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The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital for asthma who weighs 186 lb (84.5 kg). During dietary counseling, the patient asks the nurse how much protein he should ingest each day. How many grams of protein does the nurse recommend should be included in the diet based on the patient's current weight?

A) 24
B) 41
C) 68
D) 93

Answer :

Final answer:

The nurse should recommend the patient include approximately 68 grams of protein in his daily diet based on the bodyweight-to-protein intake recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which aligns closely with a balanced diet recommendation. So the correct answer is Option C.

Explanation:

The question concerns the amount of protein a patient with asthma, weighing 186 lb (84.5 kg), should include in his daily diet. When considering dietary requirements, protein intake is essential as it is a major building block of the body and plays a critical role in the repair and growth of tissues. It is generally recommended that an adult should consume about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

To calculate the appropriate intake for this patient, you would multiply the body weight in kilograms (84.5 kg) by the recommended protein amount. Performing this calculation 84.5 kg x 0.8 grams/kg results in a recommended protein intake of approximately 67.6 grams per day.

Considering the provided information where a balanced diet should contain at least 70 grams of protein daily, and comparing the calculated value of 67.6 grams, the closest and most appropriate recommendation for the patient's daily protein intake would be 68 grams. Therefore, the correct answer to the question, "How many grams of protein does the nurse recommend should be included in the diet based on the patient's current weight?" is (C) 68 grams.