This\nBlog however is geared towards the practicalities of delivering healthy,\nappetising food, snacks and beverages based on solid nutritional principles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part\n1<\/strong> will focus on the rationale behind some of these\nimportant principles. Part 2<\/strong> will offer some practical suggestions and Part\n3<\/strong> will look at other simple strategies beyond nutrition for enhancing well\nbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Personalised\nmeal plans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The overarching theme that emerged from the interviews\nand focus groups undertaken by Quality Compliance Systems was person-centred\nnutritional care and individualised meal plans. https:\/\/www.qcs.co.uk\/improving-nutrition-dementia-care\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This requires understanding the importance of each dementia stage and the impact on eating and drinking. As\ndementia progresses, there can be a reduced comprehension of mealtimes whether\nthat\u2019s with the crockery used, or the environment in which meals are eaten.\nFurthermore swallowing ability can deteriorate as disease progresses. In Part 2\nof this blog series I shall address the issues around dysphagia more\nspecifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the technical aspects associated with\ndisease progression there are the social and life history elements which are\nvery important. A regularly updated part of their care plan must take into\naccount their personal preferences and favourite foods which are likely to be\nthose they remember from their youth or childhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finger food has been identified as a practical way to overcome the difficulties of managing cutlery etc. as well as providing an attractive presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus\non fresh. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fresh\nfruit and vegetables are important in so many ways for the elderly and those\nwho are confused, forgetful or otherwise cognitively impaired. The fibre alone\nis crucial for bowel health and maintaining regular bowel habits as well as\ncontributing to overall hydration. Fibre can also help stabilise blood sugar\nlevels. An added benefit of fibre is that the indigestible cellulose fibres and\nthe sugars in them feed the healthy bacteria that colonise the gut. These are\nknown as Prebiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a\ngeneral rule dark fruits and dark green vegetables are the best source of\nvitamins and nutrients. Soft fruit such\nas blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, cherries (de-stoned) are\nexcellent and do not contain high levels of sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Veggies\nsuch as spinach, greens, kale, rocket, watercress and Swiss chard are all great\nsources of magnesium and folate, or Vitamin B9, which is shown to improve\ncognition in older adults. Folate can also help ward off depression (a common\ndementia side-affect) by contributing to serotonin levels. (Serotonin is\nrequired for good sleep and is one of the \u2018happy chemicals in the brain). The Vitamin E<\/a>\nin leafy green vegetables has also shown positive affects on the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cruciferous\nVegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage and brussel sprouts\nhelp retain memory. They contain carotenoids and folate, which lower levels of\nhomocysteine, an amino acid linked with cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just\na little sweetness<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone\nloves a little sweet treat every now and then but a diet too high in sugar can\nlead to cognitive impairment. Processed sugary foods are implicated in many\ninflammatory conditions. Increasingly researchers and scientists are realising\nthat Alzheimer\u2019s and Dementia are strongly linked to diabetes and insulin resistance.\nSome even calling these conditions \u2018diabetes of the brain\u2019. The best advice is\nto reduce the amount of sugar in the diet to a minimum, especially added sugar\nin drinks, commercial biscuits etc. However a little sweetness in the form of\nhome baked food treats, fresh berries, dark chocolate will be important\ncomponents of a healthy balanced diet. Not to mention the enjoyment and\npleasure of such foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy\nfats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Good\nquality fats are essential for optimal brain and nervous system function. In\nspite of the rights and wrongs of the low fat advice these last 4-5 decades no\none can dispute that for this population group of vulnerable people good\nquality, healthy fat provides food for their brains and maximum calories for\ntheir whole body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy\nFats would include : Whole milk, Butter, Avocados, Olive Oil, Eggs, Dark\nChocolate, Coconut oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coconut\noil is an amazing oil and has particular properties due to its unique structure\n(medium chain triglycerides or MCT) which are very beneficial to the brain. Dr\nMary Newport (see YouTube link) below has done much work in this field since\nher own husband who had developed early onset dementia was greatly helped by\ncoconut oil in his latter years of the disease. The short clip below is both\ninformative and inspiring. Coconut oil can easily be added to most foods\nespecially hot food: porridge, soup, stews, etc. It can be used instead of\nvegetable oils for frying. It can be used instead of butter in baking. It\u2019s\nvery versatile. The advice is start small, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day and\ngradually work up to 1tablespoon 3 times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some links to more information on the benefits of\ncoconut oil for people with Dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Mary Newport. \nhttps:\/\/m.youtube.com\/watch?v=8DfZnS4hYBs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr\nBruce Fife has written extensively on the many health benefits of coconut oil<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.naturalnews.com\/039388_coconut_oil_dementia_Alzheimers_disease.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Protein\nfor power and strength<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another\nimportant part of a healthy balanced diet is eating enough protein. Protein\nbuilds and maintains muscle, which is crucial at every stage of the life span.\nResearchers at Texas University (7) found that consuming enough protein\nmay prevent or delay some of the declines in muscle tone associated with\nageing. As a result, protein is one of the most important components of cultivating\na healthy diet for the elderly and especially so for those coping with\nconfusion and dementia<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eggs\nfor example, are a highly versatile, rich source of protein and nutrients. They\nare cost effective and can be prepared\nin so many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers have confirmed the important role that fortified oral\nnutrient supplements (ONS) can play in providing people with dementia adequate\nsupplies of energy and essential nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding extra nutrients like coconut oil (above) or the contents of a\nprobiotic capsule will greatly enhance the overall effectiveness of the liquid\nsupplement. Using ONS as a basis for smoothies provides the opportunity of\nadding in fresh fruit and fibre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A meta-analysis by Alen et al. (2013) (8) stated that malnutrition\nis the most prevalent nutritional status in people diagnosed with dementia and\ntherefore the use of ONS is encouraged in order to promote weight gain and\nmuscle strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DHA\n(Fish Oils<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\ngroup of oils worthy of mention in their own right. DHA from fish oil, krill\noil or cod liver oil is crucial for optimal brain function. Other benefits\ninclude reducing inflammation in the body. It is becoming more widely\nrecognised that underlying inflammation is implicated in many chronic health\nconditions, especially Dementia, Alzheimer\u2019s and Diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\ngood quality fish oil supplement is essential as many of the cheaper poorer\nbrands are contaminated with high levels of mercury and other toxins. Look for\nbrands that have excellent filtration processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Probiotics<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing\nclients with a wide spectrum of probiotics could have numerous benefits and\nrelated impact on their cognitive abilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bacteria and yeasts in the gut, known as the gut microbiome, are\nincreasingly seen as key players in serious and chronic neurodegenerative\ndiseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientists\nare finding evidence that the microbiome may play a role not just in Alzheimer\u2019s\ndisease, but Parkinson\u2019s disease, Depression, Schizophrenia, Autism and other\nconditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As\nrecent studies have been revealing, these \u201cgut bugs\u201d do more than aid\ndigestion. They appear to affect a range of bodily functions, from immune\ndefence to the production of vitamins, anti-inflammatory compounds and even\nchemicals that relay messages among brain cells.(4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n One\nstudy demonstrates a clear relationship between the gut microbiome and dementia\nin Japanese patients. Further analysis of differences in the composition of\nthe microbiome will be important to\nclarify the gut-brain connection. However their results are consistent with the\nhypothesis that gut microbes are involved in the development of Dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare many ways of adding in probiotics to the diet. Yakult is one of the easiest\nand also bio Yoghurts as they are readily available. However neither of these\nhave a wide range of bacterial strains. Yeo Valley now make a Kefir (flavoured\nor unflavoured) in their yoghurt range which contains 14 strains of good\nbacteria. Probiotic capsules are easy and convenient. The contents of a capsule\ncan be sprinkled on food. Look for ones with 14 strains or more, at least 5\nbillion. A very good probiotic powder, new on the market, is –<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/proriskcare.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image.png\")
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