Sugar cravings in the elderly refer to the increased urge to consume sugary foods. Cravings for sugar can happen at any age but it happens to be more common among elderly people. Increased intake of sugar or sugary foods can create a lot of problems in the elderly and hence it is of immense importance to properly control the same. It is to be kept in mind that salt and sugar balance in seniors is of immense importance to maintain overall good health.
Reasons for Sugar Cravings in Elderly
As sugar cravings in the elderly can be harmful to their health, it becomes quite essential to control them. But before that, it would be vital to know about the reasons for sugar cravings in the elderly.
Changing Taste Buds with Age
Many times, sugar cravings are simply a matter of taste. The taste buds tend to throughout the life of an individual and with age, the sense of taste becomes weaker. A number of food items might taste bland to the elderly, but sugary foods still remain delicious because of their strong flavour which is precisely the reason for sugar cravings among the elderly.
Deficiency of Vitamins and Minerals
The deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals can increase sugar cravings among the elderly. If the body is low in iron content, it will feel fatigued and sluggish which increases the tendency to consume something that helps boost energy. Moreover, deficiencies in zinc, calcium, magnesium, and chromium can also increase cravings for sugar but when the real problem might be due to dehydration of the body.
Improper Sleep
Improper sleep at night is not good for overall health and at the same time, it can play a significant role in increasing sugar cravings to a great extent. Lack of proper night’s sleep affects the levels of hormones in the body that makes you more sleepy and hungry. It makes the brain less inclined to make proper decisions regarding properly addressing one’s hunger.
Stress
Stress can take a toll on our health in general. In this regard, comfort food has a vital role to play. Here sugary foods can be that comfort food and hence cravings for sugar can occur as a result of stress. The level of sugar in the blood can decrease when one is irritated or feeling grumpy and the first instinct is to reach out for something sweet to induce a better feeling. Indulging in something sweet might bring about temporary pleasure but it does not get to the root cause.
Medical Issues
A number of medical issues or conditions can result in increased cravings for sugar. Some diseases such as diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune disorders, and other health problems can play a significant role in impacting cravings for sugar which becomes quite hard to manage, thereby requiring proper attention.
How to Control Sugar Cravings in the Elderly?
Now, we have a clear understanding of the reasons for sugar cravings in the elderly and the importance to control the same. To make it easier for the users to understand, here we listed a few important ways to efficiently and effectively control sugar cravings in the elderly.
- The first step to follow in order to control cravings for sugar is to stop munching on cakes or have ice cream. Fruits can be an excellent alternative in this regard. They give a sweet taste desired by the elderly with impacting their health in a negative way. Indulging in fruit salad, yogurt, or smoothie can help control cravings for sugar effectively.
- Eating regularly without skipping any meals is essential to control sugar cravings. People who do not eat regularly might experience a drop in the level of sugar in the body, thereby increasing the urge to consume sugar snacks. But keeping oneself full will help reduce the urge and hence control sugar cravings.
- If sugar cravings are due to deficiencies of vitamins and minerals, taking the necessary supplements or incorporating foods into the healthy diet plan that are rich in the required vitamins as well as supplements would help to control the cravings.
- Getting enough sleep is of immense importance to control cravings for sugar in the elderly. A good night’s sleep for about six to eight hours proves to be extremely vital in reducing sugar cravings in the elderly.
- Staying hydrated is another tip to follow to control sugar cravings in the elderly. When you drink plenty of water, you tend to feel fuller and hence the urge to take sugary food items or any other unhealthy snacks is readily reduced.
- Relieving stress is another vital way to decrease cravings for sugar in the elderly. So, it becomes extremely important to try and relieve mental stress. In this regard, doing some light exercises, listening to soothing music, smelling pleasant scents, and using deep breathing techniques can be significant in stabilizing emotions to ultimately reduce sugar cravings in the elderly.
- Make sure to avoid foods with hidden sugar such as bagels, bread, and pasta since these are usually refined and act like sugar in the body.
- Changing diet can be helpful in controlling sugar cravings. The inclusion of asparagus in seniors’ diets can prove to be quite helpful. The addition of spices such as cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves tends to naturally sweeten the foods, thereby reducing sugar cravings. In addition to this, the incorporation of proteins or fats with each of the meals plays a significant role in controlling the level of blood sugar. It is to be made sure that they are healthy sources of fats and proteins.
- Finally, distracting oneself is another way to control cravings for sugar in the elderly. One can try out different means to distract oneself from consuming sugary food items.
Controlling Sweet Cravings in Elderly at Athulya Homecare
Athulya Homecare offers the best home care nursing in Chennai to make sure that each of the inmates gets the best possible care. Each of the members at Athulya Homecare are adequately trained and vastly experienced to make sure that there is no compromise in caring for the inmates. We understand that sugar cravings happen to be a very common problem among the elderly and need to be controlled in the right way. It is precisely the reason as to why we try to the best of our possibilities in properly controlling sugar cravings in the elderly to maintain overall good health. We have specialized nutritionists and dieticians who chalk out a healthy diet planfor seniors that contains all nutrients, minerals, vitamins along all other required components in the ideal quantity.
In addition to administering a healthy diet plan, our team of experts at Athulya Homecare makes use of different strategies that help deal with sugar cravings in the elderly appropriately and ultimately reduce sugar addiction. At the same time, we make use of alternative food items that not only controls sugar cravings but are also healthy to eat. In this way, we help manage sugar cravings in the elderly efficiently and effectively. Thus, at any point in time you are searching for the best home care nursing in Chennai, do not look any further and come to Athulya Homecare where you can assure of getting the best of services. So, what are you waiting for? Just get in touch with our team and give your senior loved ones a great life to enjoy.
FAQs
- Is sugar cravings in the elderly common?
Yes, sugar cravings in the elderly are quite a common fact and even those who have never craved sweets in their lifetime can feel the urge as they age.
- What is the most common reason for sugar cravings in the elderly?
There are a number of reasons behind sugar cravings in the elderly. Sugar cravings might occur when a sufficient amount of carbohydrates is not consumed to meet the energy needs of the body. Most importantly, the sense of taste changes with age, and the taste buds also change which results in an increased urge to intake sugary foods.
- What are some foods that help keep sugar cravings in the elderly at bay?
Berries, avocados, sesame seeds, chia seeds, beans, chickpeas, and lentils are some of the most common foods that help keep sugar cravings in the elderly at bay.
- What are the side effects of excess sugar consumption?
Excessive consumption of sugar can take a toll on the health of seniors. It can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cognitive decline, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancer. Therefore, it is best to avoid excessive consumption of sugar.
