Diet and nutrition leaflets
Take a look at our series of diet and nutrition leaflets, produced with the help of dietitians from the Cystic Fibrosis Dietitian Group UK (CFDGUK).
To order hard copies of these leaflets please contact our helpline by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0300 373 1000.
Cystic Fibrosis Trust has worked with dietitians from the Cystic Fibrosis Dietitian Group UK (CFDGUK) to create these leaflets, which are part of a series of 22 leaflets and contain information about different aspects of diet and nutrition for people with cystic fibrosis.
These leaflets have been designed to be given out by a CF dietitian, along with their advice, and we would advise you to discuss this information with your CF dietitian.
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Achieving a healthy weight in cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet on achieving a healthy weight if you have cystic fibrosis. It covers: BMI, gaining weight, fortifying foods, ways to add calories to your meals, product labeling, nutritional supplements, tube feeding and more. We also have a leaflet below called 'healthy eating and cystic fibrosis' for people with CF who are looking to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight.
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Calcium and bone health in cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet on the impact cystic fibrosis can have on bone health. It covers: low bone mineral density and how to minimise the risk of this, including information on weight, calcium, enzymes, physiotherapy, steroids, smoking and alcohol, vitamins and exercise.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called ‘Calcium, iron and vitamins in the cystic fibrosis diet’, which contains all three topics.
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Drinking alcohol and cystic fibrosis
This leaflet aims to help you drink sensibly if you choose to drink. It covers: the adverse effects of drinking alcohol, sensible alcohol limits, units, binge drinking, pregnancy, alcohol and liver disease, alcohol and CF-related diabetes, what to do if you think you have a drinking problem and ways to limit your alcohol intake.
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Eating well for children with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about eating well for children with cystic fibrosis. It covers: the importance of eating well, what your child should be eating, pancreatic insufficiency, food groups, family meals, meal ideas and following a high-energy diet in school.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called 'Pancreatic insufficiency and nutrition in cystic fibrosis (babies and children)', which contains this leaflet and two others: 'Pancreatic insufficiency in babies with cystic fibrosis' and 'Weaning for babies with cystic fibrosis'.
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Enzyme refusal in children with cystic fibrosis
This leaflet will help suggest ways you can support your child if they are refusing or forgetting to take their enzymes, helping you work out solutions together and with the support of your child's CF team.
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Exercise nutrition in cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about exercise diet and nutrition if you have cystic fibrosis. It covers: nutrient intake, hydration, special products and diabetes, and includes a timeline for food and fluid intake.
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Fasting during Ramadan and cystic fibrosis
This information has been written to help support your decision making about fasting during Ramadan when you have cystic fibrosis. It was written by a team of CF dietitians, and reviewed by a Muslim hospital chaplain and Muslims living with cystic fibrosis.
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Food refusal in children with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about young children with CF being selective about their food choices or refusing to eat. It covers: suggestions to help you and your child get into a good routine with food and meals, making mealtimes fun, and practical ideas, suggestions and strategies.
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Gastrointestinal (GI) issues in cystic fibrosis
This leaflet talks about GI issues that can happen with CF and how to recognise symptoms and report them to your CF team. The treatment for each issue is individual and you should always follow the advice of your CF team. The information within this leaflet is for adults and young people over the age of 16. Children under 16 years old can also experience GI problems, but this should be discussed with their CF team.
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Healthy eating and cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about the nutritional needs of an adult with cystic fibrosis who is a healthy weight and wants to maintain their weight, or who is overweight and wants to lose weight. It covers: what a healthy weight is, getting the balance right, meal ideas, the amount of fluids to drink, enzyme capsules, and what to do if you would like to lose weight. We also have a leaflet above called 'achieving a healthy weight in cystic fibrosis' for people with CF who are looking to gain weight.
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Iron in the cystic fibrosis diet
This is a leaflet about how iron deficiency might affect you if you have cystic fibrosis. It covers: iron deficiency anaemia, recommended daily iron intake, iron and vitamin C, meeting your iron requirements and includes a sample meal plan.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called ‘Calcium, iron and vitamins in the cystic fibrosis diet’, which contains all three topics.
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Leaving home and eating well with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about eating well if you have left home and have cystic fibrosis. It covers: boosting your calories, breakfasts, staying charged up throughout the day, stocking up, budgeting and enzyme storage.
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Nutrition and pregnancy in cystic fibrosis
This leaflet aims to provide information about diet and nutrition if you are pregnant and have cystic fibrosis. It covers: what to eat, healthy weight gain, vitamin and mineral supplements, foods to avoid, caffeine, peanuts, alcohol, pregnancy symptoms, adding nourishment to your diet, the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and CF-related diabetes.
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Pancreatic enzyme supplement and cystic fibrosis
This leaflet is about pancreatic enzyme supplements like Creon® for people with cystic fibrosis. It covers: when to take enzymes, how to know if you are taking the right amount of enzymes, how to take your enzymes and how to remember to take your enzymes.
The supply of Creon (and other brands of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT)) has been affected by a global shortage, caused by a lack of the raw ingredients and manufacturing issues. We have a dedicated page for information and support on this issue.
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Pancreatic sufficiency in babies with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about pancreatic sufficiency and nutrition in babies with cystic fibrosis. It covers: what milk you should feed your baby, reflux, weaning and drinks.
Please note: this leaflet is not available in print, please download and print it here.
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Pancreatic insufficiency in babies with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about pancreatic insufficiency and nutrition in babies with cystic fibrosis. It covers: what milk you should feed your baby and how much you should feed them, drinking cow's milk and other drinks, reflux, pancreatic enzymes, and salt and vitamin supplements.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called 'Pancreatic insufficiency and nutrition in cystic fibrosis (babies and children)', which contains this leaflet and two others: 'Eating well for children with cystic fibrosis' and 'Weaning for babies with cystic fibrosis'.
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Post-lung transplant nutrition for people with cystic fibrosis
This leaflet aims to provide information about how your dietary and nutritional needs may change following a lung transplant. It covers: the first few months following a transplant, weight management, bone health, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), vitamin supplements, gastrointestinal issues, raised cholesterol levels, kidney problems and chronic rejection.
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Salt in the cystic fibrosis diet
This is a leaflet about the importance of salt for people with cystic fibrosis. This leaflet is intended for use by adults, and does not apply to children.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called 'Hydration and salt in the cystic fibrosis diet', which contains two leaflets: 'Staying hydrated and cystic fibrosis’ and ‘Salt in the cystic fibrosis diet’.
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Staying hydrated and cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about staying hydrated when you have cystic fibrosis. It covers: dehydration, good hydration, fluid requirements, a drinking schedule, when you might need more fluid than normal, good sources of fluid.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called 'Hydration and salt in the cystic fibrosis diet', which contains two leaflets: 'Staying hydrated and cystic fibrosis’ and ‘Salt in the cystic fibrosis diet’.
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Teaching children to swallow their enzymes
This is a leaflet about how to teach your child to swallow pancreatic enzymes like Creon®. It includes tips on how to prepare your child for swallowing their enzymes with step by step instructions, tips on how to reward their progress and further information.
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Vitamin supplements in cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about the vitamin supplements you might need to take if you have cystic fibrosis. It covers: which vitamin supplements you might need and why, when you should take them, what they do, where you can find them in food, sunlight and vitamin D and other vitamins and health supplements.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called ‘Calcium, iron and vitamins in the cystic fibrosis diet’, which contains all three topics.
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Weaning for babies with cystic fibrosis
This is a leaflet about weaning for babies with cystic fibrosis. It covers: weaning your baby with pancreatic insufficiency, tips for weaning, when to start weaning, what food and how much to give and pancreatic enzymes.
Please note: If you are ordering a printed copy of this leaflet, please be aware that you will receive one leaflet called 'Pancreatic insufficiency and nutrition in cystic fibrosis (babies and children)', which contains this leaflet and two others: 'Pancreatic insufficiency in babies with cystic fibrosis' and 'Eating well for children with cystic fibrosis'.
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More information
The information in these leaflets is based on clinical best practice and a consensus of opinion by dietitians within the CFDGUK. For detailed guidance on CF nutrition, please see the ‘Consensus document on nutritional management of cystic fibrosis’, published September 2016 by visiting our publications page.
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Award-winning resources
Our 'Leaving home and eating well' factsheet was highly commended and came runner-up in the special prize category for information for young adults at the 2019 British Medical Association Patient Information Awards. Thank you to the dietitians and reviewers who gave their time to help us to create this resource.
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Cystic fibrosis, or CF, affects the lungs, digestive system and other organs, and there are over 10,600 people living with it in the UK.
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Page last reviewed: October 2024
Next review due: October 2025