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We have always heard the phrase ‘eat your vegetables’, the reason why we always have to eat our vegetables is for the sole reason that it’s healthy for us. But it’s not just healthy for our physical requirements, but it’s also good for our brain.
For elderly residents it’s even more important to maintain a healthy brain and these foods will allow you to do that.
So what foods should we avoid?
Evidence has suggest that chronic inflammation is one possible contributor to cognitive decline and dementia.
Food that can cause this includes fast food, take-away, commercial cakes, pasteries, snack bars and confectionery.
This is because these types of food have undergone the most changes from their original form before being eaten and if we’re being honest…we knew these things weren’t healthy for us in the first place.
So in contrast the healthy foods?
Nuts and seeds as well as the oils made from them along with oily fish and vegetables, fruits, wholegrains etc. so essentially foods that are close to their original forms as possible.
However eating well isn’t the only way to stave off dementia. Staying exercising both physically and mentally, as well as keeping up those social networks, can help in reducing the risk of dementia.
Unfortunately beyond that, in middle age do all you can to build muscle strength and lose excess weight as in later stages weigh loss is no longer ideal.
It is also imperative that people do not lose weigh if they are diagnosed with dementia as 50%, half, of all those diagnosed have lost weight in the years prior.
If allowed to continue without stopping then they will decline physically as well as mentally more quickly.
Other than avoiding weight loss it is suggested that flexible dining options are available as much as possible on special days, such as barbeques, themed meals and birthdays.
Those suffering from dementia may not eat the food in front of them, but this does not mean that they are not hungry. Creative ways to help residents eat meals and snacks should be used to keep them eating.
Examples include a ‘family’ style environment that isn’t cluttered or full of distractions like medication trolleys can help them remember cues to eating as well as opportunities for mimicry of use of cutlery.
Finger food can also be used for when they just want to eat on the go along with other reminders and prompts such as their favourite food.
It is also good to remember that dementia is a life-limiting illness as is frailty in advanced ages, in such cases there is no need to restrict any foods that are considered unhealthy if they enjoy it. The only exception is if there are swallowing issues which in that case investigate appealing texture modification options.