Alzheimer’s and Nutrition

How to Eat Well With Alzheimer’s Disease?
There’s no specific diet for people with Alzheimer’s disease, but good nutrition can ease some symptoms and help them feel good. When you’re caring for someone with the condition, there are simple ways you can make eating healthier.

Some basic things to be noted are;-

• Eat a variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.
• Limit foods with high saturated fat and cholesterol, like fatty meats and fried foods
• Cut down direct sugar.
• Avoid eating too much salt.
• Keep a healthy weight. Proper portion sizes and exercise are important.
• Drink plenty of water

The medications may affect the eating habits badly sometimes like changes in bowel movement and lack of appetite. Most of the patient feels to not eat the food properly and they feel dryness inside mouth. So the people living with them should care for their nutrition. Give plenty of water as the brain is affected, they can’t feel they are thirsty. Many people turn to skinny due to the poor eating . It’s all because their brain is not getting signals of feeling hungry not because that they don’t need food. So to overcome from this condition, good nutrition should be provided to make them healthy inside. Some of the dietary tips for them are ;-

1. Provide them smaller meals or healthy snacks more often. Eating five or six times a day may be easier than getting the same amount of food in three meals.
2.Give them multivitamin tablets to prevent from deficiency.
3.Provide more nutritious, high calorie foods in the meal .
4.Prepare things that are easy to eat. Good options are bite-sized finger foods, like chicken nuggets, sandwiches, orange slices, and steamed broccoli or salads etc..
5.Make meals enjoyable. If lunch or dinner is a social event, they may look forward to it and eat better.
6.Foods that are trouble chewing or swallowing should not be given.
7.Use utensils or dishes that are easier to handle. A spoon and bowl may be better than a plate.

Exercise can boost appetite. Go for a evening walk with them and makes them do any activities. Quit smoking, exercising regularly, eating a plant-based diet, consuming more antioxidants, maintaining an active social life are some of the changes which can be done in their lifestyle. Not feeling hungry and weight changes can also be signs of depression. So provide a good meal plan and find ways to make eating healthy and easy for your loved one.