma, J., 2018. Zinc in wound healing modulation. Nutrients, 10(1), p.16. 10. Walker, A.F., 2007. Potential micronutrient deficiency lacks recognition in diabetes. 11. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity. Accessed: 05/08/2020. 25. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-pdq. Accessed: 05/08/2020