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Malnutrition is a serious health risk for older Americans,
affecting an estimated one out of four. The diminishing ability
to taste and smell is an often-neglected, yet treatable, factor
in poor nutrition among the elderly.
A decrease in the senses of taste and smell begins around
age 60 and is more pronounced by age 70. The tongue's taste buds
become less sensitive, and the nerves in the nose that register
aromas need extra stimulation to detect mouth-watering smells.
That is why seniors may find that ordinarily seasoned foods taste
bland.
Studies at Duke University indicate that the addition of
flavor intensifiers to ordinary meals can significantly increase
the pleasure of eating. An increase in weight and an improvement
in general health usually follow.
Deteriorating health can further compound a decline in the
sense of taste. This sense is vulnerable to nutritional status.
Malnutrition affects the turnover of the taste bud cells and the
integrity of the types of receptors. This in turn can affect the
sense of taste and lead to further malnutrition. Cancer patients
on chemotherapy or patients recovering from major surgery, for
example, are prone to this cycle.
Medications also account for what one doctor calls "the true
bitterness of old age." The average person 65 years or older
takes three or more drugs. Drugs often are bitter. This
bitterness comes out in the saliva and alters the sense of taste.
Research has uncovered effective, practical strategies to
enhance the appetites of older persons. These tips can provide an
extra boost to flavor and may help increase an older person's
enjoyment and interest in eating.
- Add texture by using crunchy foods.
- Use bacon, cheese or butter flavors and monosodium
glutamate (MSG) to enhance food's flavor.
- When using almond, vanilla or other extracts, try doubling
the amount called for to bring up more flavor.
- Use nectars and jams to make intensely flavored sauces.
For example, boil peach nectar until reduced by about half, then
mix it with flour to thicken as a sauce for chicken or pork.
- Switch foods as you eat. To avoid taste fatigue, eat one
bite of meat, then a bite of vegetable, a bite of bread, etc.
- Combine foods with different temperatures to add a variety
of taste sensations.
- Add more of your favorite herbs and spices to dishes.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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Updated Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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