Nutritional problems that children with CP present are:
- Malnutrition
- Failure to thrive (length)
- Overweight or obese
- Micronutrient deficiencies, either by insufficient intake and / or any interactions between drugs and nutrients
- Osteopenia and osteoporosis
- Difficulty performing adequate nutritional assessment
There are a number of factors that favor the development of nutritional disturbances in children with CP, including: gross and fine motor impairment, disorders of swallowing and oral motor dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, which causes aspiration, secondary respiratory infections and inadequate dietary intake due to hyperemesis and lack of ambulation. Cerebral palsy diet is often insufficient due and it is used a feeding tube or gastrostomy, drugs, especially anticonvulsants, which have a deleterious effect on bone density. Cerebral palsy diet should contain fresh vegetables and fruits but also meat and milk. A cerebral palsy diet should offer the child a lot of vitamins in order to help him. Cerebral palsy diet should also contain food reach in calcium and potassium for the bones. Doctors recommend for cerebral palsy diet foods that stimulates brain activity like nuts or almonds.
