People with Alzheimer’s disease do not have special dietary needs, but if they have other diseases, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, then they need a specific diet (a nutritionally balanced diet) and a diet rich in nutrients is important to the patient. Below we share with you the good diet that people with Alzheimer’s disease need and the challenges they face.
Basic Diet
1. Eat a balanced diet. The food eaten by people with Alzheimer’s disease should contain a variety of different foods.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and exercise.
3. limiting the intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol
4. eating less sugar.
5. limiting foods high in sodium and eating less salt
6. Stay hydrated (some patients may have fluid volume restrictions due to other diseases, such as heart failure and cirrhosis of the liver).
Medications
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease should ask their doctor (health care provider) about those foods or liquids (drinks, etc.) that can interfere with the medications they are taking before taking them. Confirm whether the medication being taken will affect your appetite, bowel movements (bowel movements), or other side effects that affect your nutrition. If any of these conditions occur, your doctor may make adjustments to your medication regimen or recommend other medications with fewer side effects.
Preventing constipation
1. To prevent constipation, people with Alzheimer’s disease should eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods are major sources of fiber, which can control constipation.
2. drink plenty of water or other beverages.
3. Keep physically active.
Relieve dry mouth
The body’s response to thirst signals is weakened in Alzheimer’s disease patients. In addition, some medications can make patients feel thirsty. In addition to drinking water, there are a number of other ways to relieve dry mouth or increase body fluids, including
1. softening toast, cookies, crumpets and graham crackers with milk, hot chocolate or tea before eating them.
2. drinking a little water without taking a bite of food to help moisten the mouth and make it easier to swallow.
3. adding broth or sauce to food to soften and moisten it.
4, you can eat some sour candy or fruit ice to stimulate saliva production.
Keeping weight
Malnutrition and weight maintenance are common problems for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Poor nutrition in patients may be related to different reasons, such as reduced hunger or thirst, difficulty chewing and swallowing, difficulty using tools and inability to eat on their own, fewer food choices and depression.
People with Alzheimer’s disease should eat small, frequent meals, take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, and start their meals with foods that are high in nutrients and calories. Also, it is important to keep a good mood at meals and try to eat with others, as this may be encouraging to the patient. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease need to keep their mouths clean.