16 ways to increase appetite in an adult

What to do if you lose your appetite? Lack of appetite has always been considered a painful human condition.

Yes, indeed, if a person has lost his appetite, this always indicates the presence of some kind of problem. Be it physical or psychological. When someone loses their appetite, you need to be wary. If he is gone for one or two days and such episodes are rare enough, then there is no need to worry. However, if it does not return within 5-7 days, then you need to pay special attention to this and go to the doctor. In this regard, the question always arises: which doctor should I contact when my appetite disappears?

Common causes of lack of appetite

It is quite difficult to determine the specific cause of lack of appetite in an elderly person. Most likely, there are several such reasons. Among them are the following:

1. pneumonia, influenza, infectious diseases;
2. diseases of the heart and vascular system;
3. cirrhosis or kidney failure;
4. oncological diseases;
5. inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract;
6. autoimmune diseases;
7. diabetes mellitus and endocrine system problems;
8. mental disorders;
9. some types of dementia;
10. side effects of taking certain medications.

This list cannot be considered exhaustive. Often, poor appetite is associated with excessive consumption of sweets or heavy, fatty foods, bad habits and poor lifestyle. It is often simply impossible to single out one of the main reasons from this list.

Consequences of poor appetite

In old age, it is especially important to get the necessary microelements from food. Poor appetite leads to the fact that an elderly person practically stops eating, without feeling the natural need for it. This is fraught with the appearance of the following symptoms:

1. gradual and significant weight loss;
2. disruptions in the functioning of internal organs and the brain;
3. decreased muscle activity and loss of strength;
4. problems with musculoskeletal functions.

Anorexia is a critical condition. This disorder is diagnosed in pensioners quite often. Without feeling hungry, a person simply does not eat. He feels no pain, but the weight loss can be fatal. From the outside it may seem that the pensioner is starving himself. But that's not true. He simply has no need for food. In this case, several specialists should help. You should contact a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and, of course, a psychotherapist.

Help of medicinal plants and herbal collections

Bitter herbs (bitters) are used to increase appetite. You can buy them at any pharmacy. Before taking it, it is recommended to consult with your doctor to rule out side effects. They irritate the gastric mucosa and cause a reflex release of gastric juice.

Before meals, take tinctures and decoctions of the following herbs:

• bitter tincture;
• calamus rhizome;
• dandelion root;
• centaury grass;
• Montana;
• belladonna;
• wormwood.

Bitterness is present in the composition of the appetizing collection, in the preparations Vitaon and Aristochol, in stomach tablets with belladonna extract.

The above herbs increase the feeling of hunger, have a choleretic effect, and relieve inflammation.

Since bitterness causes the secretion of gastric juice, it is forbidden to take them for gastritis and ulcers.

Additionally, you can take: juniper, barberry, black currant, anise seeds, cumin, sea buckthorn. Chicory, yellow gentian, and plantain have a stronger effect.

Honey, propolis and beebread will help replenish the body with essential minerals and vitamins, which will lead to proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Tests that must be taken

To clarify the cause of weight loss, it is necessary to undergo an analytical study. The specialist will give you a referral for tests to determine different types of diseases. The blood will show the presence of liver disease, diabetes or hormonal imbalances in the body. A urine test is prescribed if an inflammatory process in the kidneys is suspected. A chest x-ray can help detect lung cancer or incipient pneumonia. In addition, medical procedures will be prescribed:

1. Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
2. barium enema;
3. liver and kidney function testing;
4. studies of thyroid hormones.

Prolonged lack of appetite leads to exhaustion of the body. The manifestation of a lack of vitamins and microelements necessary for the life and functioning of organs is expressed in a violation of their functions. Thus, in an elderly person who eats poorly and suffers from diabetes, vision declines faster and the functioning of the urinary system is disrupted.

Predisposing factors for poor appetite

Appetite is also affected by other factors, related or unrelated to any disease:

• Taking medications;
• Psychological problems, severe stress (loss of appetite due to depression);
• Medical procedures and manipulations;
• Eating environment;
• Some physiological conditions (loss of appetite during pregnancy);
• Quality and appearance of food (food can be disgusting if there are negative associations);
• Alcohol abuse, drug addiction.

Ways to increase appetite

To restore a healthy appetite, you shouldn’t just force a pensioner to eat. You need to understand what symptoms bother him and prevent him from feeling hungry.

Often older people complain of nausea. In this case, it is necessary to use medications that relieve it. If dementia is diagnosed, the specialist will prescribe artificial nutrition procedures using a gastronomic tube to introduce high-calorie and nutritional mixtures. In case of exacerbation of inflammation of the appendix, this problem will have to be solved promptly. Hormonal imbalances should be corrected with hormone replacement therapy.

To improve the well-being and appetite of an elderly person, use these methods.

Include protein-rich dishes in your menu. There are protein drinks and nutritious snacks. Add yeast supplements and zinc-rich foods to your food. Before meals (about half an hour before), offer the pensioner herbal drinks. These can be infusions of chamomile, lemon balm, dill or peppermint.

Nutritionists advise using not only absolutely safe, but also very useful products.

Use of bitterness. The addition of wormwood helps stimulate appetite. Its infusion should be consumed 30 minutes before meals, 1 teaspoon diluted in a glass of clean water. This stimulates sufficient secretion of gastric juice. Adding chicory. In addition to restoring appetite, the use of this seasoning helps to naturally normalize blood pressure. Lemon juice in water. Before eating, give the pensioner a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon. This drink invigorates and improves appetite. Dandelion rhizomes. In spring, an infusion of dandelion roots is an ideal appetite stimulant. To prepare it, grind the roots of the plant. Pour 2 teaspoons of this mixture into a glass of cold water. Leave it to infuse in a dark place. After a day, the infusion is ready for use. It should be taken before meals, a quarter glass. Carrot and watercress juice. Juice squeezed from 4 carrots and a bunch of watercress should be taken half an hour before each meal. Yarrow juice. Squeezing the juice from this plant helps restore appetite in the elderly. It should be taken 1 teaspoon before meals. Centaury, sage, angelica and rue. This recipe is very effective for restoring appetite. You need to mix 10 grams of these crushed herbs and pour the mixture with 400 milliliters of boiling water. After 40 minutes, strain the broth. The finished drink can be taken three times a day, several sips. Wormwood, yarrow, willow and dandelion. The decoction is prepared according to the same rules as the previous one. You need to take half a glass of it before meals.

Do not forget that there is “imaginary anorexia.” In this case, the elderly person pointedly refuses to eat as a sign of protest. Most often, such pensioners lack attention and communication. Secretly from his surroundings, he can eat food. These disorders require correction by a psychotherapist. Of course, you need to surround the elderly person with maximum care and demonstrate love and respect every day.

How to improve appetite - effective methods

So, having identified the cause of loss of appetite, you can begin to solve the problem. Effective methods include taking medications, physical activity, and eating certain foods.

Taking medications for appetite

Consult your doctor before using such products. He will select the right medicine for you, taking into account contraindications and side effects.

Preparations for adults:

• insulin;
• elcar;
• insulin;
• ferrovin;
• periactin;
• Primoblanc Depot.

Children's medications:

• trimetabol;
• apilak;
• avangar (solution).

These drugs have a spicy/bitter taste. They irritate the taste buds of the tongue and increase the reflex secretion of gastric juice. As a result, the need for food appears.

Vitamins

In some situations, vitamins can be harmful, namely: if they are consumed uncontrollably, in large quantities or for a long period.

How to find out about a lack of vitamins in the body? The answer is obvious - take a blood test. After receiving the results, the following may be prescribed:

• B vitamins (especially B12);
• ascorbic acid;
• fish fat;
• thiamine

Vitamin B12 is found in pork, beef, veal, chicken liver, fish, and dairy products (yogurt, cheese). The vitamin B12 content in fruits and vegetables is negligible. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables.

Thiamine(B1) is important for proper carbohydrate metabolism. Products containing thiamine: nuts, rye bread, chicken fillet, seeds, salmon, legumes, cereals (rice, oatmeal).

The following vitamins are suitable for children:

• Zdravlandia syrup Elephant Yum;
• Pikovit;
• Pediakid;
• Alphabet.

Sports nutrition

To gain muscle mass you need to eat a lot, and lack of appetite interferes with this. Therefore, you can make the task easier by using sports nutrition. One serving, which takes up little space in the stomach, will bring more energy than a large plate of pasta with meat.

It is also recommended to eat at night so that you feel hungry the next morning. Try to eat food with slowly digestible proteins - cottage cheese, as well as slow carbohydrates - various porridges.

Rejection of bad habits

Bad habits reduce sensitivity to tastes and smells. Former smokers confirm this phenomenon, claiming that after quitting the bad habit, the taste of food is much stronger.

Important rules to help you get rid of bad habits:

1. I sincerely want this. Imagine yourself without this bad habit - this is the first step.
2. Limit of irritants. Those places that you are used to visiting force you to return to a bad habit. What should be done? You need to stop going to them.
3. If you fail, then there is nothing to worry about. Just try to rid yourself of this negative habit the next day.
4. There is no need to argue with friends about giving up a bad habit for a certain amount of time.
5. Substitution method. Experience new pleasures in life so that the desire to smoke or drink disappears.

Folk remedies

Let's list herbs to increase appetite: cornflower, calamus, fragrant celery, wormwood, dandelion. The first herb is cornflower. Brew a tablespoon with 2 cups of boiling water. We drink in 3 doses within 30 minutes. before meals.

A simple recipe with radish. Grate the radish and take it several times a day for 2-3 days in a row. After each dose, drink 1 tbsp. spoon of water. During this treatment, it is recommended to swallow 20-30 mustard seeds once a day with water.

Another recipe. Take 1 tbsp. l regular chamomile, calendula, peppermint, yarrow and St. John's wort. Mix it all and place in a teapot. Then fill 3/4 cup with boiled water. We wait 15-20 minutes. - and the tea is ready. Remember that you need to drink it warm, then your appetite will normalize in a few days.

"Voracious appetite" in older people

Overeating is no less a problem. In old age, it is especially dangerous due to pathological weight gain and loss of activity. Sometimes this happens due to memory impairment. The pensioner simply forgets what he recently ate. Increased appetite can also be a consequence of diseases of various digestive organs.

Due to worries, sometimes caused by far-fetched worries, pensioners simply begin to “eat up” stress. This fact cannot be ignored. Pay attention to it and find out what is causing your worries. Often grandparents do not talk about them directly.

Another “reason” for gluttony can be a disease of the endocrine system. In this case, only the intervention of a specialist who can provide qualified assistance will correct the situation. No amount of persuasion or explanation has any effect on a person whose metabolic processes are disrupted.

Balanced food composition

A lack of protein can lead to poor health. With a lack of them in the diet, pensioners complain of weakness and fatigue, almost constant fatigue and frequent dizziness. At the same time, the process of tissue destruction of many organs occurs and their functionality decreases. To prevent this from happening, you need to eat meat. It is also rich in calcium, which is good for bones, and iron, which is necessary for hematopoietic processes.

A meat dish should be on the menu every day. If it is difficult for a pensioner to chew it, care must be taken to eliminate this problem. Liver dishes should be offered to an elderly person no more than once a week. Protein is also found in milk, cheese and eggs.

The absorption of beneficial microelements in old age deteriorates by 2 times. Doctors attribute this to loss of appetite, worsening living conditions and the need to take large amounts of medication. That is why it is extremely important that a pensioner receives vitamins in sufficient quantities. Each of them is necessary.

Vitamin A is an excellent antioxidant. It provides protection against some forms of cancer. Found in fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, liver and egg yolks. This vitamin is “responsible” for healthy skin and good vision.

Vitamin D ensures the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. It is produced under the influence of sunlight. Rarely going outside, an elderly person should receive a large amount of it with food. It is found in fish and shrimp.

Vitamin C improves immunity and restores appetite. It is found in citrus fruits, broccoli, kiwi, black currants and strawberries. Men need more vitamin C because the male body absorbs it slightly less well than the female body.

Vitamin E has antioxidant and restorative properties. It is found in large quantities in vegetable oils and margarines.

Vitamin B12 contributes to the excellent condition of connective tissues. Due to a decrease in the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of an elderly person, the process of absorption of this vitamin worsens. It is recommended to take it as a dietary supplement.

Can food increase your appetite?

The diet should be fractional, rich in protein, dairy products, and fiber. It is important that the food is pleasant, beautifully presented, and without strong, repulsive odors.

You need to add some spices to your dishes, this will increase the taste and stimulate digestion.

Eating a light meal before bed lowers glucose levels, which means your appetite will be increased in the morning. Before eating, you can drink a glass of sweet and sour juice. Sugar in the diet will increase insulin, which increases appetite; any confectionery product, as well as healthier sweet fruits and berries rich in fructose, are suitable. Sour apple, ascorbic acid, cabbage juice - all this will reflexively stimulate the gastric mucosa.

Other acidic foods also stimulate the appetite: pickled and canned vegetables, citrus fruits. Gastric secretion is increased by spicy dishes with the addition of red pepper, mustard, basil, and dill. Salty foods will retain water in the body, increasing the feeling of thirst and hunger.

A small amount of alcohol before meals can stimulate your appetite. A salad of fresh vegetables, herbs, and a cup of coffee have a similar effect.

Ginger has healing properties and at the same time stimulates the desire to eat. It normalizes the gastrointestinal tract, fat and cholesterol metabolism.

Prevent constipation or dehydration

Constipation in old age is caused by a decrease in the amount of mucus in the intestines. That is why it is important that the pensioner eats food of a delicate consistency, eats soups, drinks water, teas and drinks. Be sure to eat vegetables and fruits.

Liquid food and sufficient water ensure normal kidney function. Since fewer nephrons are produced in old age, care must be taken to ensure that the elderly person drinks regularly. You need to drink clean water often, but in small quantities. It is better if it is warm.