In addition to the negative effects on the quality of life of the patient and his/her family, dementia has a heavy financial and social burden. So far, no definitive cure has been found for this disease, but some prevention and management methods, especially during middle age (45 to 65 years old), can slow its progress and reduce its symptoms. One of these methods is proper nutrition and food for Alzheimer’s patients. Research has shown that some foods like finger foods for the elderly can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or improve the cognitive performance of patients. In this article from humanhealthmag, we will review easy recipes for seniors with dementia and how to use them.
Nutritional Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease
The brain is the most complex organ in the body. There is a direct relationship between the foods we eat and brain function. Choosing nutritious and useful ingedients for the brain can affect the brain in different ways. Having a healthy diet increases the production of neurons in the brain. What we eat also affects synaptic flexibility.
Since the neurons in the gut and the brain are connected, it’s no surprise that eating an unhealthy diet can cause problems with cognitive functions such as remembering, learning, and thinking. Therefore, it is always recommended to use useful substances such as omega-3 fatty acids in the nutrition of people with dementia to protect the brain.
Before we talk about easy recipes for seniors with dementia, we need to remind some food considerations. Instead of eating three relatively good and complete meals throughout the day, it is better for elderly people with Alzheimer’s to regularly eat smaller meals and snacks. One of the principles of proper nutrition for Alzheimer’s patients that doctors emphasize is to break the meal into separate and smaller meals. Each meal should be nutrient-dense.
For example, elderly loved ones may eat a bowl of oatmeal with milk and fresh pieces of fruit first thing in the morning. Then, after a few hours, they should eat a handful of nuts along with an egg and some fruit. Your elderly loved one may have a weak taste bud, which is a factor in his/her anorexia; In this case, use dips, sauces and seasonings to increase the meal appeal. In your opinion, how long can elderly live without food and water? We recommend reading this article, it is very interesting!
9 Essential Ingredients that Must Use in Easy Recipes for Seniors with Dementia
Proper nutrition is necessary to strengthen and keep the body healthy. The nutrition of Alzheimer’s patients becomes doubly important because if it is inappropriate, it can cause behavioral symptoms and weight loss in the affected person. Consuming nutritious foods helps strengthen the health of a person with dementia and slows down the progression of the disease.
Alzheimer’s patients should follow a balanced and nutritious diet that will help boost their cognitive and general health. In the following, we describe 9 essential ingredients that must use in easy recipes for seniors with dementia.
- Berries
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and other berries are rich in antioxidants that fight harmful free radicals and boost brain power.
- Salmon
Another type of dementia friendly cooking recipes is salmon and other fatty fish containing omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and protect nerve cells.
- Olive oil
Olive Oil is one of the most important ingredients for simple recipes for seniors who have Alzheimer’s. It is a major component of the Mediterranean diet that has been linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Olive oil contains unsaturated fats and antioxidants that help protect the brain. Of course, the benefits of olives are not only for prevention! Those who used olive oil in their salad saw a 30-40% improvement in the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Savoy Cabbage and Spinach
Low consumption of green vegetables causes a drop in folic acid in the blood and blood clots in the capillaries of the brain. This damage to the brain tissue, which leads to forgetfulness. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Kale, and broccoli reduce the speed of memory loss and thinking power. Green leafy vegetables are rich in folate, vitamins A, C, and K, and antioxidants that help improve cognitive function and reduce brain inflammation.
- Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a spice used in Indian cooking and other Asian cuisines. Maple syrup contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight free radicals, reduce inflammation, and prevent the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s. It is used as food for Alzheimer patients.
- Walnuts and Nuts
Walnut is a brain food that has a lot of Omega-3. It is interesting to know that the antioxidants of walnuts are the most among nuts. So, using walnuts in easy recipes for seniors with dementia can be useful. Of course, other nuts found in nuts such as almonds, which contain omega-3, are useful for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Almond skin contains vitamin E. This vitamin is one of the types of antioxidants.
- Chocolate
Daily consumption of chocolate helps improve brain activity and is effective in improving mild mental disabilities. Flavanols in cocoa, especially dark chocolate, are very effective in preventing memory loss and Alzheimer’s.
- Soybeans
Soybean is among the important ingredients used in easy & nutritious meals for dementia patients. Soybean is the king of lecithin. Because the quality of lecithin obtained from soybeans is better and higher than other ingredients. The brain needs acetylcholine, which comes from lecithin, to carry out its normal activities. If we eat enough foods containing lecithin in our youth, we will get Alzheimer’s much less than others!
- Eat one apple a day
The main cause of Alzheimer’s disease is oxidizing free radicals, which are produced more with age. There is an antioxidant substance called quercetin in apples, the largest amount of which is hidden in its skin. Red apples have more antioxidants than yellow and green apples.
List of Harmful Foods Older Adults with Dementia Should Avoid
Research shows that the diet of Alzheimer’s patients can play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Some foods can cause inflammation and damage to brain cells, while others can help protect the brain from this damage. In the previous section, we introduced 8 essential ingredients that must be used in easy recipes for seniors with dementia. In this section, we want to list harmful foods for Alzheimer’s patients that should not be used in the meals of these patients.
- Processed foods: usually contain high amounts of saturated fat, sugar, and salt, and can cause inflammation and damage to brain cells.
- Foods rich in saturated and trans fats: can increase cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, which is one of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Foods rich in sugar: can increase blood sugar levels and damage brain cells.
- Foods high in salt: can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
- Alcohol: can cause inflammation and damage to brain cells.
- Smoking: Smokers with diabetes and high blood pressure are at risk of heart attack and cerebrovascular.
Easy Recipes for Seniors with Dementia: Additional Tips
A healthy diet for Dementia patients should include a variety of nutritious foods that help maintain and improve brain and body function. Some additional points that you can consider for easy recipes for seniors with dementia are:
- Avoid or minimize the consumption of red meat, butter, cheese, sugar, salt, and fried and fast food.
- To protect the brain and reduce inflammation, use more of these ingredients: fish, nuts, olive oil, green tea, beets, maple syrup, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, kale, spinach, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, Sunflower & pumpkin seeds, brown rice, oats, whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta, beans, lentils, berries and other foods containing antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, nitrates, curcumin, folate, vitamins and minerals
- Take advantage of the consumption of prebiotics and probiotics to strengthen the health of the gut and the immune system and their connection with brain health.
- Use supplements such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, choline, octyl L-carnitine, ginkgo biloba, coenzyme Q10, quercetin, rosemary, and ginger to improve cognitive function and reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms in consultation with your healthcare professional.
- Make sure to consume enough water and fluids to hydrate the body and prevent dry mouth and muscle cramps.
Concluding Remarks
Easy recipes for seniors with dementia should include a balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean protein foods with a variety of healthy and nutritious foods. In addition to consuming nutrients, avoiding some harmful foods such as alcoholic beverages, high-fat foods, salt, and smoking can be effective in reducing the incidence of dementia.
In this article, we read that Alzheimer’s patients need attention and care. Let us treat them with kindness and patience and support them. By observing the proper diet and knowing the food of Alzheimer’s patients for them, we can reduce the symptoms of the disease and increase their quality of life.
FAQs
What Are the Best Ingredients that Include in Easy Recipes for Seniors with Dementia?
The best foods for Alzheimer’s patients include a basic diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The ingredients that must be included in the diet of Alzheimer’s patients include the following:
- Beans, nuts, seeds and legumes
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Colorful fruits and vegetables
- Cocoa, coffee and tea
- fish
- Leafy green vegetables
- Probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, cottage cheese, etc.
- Edible mushrooms
What Are the Worst Ingredients that Avoid in Easy Recipes for Seniors with Dementia?
The worst foods for Alzheimer’s people that lead to an increase in the disease in them include the following:
- Red meat (reduce meat consumption to 2 times a week)
- Refined carbohydrates, a diet rich in starch and sugar
- Fatty and high cholesterol foods
- Gluten (foods such as cakes and pastries, white bread, chips, candy, pretzels, processed foods, etc.)
What Are the Best Drinks for People with Alzheimer’s?
There are many drinks that prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s. 5 of the best drinks that can be included in easy recipes for seniors with dementia include the following:
- green tea
- orange juice
- Blueberry juice
- Green smoothies
- coffee