Stimulating the appetite can be a long process that requires a lot of patience and trial and error. We give you tips on how to motivate people with a lack of appetite to eat again.
The reasons for long-term loss of appetite can vary greatly. Sometimes the cause is external factors that have a psychological and physical impact and therefore repeatedly trigger stress. However, loss of appetite can also occur as a symptom of various illnesses, such as a mostly harmless gastrointestinal infection or more serious illnesses such as chronic intestinal inflammation, infectious diseases, cancer or eating disorders.
Food intolerances or food poisoning can also spoil your appetite in the short or long term. After all, loss of appetite is particularly common among older people who either lose the desire to eat or simply forget to eat. But how can you stimulate your appetite again in such cases?
Stimulate appetite through favorite dishes and sensory experiences
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If you want to help acquaintances, friends, relatives or children stimulate their appetite, you can try the following tips:
- Start with several small portions instead of two or three large meals a day.
- If possible, prepare the food according to the preferences of the person concerned. You can cook your child his or her favorite dish (even if it may not meet all the requirements of a balanced diet) or ask him or her which foods he or she would like most at the moment. Often, sick people suddenly develop an appetite for very simple and plain dishes or rather unusual combinations.
- Also try to appeal to the sense of sight and smell by presenting the food as attractively as possible and cooking near the affected person so that they can also perceive the smells.
Important: If in doubt, talk to a pharmacist or doctor about taking the herbs beforehand. This is especially true for pregnant women, people with pre-existing medical conditions and people who take medication regularly.
Herbs and spices against loss of appetite
According to Apothekenumschau, the appetite can also be stimulated with certain herbs or spices. Particularly effective are:
- Caraway seeds
- yarrow
- Wormwood
- Yellow Gentian
- Centaury
- Dandelion
You can use this to make a tea that the person in question can drink throughout the day. Cinnamon and ginger can also help. You can also use these to make a tea or to season it.
Stimulate appetite: abstinence, exercise and relaxation
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In addition to these basic tips, you should also keep an eye on other factors that can stimulate or otherwise influence your appetite. You can also pay attention to the following things:
- It is recommended that the affected person does not consume alcohol. Alcoholic drinks can worsen the loss of appetite.
- If your physical condition allows it, you can do some exercise together, for example by going for a short walk in the fresh air.
- Especially if stress is the trigger factor for the loss of appetite, relaxation exercises such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or progressive muscle relaxation can provide relief and stimulate the appetite again.
- Always make sure that the affected person drinks enough fluids throughout the day. Even if they are not eating enough, they should drink at least 1.5 to 2 liters a day. You can enrich the fluids with sweet juices or sweeten teas with honey. Here, too, pay attention to the individual preferences of the affected person.
- You should not force food, especially for children and adults who are suffering from nausea, vomiting or diarrhea due to gastroenteritis. In these cases, sick people should listen to their body’s signals and, if necessary, not eat for a few hours so that the body can slowly recover.
- If people suffer from long-term loss of appetite and eat too little food for a long time – for example as part of an eating disorder – a nutrient deficiency is often the result. In this case, it can be helpful to take nutritional supplements in consultation with a doctor.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Proper nutrition: 10 nutrition myths revealed!
- Stomach-friendly food: Easily digestible food for the stomach
- Orthorexia phenomenon: Are you afraid of eating “wrong”?
Revised by Philipp Multhaupt
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