Better nutrition promotes speedy recovery and decreased costs for hospital patients, research confirms
(NaturalHealth365) News Flash: Hospitals have just realized that good nutrition is crucial to healing and shorter hospital stays – imagine that! We need to share this story – far and wide.
Putting humor aside, recent research by a major hospital system has confirmed some nutritional information that’s already pretty obvious to most health-aware people. (The fact that research was needed to confirm the value of good nutrition is yet another indication of how slow-moving the system is and the importance of educating yourself.)
One in 3 persons admitted to the hospital suffer from malnutrition
Four Chicago area hospitals in the Advocate Health Care system, the largest in Illinois, were included in the research. The effects of early nutrition treatment were studied in relation to hospital stay duration, readmission and the money spent on hospital stays.
A stunning 1 in 3 persons admitted to hospitals show signs of being malnourished or at high risk of malnutrition. Poorly nourished patients are known to have slower rates of recovery and a higher risk of complications like infections, bed sores and falls. When a nutrition care program was implemented, the hospitals showed a dramatic reduction in costs – to the tune of $4.8 million.
As a result of these findings, Advocate Health Care and other hospital systems are more closely examining nutrition as a way to assist patients in healing and resuming life on a healthier track. The research was funded by Abbott and published in American Health & Drug Benefits journal.
Hospital readmission rates lowered by 27 percent with proper nutrition
Beginning in 2014, Advocate Health Care tried two nutrition care program models for at-risk patients. These programs were shown to reduce 30-day readmission rates by 27 percent over about a year and a half. The average hospital stay was reduced by around two days. The cost savings averaged around $3,800 per patient.
While Western medicine no doubt saves many lives, its large bureaucratic nature causes it to be quite slow on some pretty obvious topics. Was a big study really required to confirm that nutrition is an important factor in health and healing?
Because of this, it’s crucial for all consumers to take the initiative about their health education and act accordingly. A strong immune system is foundational to staying healthy and effectively fighting disease when it strikes.
Important tips: How to practice good nutrition and lower your risk of extended hospital stays
Obviously, some of the best ways to stay healthy (always) include eating a healthy diet – loaded with as many organic fruits and vegetables as possible; small amounts of protein from sources like, Hawaiian Spirulina or cage-free eggs and healthy fats derived from coconut oil, grass-fed meats, nuts and seeds.
In addition, consuming high-quality supplements can be an intelligent choice for most people – including vitamin C, D, omega-3 and curcumin to help reduce the risk of chronic inflammation or a depleted immune system. Of course, let’s not forget the lifelong value of maintaining a physically active life.
These lifestyle choices will naturally reduce your hospital time by giving you the strength to recover faster – if, heaven forbid, this ever happens to you.
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