Nutritional literacy

Definition

Nutritional literacy is the ability to understand and utilize nutritional information to make informed decisions about diet and health. It involves comprehension of dietary guidelines, food labels, and the impact of nutrition on overall wellness.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Nutritional literacy is critical for nurses in assessing patients' dietary habits and guiding them towards healthier choices.
2. High nutritional literacy can significantly impact hematological health by promoting diets rich in iron, vitamins, and other essential nutrients.
3. Patients with low nutritional literacy may be at higher risk for conditions like anemia due to poor dietary choices.
4. Educating patients about reading food labels and understanding nutrient content can improve their nutritional literacy.
5. Nutritional literacy also includes awareness of how different foods affect specific health conditions, including those related to blood health.

Review Questions

• Why is nutritional literacy important for nurses when evaluating a patient's diet?
• How does high nutritional literacy influence hematological wellness?
• What strategies can nurses use to improve a patient's nutritional literacy?

Related terms

Dietary Guidelines:

Recommendations designed to promote health and prevent chronic diseases through proper nutrition.

Food Labels: Information on packaging that provides details about the nutritional content of the food item.

Hematologic Health: The state of well-being related to the blood and its components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.