Food Science & Human Nutrition

Department
Food Science And Human Nutrition

Human nutrition deals with the provision of essential nutrients in food that are necessary to support human life and good health. Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It involves the physiological process of nutrition, interpreting the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to the maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease of an organism. Nutritionists and Dieticians concentrate on the study of metabolic and physiological responses of the body to diet, along with the biochemical processes through which food substances change during metabolism. Overcoming malnutrition not only improves productivity but also reduces disease burden and enhances individual & national growth and wellbeing. The long-term and sustainable approach is to prevent and cure diseases with diet management.

The Food Science and Human Nutrition department at NWGH is the first department to offer Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and Partial Parenteral Nutrition (PPN (Compounded form)) in the region. The department also makes specific diet plans for disorders like diabetes, hypertension, weight management, renal disorders, liver patients, cardio-vascular issues, burn patients, gout, celiac disease, bariatric surgery, etc. The Department manages diets of post and pre-operative patients as well and also provides enteral nutrition support that includes Nasogastric Feeding (NG), Gastrostomy Feeding, and Jejunostomy Feeding.

The department works closely with the medical team to provide dietary care to promote patient’s recovery. The department has highly qualified staff that covers all critical and non-critical units. The Nutritionists at NWGH even carry out regular visits to the COVID-19 Ward, to cater to COVID patient’s dietary needs.

The department currently provides OPD services and a Nutrition clinic is held six days a week where qualified Nutritionist carries out nutritional counseling. Comprehensive dietary consultations are available for:

  1. Diabetes
  2. Weight management
  3. Liver disorders
  4. Renal disorders
  5. Cardiovascular problems
  6. Other issues related to nutrition
  7. Etc Add more

The department also offers in-patient service and nutritionists visit all ward patients to provide nutritional care to patients that need disease-specific diet plans. If a patient cannot take food orally, the nutritionists practice enteral feeding or parenteral feeding.

The department also supervises the cafeteria services, ensuring the diet given to the patients is according to ISO standards. The department regularly conducts research projects to stay updated with the latest findings.