Originally published June 19 2005
Elderly couples less likely to consume nutritional foods
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Nutritionists are seeing a decline in the amount of nutritional food consumed as Americans age, the Kansas City Star reports, and experts advise caregivers to help elderly people buy foods that have as much nutrition in them as possible in small servings.
Madeline Thompson was a home economist who cooked three square meals a day for her family in Springfield, Ill.
But as she and her husband aged, they lost their appetites.
Depression, dementia and other health problems followed.
The couple, now 89 and 90, did not complain, but their daughter noticed.
"They started out with a great breakfast, but as the day wore on, they'd eat very little: half a sandwich, half a banana, a glass of milk.
They were not eating healthy," said Jan Winter, who eventually moved her parents to a nursing home near her in St. Louis.
They are better nourished now with round-the-clock care and are more interested in eating when Winter brings them to her house for Sunday dinners or takes them out to an ice-cream parlor.
But proper nutrition and hydration continue to be a challenge.
The Thompsons are typical of elderly people who curtail eating for reasons as varied as poor-fitting dentures to pain to loneliness.
Experts say depression is the leading cause of poor nutrition and should be treated.
Despite conventional wisdom, weight loss is not a normal part of aging.
"They're not supposed to wither before they die," said Margaret-Mary Wilson, who teaches and researches geriatric medicine at St. Louis University.
Moores recommends fortified, ready-to-eat cereals and powdered instant breakfast drinks.
She said liquid supplements are nutritionally comparable but often have an unpleasant medicinal taste.
Many older people lose their appetites or have trouble eating because of dental or other health problems.
Blend the dry milk well to avoid graininess.
� Colorful fruits such as watermelon, mandarins, apples, oranges, mangos cut into bite-size chunks, the brighter in color the better.
� Dark green spinach, green beans and tender lettuce, as well as beans.
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