Dysphagia can be a bit difficult to deal with when you’ve just been diagnosed. You may be scared to eat certain foods, and eventually lose interest in eating because you can’t get over your diet’s consistency. This is something you’ll have no choice but to overcome, however, and there are ways to live an enjoyable life with the disorder. All you need is a bit of imagination and a willingness to change your approach toward food. Here are a few essential nutrition tips for people suffering from dysphagia.
Find a Good Thickener Brand
The type of thickener you use will be very important. A good brand will have a consistent texture and smooth taste that will allow you to enjoy your favorite foods and drinks as you always have done. You should also look for a brand that comes in multiple formats so you can always have some of it on hand. If you’re looking for a great food and beverage thickener visit now and check out what this award-winning brand has to offer.
Learn How to Cook
If you have never been interested in cooking, it would be a good idea to start learning now. People who know how to cook are better able to adapt recipes based on restrictions and usually have a much wider culinary knowledge. All of these things will make life with dysphagia much easier.
Look for Already Pureed Recipes
There are two approaches that you can take when you have dysphagia. You can take normal foods and transform them, or you can go for foods that already have a pureed consistency or are close to it. Some examples include hummus, chili, and pulled beef, to name just a few.
Another thing you should do is look for dishes that have a lot of sauce in them or have a soupy consistency. Braised dishes can be eaten by most people with dysphagia without the need for too much processing and will usually taste almost similar when transformed. Also, learn how to love things like dips as they can add variety to your diet and nutrition.
Look at Supplementation and Stay Hydrated
A lot of people with dysphagia end up missing out on some important nutrients since they will often eat less food than they should. Consider looking for a good multivitamin, and make sure that it’s dysphagia friendly. There are also liquid supplement options like Centrum liquid AG1 Greens which can be thickened. Do not pick a supplement before you show it to your doctor, however, and ask them if they have options they can recommend.
Hydration is very important too, so make sure that you get your two liters of water per day and eat foods with a high water content just in case.
These tips should allow you to get the nutrition you need with swallowing disorders. Try to learn as much as you can about nutrition, don’t be afraid to experiment with different cuisines and recipes, and always follow your doctor’s instructions.