World Alzheimer's Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and the need for more education, support, and research. Millions of families across the United States and the world are affected by this disease.
How to Cope with Eating Problems
in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
There is no special diet required for people with Alzheimer's disease unless they have another medical condition that needs consideration. Eating well-balanced and nutritious meals is extremely important.
A person with Alzheimer's disease and their caregiver face numerous eating challenges.
1. Poor nutrition due to Alzheimer's may be related to depression, forgetting to eat, diminished sense of hunger and thirst, difficulty feeding, eating, chewing and/or swallowing or the inability to obtain or prepare foods.
2. Check for food and drug interactions; look for any medications that may decrease appetite or affect nutritional status.
3. Constipation may be a problem. Drink enough fluids, stay active and include fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
4. Dry mouth might be a side effect of some medications or a symptom of Alzheimer’s. Provide and encourage the drinking of water and other fluids. To soften foods, dip them in fluids or add broth, gravies or sauces. When eating, take a sip of a beverage between bites, this will aid in swallowing and moisten the mouth. To increase the production of saliva and moisten the mouth, use a frozen ice pop or sour candy.
5. Problems with dentures and/or oral health.
6. As Alzheimer’s progresses, an individual may not recognize foods and easily becomes distracted.
7. Weight loss or weight gain may occur.
Recommendations
1. Allow plenty of time to eat and remove any distractions.
2. A person should be calm before providing food and drink.
3. Make sure a person is positioned properly to allow for safe swallowing.
4. Communicate about the food and temperature of the foods.
5. If a person has difficulty using utensils, try finger foods. Finger foods are prepared so a person can eat with one’s hands. The use of finger foods allows for independence.
6. If finger foods are a problem, feeding may be necessary.
7. Make meals colorful and appealing.
8. Offer small mini-meals throughout the day. Use smaller plates and cups. Too much food on a plate may be overwhelming.
9. Add herbs, spices, chutney, and/or sauces to add flavor.
10. Make sure food and fluids are consumed.
From His Window (song about Alzheimer's disease)
Resource
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer research. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s, and since our founding in 1980, we have moved toward this goal by advancing research and providing support, information and education to those affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Mission: To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
About seventy percent of the cherries produced in the United States come from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. There are two main types of cherries: sweet and sour. Sour cherries are lower in calories and higher in vitamin C and beta-carotene than sweet cherries.
Selection Select firm, red cherries with stems attached. Avoid soft, shriveled, or blemished cherries. Good cherries should be large (one inch or more in diameter), glossy, plump, hard, and dark-colored for their variety. Avoid fruit that is bruised or has cuts on the dark surface.
How to Store Refrigerate cherries for up to 10 days.
Nutrition Benefits Fat-free; saturated fat-free; sodium-free; cholesterol-free; good source of vitamin C; good source of potassium.
Health Benefits
Cancer Sweet cherries have several cancer-preventive components including fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. The potential role of sweet cherries in cancer prevention lies mostly in the anthocyanin content, especially in cyanidin. Sweet cherries are a good source of cyanidins, which appear to act as an antioxidant and may reduce cancer risk.
Cardiovascular Disease Sweet cherries have been shown to have significant levels of anthocyanins as well as other pigments in perhaps smaller concentrations that together provide synergistic effects thought to be protective to heart and related vascular tissue
Diabetes Researchers are interested in the role of anthocyanins in reducing insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. The lower glycemic response shown in relation to cherry consumption may be the result of glucose-lowering effects of cherry phytochemicals in combination with the fiber content of cherries.
Potassium Sweet cherries are considered a good source of dietary potassium, with approximately 260 mg potassium for every cup of fresh cherries consumed. Adequate potassium intake has shown to reduce the risk for hypertension and stroke.
Quercetin Sweet cherries also contain a small amount of quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant which may play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cancer.
Melatonin Cherries are one plant food source of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a role in promoting healthy sleep patterns.
Ease muscle soreness Researchers believe tart cherries’ antioxidants protect against exercise-induced free radicals, which can lead to painful inflammation.
Gout Cherries may help reduce the swelling, inflammation, and tenderness associated with gout. Research reveals eating about 2 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries daily lowered uric acid levels by 15%.
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