A nurse is teaching about implementing a heart-healthy diet to a client who has coronary artery disease. Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to the client?

Prealbumin (also known as transthyretin): Prealbumin is a protein synthesized in the liver and has a shorter half-life compared to albumin. It is considered a more sensitive marker for

short-term nutritional changes and can reflect the effectiveness of TPN within a few days.

Prealbumin levels can indicate the response to nutritional interventions and provide a more immediate assessment of nutritional adequacy.

Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is a measure of the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells and is typically used to assess anemia. While hemoglobin can be affected by nutritional status, it is not a specific marker for the short-term effectiveness of TPN.

Total albumin: Total albumin is a measure of protein status and can be affected by various factors, including inflammation and liver disease. However, it has a longer half-life and slower response to nutritional changes, so it may not be the best indicator for short-term effectiveness.

Transferrin: Transferrin is a protein involved in iron transport and can be used as an indicator of iron status. However, it may not reflect short-term changes in nutritional status and is not specific to TPN effectiveness.

Monitoring prealbumin levels can help determine the short-term effectiveness of TPN and guide adjustments to the nutritional plan.

Muscle weakness is a finding that indicates the client is experiencing water intoxication. Muscle weakness is a symptom of water intoxication because the excessive intake of water dilutes the sodium levels in the blood, causing hyponatremia. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps maintain the balance of fluids in and around cells and also regulates muscle contraction. When sodium levels are too low, the cells swell and the muscles lose their ability to function properly.

Weak pulses are not a specific finding for water intoxication, as they can be caused by other factors such as decreased blood volume or inadequate cardiac output.

Hypernatremia is the opposite of hyponatremia, meaning high sodium levels in the blood. This can occur due to dehydration, excessive salt intake, or certain medical conditions, but not water intoxication.

Exaggerated reflexes are not typically associated with water intoxication. They may be seen in conditions such as hyperreflexia or certain neurological disorders.