The IDEA Publishing
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt
The_Senior_Living_IDEA
The Senior Living IDEA

The Senior Living IDEA

New Ideas and Good Advice to Make Your Golden Years Your Best Years!
   

Tips for caretakers to help their loved one get better nutrition

6/15/2016

Comments

 

This article addresses the four common barriers to good nutrition, why they happen and some solutions to keep in mind. Arming yourself with knowledge and preparation, while also maintaining a sense of normalcy around food, will allow you to be a huge source of support for your loved one, helping him or her stay on track.


Picture

(BPT) - When a patient is battling cancer, good nutrition is essential to maintain physical strength and help ensure a better response to treatment. Foods high in protein are an important part of your loved one’s balanced diet, and helping them eat well is a critical investment in their health and well-being.

That said, there may be obstacles to good nutrition during cancer treatment such as mouth pain, fatigue, taste sensitivities and nausea. If eating and drinking are painful or unpleasant, it’s easy to see how maintaining good nutrition could be a challenge. This can lead to a chain reaction of complications and a longer recovery time.

"Most cancer patients are too tired to make a meal, or even shop for it. Yet the importance of good, consistent nutrition can't be overstated," said Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, physician and chairman of the Cancer Nutrition Consortium (CNC), a nutrition resource to help patients overcome the barriers to eating and get the nutrients they need, including proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Below are four common barriers to good nutrition, why they happen and some solutions to keep in mind. Arming yourself with knowledge and preparation, while also maintaining a sense of normalcy around food, will allow you to be a huge source of support for your loved one, helping him or her stay on track.

1. Fatigue

Many cancer patients identified themselves as the main food preparer in their household, in a survey conducted by the CNC. On good days, your loved one may be in the kitchen, preparing and enjoying a tasty bean and vegetable soup from scratch. However, some days they might feel too tired to fix a meal. A lack of food can lead to even more fatigue, and that can trigger a downward spiral.

Keep a stock of nutrient- and protein-rich foods on hand for the too-tired days. One option is HORMEL VITAL CUISINE products, a line of power-packed drinks and packaged foods designed by nutritionists, physicians and chefs to fill a void and support the nutritional needs of cancer patients, while battling common barriers to good nutrition.

2. Mouth pain/trouble swallowing


Run your tongue along your inner cheek and gums. Those are brand new cells made by the body. Because chemotherapy and radiation damage cells, these mouth cells are often a casualty during treatment, resulting in sores that make it uncomfortable or even painful to eat.

Avoid tart and acidic foods that can irritate the mouth, such as citrus fruits and tomato sauces.

Steering clear of hard foods with rough edges, such as crackers, is also wise. Soft, easy-to-swallow foods are good options, such as eggs, bean soups or smoothies.

3. Taste sensitivities

Again, the disruption to the rapidly dividing cells inside the mouth can alter the flavor of food. Patients often experience a metallic taste, but sometimes, flavor components that are salty or bitter can intensify — unpleasantly so. Radiation can also damage saliva glands.

When foods taste bitter, metallic or too salty, try a sweeter approach and marinate meats in a sweet or sour sauce, fruit juice or a honey-lemon vinaigrette. If a food is too sweet, add salt or dilute it in water. Stimulate the taste buds and saliva glands with sour foods: avoid pickles, but try wholesome options such as Greek yogurt, kefir or tart cherries.

4. Nausea and vomiting


Besides being a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation, cancer patients are often plagued with a condition called anticipatory nausea. That is, certain settings or circumstances, such as entering a treatment room, can make your loved one feel ill. Be aware of triggers and respect them, taking advantage of nausea-free days.

Encourage fluid intake in between meals rather than with meals, to leave room in the stomach for food. A few hours before radiation or chemotherapy, prepare a light snack or meal to get nutrients and protein into the body. If the doctor prescribes an anti-nausea drug, keep close tabs on how well it’s working, advocating for alternatives if needed.


Picture
  • BPT
  • Brandpoint Content
  • cancer
  • caregivers
  • chemotherapy
  • diet
  • eating
  • hospice
  • nausea
  • nutrition
  • pain
  • pain management
  • radiation
  • recovery
  • treatment options
  • tumor
  • vomiting

   
Comments



    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016


    Interested in Publishing on The Senior Living Idea?
    Send your query to the Publisher today!

    Categories

    All
    65
    AARP
    Abuse
    Access
    Accessibility
    Accidents
    Accomodations
    Active Lifestyle
    Active Seniors
    Activities
    Activity
    Activity Level
    Adult Children
    Adult Diapers
    Advice
    Age
    Age In Place
    Aging
    Aging In Place
    Aging Parents
    Alzheimers
    Alzheimer's Association
    Alzheimer's Disease
    American Geriatrics Society
    Ancestor
    Ancestory
    Ankle
    Anxiety
    Appetite
    Appetites
    Art
    Arthritis
    Assets
    Assisted Living
    Attitude
    Balance
    Bath
    Bathing
    Bathroom
    Bills
    Bladder
    Bladder Control
    Blood Pressure
    Book
    Bowel
    Bowels
    BPT
    Brain
    Brain Games
    Brain Health
    Brandpoint Content
    Budget
    Calories
    Cancer
    Cane
    Cardio
    Care
    Caregiver
    Caregivers
    Caregiving
    Cat
    Cats
    Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
    Chemotherapy
    Chewing
    Cholesterol
    Christmas
    Chronic
    Chronic Illness
    Clutter
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Functioning
    Companionship
    Compansionship
    Computer
    Consumer Product Safety Commission
    Continence
    Conversation
    Cooking
    Copay
    Copays
    Coping
    Costs
    Crafts
    Creativity
    Crime
    Criminal
    Cybercrime
    Deaths
    Dementia
    Depression
    Diabetes
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Digestive Issues
    Disability
    Disease
    DNA
    DNA Testing
    Doctor
    Doctors
    Dog
    Dogs
    Doors
    Dopamine
    Dress
    Drivers
    Driving
    Drugs
    Eating
    Economic Impact
    Economics
    ED
    Education
    Eldercare
    Elderly
    Elimination
    Emergency Room
    Emotional
    Emotions
    Energy
    Enrollment
    Entertainment
    Erectile Dysfunction
    Estate
    Estate Planning
    Exercise
    Exercising
    Expectations
    Expenses
    Experts
    Eye Health
    Eyes
    Eyesight
    Fall
    Fall Prevention
    Fall Risk
    Falls
    Family
    Family Features
    Family Finances
    Family History
    Family Tree
    Fashion
    Federal
    Federal Government
    Finances
    Financial Planning
    Fitness
    Foot
    Formulary
    Fraud
    Friends
    Friendships
    Furniture
    Generations
    Genetic
    Genetic Testing
    Geriatricians
    Geriatrics
    Government
    Grandchild
    Grandchildren
    Grandparent
    Grandparenting
    Grandparents
    Guests
    Guide
    Hacks
    Handrails
    Happiness
    Head
    Head Trauma
    Health
    Healthcare
    Health Care
    Health Insurance
    Healthy Living
    Hearing
    Hearing Loss
    Heart Health
    Helping
    High Blood Pressure
    Hip
    History
    Holidays
    Home
    Home Care
    Home Improvement
    Hormones
    Hospice
    Hospital
    House
    Hypertension
    Identity Theft
    Idependence
    Illness
    Income
    Incontienence
    Incontinence
    Independence
    Infographic
    Injury
    Insurance
    Interval Training
    Intestinal
    Investing
    Investments
    Kidney
    Kitchen
    Law
    Learning
    Leg
    Legal
    Life
    Lifehacks
    Life Insurance
    Lifestyle
    Light
    Lighting
    Lights
    Lineage
    Listening
    Living Well
    Loneliness
    Longevity
    Long-term Care
    Macular Degeneration
    Mayo Clinic
    Meals
    Medicaid
    Medical
    Medical Research
    Medicare
    Medication
    Medications
    Medicine
    Medium
    Memories
    Memory
    Mental
    Mental Health
    Mentality
    Mentoring
    Mobility
    Money
    Morbidity
    Multigenerational
    Music
    National Council On Aging
    Nausea
    Neurology
    Nursing Home
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Open Enrollment
    Oral Health
    Osteoarthritis
    Outdoors
    Outlook
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Parents
    Parking
    Parkinson's
    Parkinson's Disease
    Part D
    Patient
    Patients
    Personal
    Personal Finances
    Personal Sceurity
    Pet
    Pets
    Pharmaceuticals
    Pharmacies
    Pharmacy
    Physical Activity
    Physician
    Physicians
    Plans
    Portfolio
    Premiums
    Prescription Drugs
    Prescriptions
    Prevention
    Primary Care
    Promotions
    Protein
    Psychiatry
    Psychology
    Quality
    Quality Of Life
    Questions
    Radiation
    Ramps
    Read
    Reading
    Recovery
    Relatives
    Remodel
    Remodeling
    Renovation
    Research
    Resources
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Retirement
    Retirement Income
    Retirement Planning
    Risk
    Risk Factors
    Routine
    Running
    Safety
    Salt
    Sandwich Generation
    Savings
    Scam
    Scammers
    Schedule
    Security
    Senior Centers
    Senior Citizen
    Senior Citizens
    Seniors
    Serotonin
    Service
    Sex
    Sexual Health
    Shoes
    Sibling
    Siblings
    Side Effects
    Sight
    Single-story Living
    Sleep
    Sleeping
    Social
    Social Security
    Songs
    Specialist
    Specialists
    Specialty Care
    Speech
    Stairs
    Steps
    Strength
    Strength Training
    Stress
    Style
    Supplements
    Support
    Survey
    Swallowing
    Symtoms
    Testing
    Testosterone
    Theft
    Thinking
    Time
    Tip
    Tips
    Toilet
    Traditions
    Transportation
    Travel
    Treatment Options
    Tumor
    Urinary Tract
    Urination
    Urine
    Vehicles
    Victim
    Victims
    Vision
    Visirors
    Visit
    Visits
    Visting
    Vitamins
    Volunteer
    Volunteering
    Volunteer Work
    Vomiting
    Walk
    Walker
    Walking
    Wandering
    Washington
    Washington DC
    Weight Training
    Well-being
    Wellness
    Wheelchairs
    Widow
    Widower
    Women
    Workout
    Writing






    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt