Best Feeding Tube Formula? Posted on September 17, 2022 | by Functional Formularies | Leave a Comment on Best Feeding Tube Formula? What is the Best Feeding Tube Formula? Not all feeding tube formulas are created equal, and not even all blenderized feeding tube formulas are the same. Commercial formulas generally do not contain any whole foods and many blenderized feeding tube formulas contain only some degree of whole foods. Real, whole foods provide an abundance of natural nutrients including important vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and phytonutrients needed in order for your body to thrive. When food is refined or reduced, the many beneficial properties of a whole food are stripped away. Why should people on a feeding tube receive anything less than oral eaters? That is why at Functional Formularies, we offer food as it should be. We are committed to providing the highest quality nourishment possible for those living with feeding tubes. What Makes a Feeding Tube Formula the Best? Just read the ingredients, the difference is clear! On top of the importance of whole foods, eliminating added sugar and highly refined carbohydrates found in most commercial formulas is a big part of the proposed solution for a better-for-you feeding tube formula. To date, however, only Functional Formularies has addressed this need by producing a family of formulas optimized for both adults and pediatrics with these characteristics. Additionally, many other formulas contain casein, soy protein, or milk protein concentrates as their primary source of protein. These can delay gastric emptying in some children causing GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and can cause malabsorption issues in others. Lastly, the balance between omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids is essential. The imbalanced, higher ratio of omega 6 to 3 fatty acids favor inflammation, increased blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome. Other feeding tube formulas contain industrial, processed seed oils, such as sunflower oil, as a leading ingredient which are high in omega 6 fatty acids. Whereas Functional Formularies uses organic flaxseed oil rich in omega 3 fatty acids in order to aid in optimal health. Why Functional Formularies Has The Best Feeding Tube Formula for You If you are looking for the best tube feeding formula option for yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor or dietitian about starting a blenderized diet. Functional Formularies offers the best feeding tube formulas that contain only real, whole food, plant-based ingredients that have been sourced from the cleanest growers. We believe it is a fundamental human right for anyone, even those on feeding tubes, to choose the type and source of nutrition they want. How wonderful is it that the clinical nutrition world is now offering patients these choices?
Should Sugar Be the Second Ingredient? A comparative look at enteral formulas designed for diabetes patients and why Liquid Hope is still the best. Posted on March 12, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Should Sugar Be the Second Ingredient? A comparative look at enteral formulas designed for diabetes patients and why Liquid Hope is still the best. Many RDs and clinicians ask us if Liquid hope is suitable for those with diabetes. Absolutely. I think the question is asked so frequently because Liquid Hope does not state anywhere on its package or in its literature that it is designed specifically for diabetes. In contrast, descriptions of commercial formulas such as Glucerna 1.2 and Diabetisource AC 1.2 contain language that clearly delineates them from other formulas. They are apparently formulated specific to the condition of diabetes and contain the appropriate ingredients and nutritional qualities. Really? Let’s take a closer look at what they are and what’s in them: Continue reading →
The Epidemic of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Posted on January 15, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on The Epidemic of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease If an individual is obese it is most likely that they suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. There was a time when this condition was quite rare. Now it appears that more than half of Americans have it and more than a third of American children suffer from it. The condition is generally a function of a diet rich in refined carbohydrates and the concomitant gut problems such as dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth that feed off the sugar. Together the inflammation and damage to the liver’s detoxification efforts create a significant amount of damage to a person’s health. Continue reading →
5 Things All RDs Should Know Regarding Ileostomies and Nutrition Posted on December 6, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on 5 Things All RDs Should Know Regarding Ileostomies and Nutrition Ileostomies are quite common in both short and long-term care. They are performed for a wide variety of reasons, but they often present very similar challenges to the overall health of the patient. Due to their impact on nutrient availability and the functional capacity of the GI as a whole, many patients experience high levels of gut wall-derived inflammation, hyperglycemia, dysbiosis, and micronutrient deficiencies. Continue reading →
Crohn’s Disease, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), and Enteral Nutrition: Liquid Hope is the best of both worlds. Posted on November 14, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Crohn’s Disease, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), and Enteral Nutrition: Liquid Hope is the best of both worlds. The past 3 years have seen numerous research investigations come to the same conclusions: Crohn’s disease is a function of both an individual’s diet and their microbiota. Many individuals suffer severe flare-ups with exposure to long chained carbohydrates from specific starches and grains that survive upper GI digestion and end up feeding the wrong bacteria in the mid to lower GI. There is an increasingly popular approach to mitigating these conditions with strict enteral nutrition therapy (1). Continue reading →
A New Approach to Enteral Nutrition Support: Redefining true care, nutritional adequacy, and compatibility. Posted on August 1, 2017 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on A New Approach to Enteral Nutrition Support: Redefining true care, nutritional adequacy, and compatibility. The critically and chronically ill patient typically has several biochemical processes that are severely compromised. These aberrant pathways are the target of pharmacological intervention and are typically the only dimension of patient care associated with the outcome. Supporting the patient’s most fundamental nutrition needs are equally important, yet this dimension of care receives very little attention. Continue reading →