Have You Got Problems With A Decreased Appetite?
Has your appetite gone on vacation and you cannot wait until it comes back? This happens to many people living in our society today. Here are some chronic diseases that can affect your appetite loss, i.e., liver disease, kidney failure, COPD, dementia, depression, heart failure, hepatitis and hypothyroidism.
Illnesses can affect a person’s appetite – did you know, almost any illness can affect your appetite? If the illness is treatable, your appetite will probably return once the illness is cured. But there are a lot of chronic conditions such as listed above that can affect your appetite on a long-term basis.
Other factors can also be responsible too, “Some drugs can cause a change in sense of taste or smell, gastric upset, or delayed stomach emptying, any of which can affect your desire for food, according to Deborah Kauffmann, R.D., L.D.N., a consulting dietitian in Baltimore, Maryland.
I never knew this, but according Thomas Morris, D.O, some herbal and vitamin supplements can cause a loss of appetite. Morris says, a person should talk to their doctor to see if their medications can be adjusted.
According to Kauffman, aging changes may cause a diminished ability to taste or smell. Also, foods may not taste the same either, or you may dislike something you use to enjoy. There are also other things that can affect your eating habits, I.e., dental problems or poor fitting dentures.
According to Morris, a glass of orange juice the first thing in the mornings on an empty stomach, can affect your appetite for the rest of your day. Also, caffeine can also be a culprit, as can an erratic snacking schedule.
Reinvigorate your desire for food – loss of your appetite can cause unintentional weight loss, regardless of why you’re eating less, make sure you’re getting enough nutrients to stay healthy.
According to Kauffman, you can choose foods that are high in calories or try nutritional supplements. Eating small frequent meals throughout the day and eating with other can make foods more appealing to you. Seasonings, approved by your doctor, I.e., salt, spices, sugar, unsaturated fat, may also add flavor to your food.
Morris indicated, many people unnecessarily restricts themselves from having foods such as deserts, and your doctor can tell you what you can safely indulge in without aggravating your health conditions
Morris also stated, one of the best things a person can do is to do something to stimulate your appetite by getting out and moving. Indicating also, there are some appetite stimulating medications available, but they may have adverse effects for many people.
If a person has a problem getting out to do their shopping for their food to prepare, you can shop on line and have the groceries delivered to your home. If you also have problems preparing your food, buy those foods that are easy to prepare, Kauffmann suggested.
Eating Disorders – Many older adults experience eating disorders, and with other bodily changes, there comes: wrinkles, gray hair, weight gain, etc. and a lot of people have problems accepting this. Many people who are in their middle age or later, suffer life stresses brought on by changes in their health, daily functioning, retirement issues, or death of a spouse of a dear friend…all of these can result in eating disorders.
Reference:
Erickson Living Newspaper (Greenspring), by Lisa M. Davila