FAQ Category: What To Expect

Yes. Our products have been tested down to 8 French NG tubes.

Liquid Hope has been used for other tubes that are 8 French or larger and Nourish works with tubes that are 6 French or larger.

No. Our products are pre-blended/mixed in a sterile environment, no need for food preparation, handling, or mixing. No more concerns of guessing at nutritional amounts caregivers are providing patients. Additionally, ingredients are certified organic and of the highest quality and nutritional content. Deliver via syringe, gravity drip bag, or pump — the same as you would with any high kcal/high fiber enteral formula.

Fully formed and biologically active vitamin A is known as retinol or retinyl ester.  It is measured in both micrograms and International Units (IUs). The RDA for adults ranges from 700 to 900 micrograms (1mcg =3.33IUs) or approximately 3000 IUs and the tolerable upper level (TUL) of the safe range is 10,000IUs for pregnant women and all adults.  The body converts different carotenoids to vitamin A (retinol/retinyl esters) at varying rates.  This conversion is a function of the type of carotenoid consumed (beta carotene, alpha carotene, lycopene, lutein, etc), the individual’s nutritional status, and the individual’s genetics. There is wide variability based upon the fruit or vegetable source and an individual’s genetic expression for conversion.  In general, it takes approximately 18,000 to 36,000 IUs of mixed carotenoids to generate 3000 IUs of vitamin A in the form of retinol.

Carotenoid consumption has never been shown to generate vitamin A toxicity.  This is a function of a biological feedback loop where less is converted with higher levels of circulating vitamin A.  Additionally, and equally important, carotenoids are converted to vitamin A at low rates and at a much slower speed. Some carotenoids that are not converted may end up being stored in fat cells and can, at very high levels of consumption, generate a slight change in an individual’s skin color.  This increase in stored carotenoids is known as hypercarotenoidosis and is associated with a reduced risk of several forms of cancer.

The amount of carotenoids in Liquid Hope and all Functional Formularies meal replacements are not capable of generating any type of vitamin A toxicity. They are present at moderate levels and are from its sweet potato, carrot, and green vegetable content.

 

Any additions to Functional Formularies formulas should be cleared by your medical team.

It is our general approach to nutrition that foods should be nutrient dense in order to support health. Therefore, we highly recommend that foods added to our products be both nutrient dense and compatible with a patient’s physiology or ability to metabolize them.

We never recommend adding fruit juice or any refined sugars or sweeteners.  Many patients needing more fat or calories have had success using foods such as avocadoes or almond butter to increase the energy content as well as the percentage of calories from healthy fats.

Coconut butter and/or extra virgin coconut oil may also be excellent choices, but we suggest going slowly with their addition as they can rapidly change the viscosity of the formula and may also cause diarrhea if the amount added challenges the patient’s digestive capacity.

Most vegetables can work well as long as they are blended very thoroughly. Meats and/or poultry have been blended with Liquid Hope, but again, the extent to which they are liquified is critical.

One of the easiest additions to increase a patient’s protein levels, as well as adding beneficial flora, is to mix with a high-quality yogurt.  The yogurt, or kefir, should preferably be from goats, sheep, or grass-fed Guernsey or Jersey cows and should contain live cultures.  For those who tolerate dairy products, this may be both one of the easiest and most nutritionally rewarding additions. Redwood Hill Goat yogurt is a good example and is nationally distributed.