Poor appetite in an elderly person causes. Increasing appetite at home. Add more calories to your meals

Complete absence appetite is a wake-up call signaling malfunctions in the body ( endocrine disorders, rheumatic diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, etc.) Let's try to figure out what are the causes of poor appetite, whether it is possible to quickly establish nutrition and restore health.

Why does the appetite disappear?

Decreased appetite or refusal to eat leads to a violation of the nutritional balance, a decrease in the content nutrients and blood glucose, which is dangerous for normal operation organism. The main functions of food - energy, bioregulatory, plastic, adaptive, protective, signal-motivational - ensure the vital activity of the body and constancy internal environment. Once in the body, food contributes to the construction of new cells, participates in the formation of enzymes and hormones, replenishes the body with proteins, minerals and vitamins.

If there is no appetite for a long time or any other violation of the habitual attitude to food appears, this is a signal that a person needs help. A psychotherapist, a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, an endocrinologist are specialists who will establish the causes of appetite disorders and help restore it.

Loss or decrease in appetite in adults can have a number of causes:

Intoxication of the body as a result inflammatory processes and poisoning.

Occurs during SARS intestinal infections, hepatitis B and C, chronic kidney failure. Intoxication is accompanied by rheumatic diseases in acute form(lupus erythematosus, polyarthritis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis), poisoning food products, drugs, low-quality alcohol, carbon monoxide. A person has practically no appetite, weakness appears, as the body hardly digests food. You can not force-feed the patient, so as not to harm. It is helpful to drink plenty of fluids, which will help to get rid of toxins that have arisen during the body's fight against infection. To find out the cause of the ailment, it is recommended to take a detailed blood test and sowing feces for intestinal infection pathogens.

Diseases gastrointestinal tract. acute conditions.

Digestive disorders occur with gastritis, enteritis, colitis, peptic ulcer stomach, liver disease. Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, belching with bitterness, painful sensations in the esophagus and stomach. At the same time, a person is purely reflexively afraid to eat. Recommended frequent fractional nutrition(liquid porridge based on oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina, rice groats, without salt and seasonings). Such a diet should be supplemented traditional treatment which is prescribed by the doctor. It is important to undergo an ultrasound of the organs abdominal cavity, fibrogastroscopy (for gastritis), do general analysis blood and liver tests. In order to exclude viral hepatitis It is recommended to donate blood for hepatitis B and C.

Violations in the work of the endocrine system.

lead not only to loss of appetite, but also to fatigue, constant drowsiness, decrease blood pressure, slowing down speech. Such symptoms appear long years. Pathologies thyroid gland sometimes associated with wrong work pituitary and hypothalamus.

It is necessary to be examined by an endocrinologist, donate blood for thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH. If you suspect a malfunction of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, the doctor will prescribe computed tomography brain.

Metabolic disorders due to oncology.

Malignant formations disrupt the metabolism in the body, therefore they are distorted taste sensations and loss of appetite. A person feels nauseous, weakness appears, often there is intolerance to meat and dairy products. Oncologist on suspicion of malignant tumor appoints examinations in accordance with clinical manifestations and prescribes treatment based on the results.

Diseases nervous system, psychological disorders(loss of appetite in depression, neurosis, dementia).

Appetite can change both downward and upward. loss of appetite for nervous ground characterized by the absence of a sense of taste of food. Sometimes the mere mention of food or its smell causes backlash up to nausea and vomiting. A person eats only to survive, because the food itself does not bring pleasure, and even a small portion of the food taken causes a feeling of fullness in the stomach.

Anorexia nervosa is one of the mental disorders and common among young girls. Pathological thirst to correct the “flaws” of the figure at any cost, even at normal weight, leads to refusal of food. Over time, a persistent aversion to food appears, muscles atrophy, and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted. Patients refuse food for so long that it ceases to be absorbed by the body. There is a change in the psyche, and the person is no longer able to independently get out of this state. A psychotherapist can help severe cases and inpatient treatment.

Loss of appetite during pregnancy, in children and the elderly

If a child has lost his appetite, he receives less vitamins, micro, macro elements necessary for growth and development. Toddlers do not want to eat when their milk teeth are being cut (from 3 months to 3 years), since this process is often accompanied by elevated temperature and pains. Infants and older children refuse food with stomatitis (rashes and sores on the oral mucosa), which causes pain.

Pregnant women may lose their appetite for a short time.

Pregnant women may lose their appetite for a short time. Foods that a woman loved before pregnancy often cause disgust at the beginning of the term, morning or afternoon nausea appears, which does not contribute to appetite.

Exist simple ways increased appetite:

There are fewer, but more often.

Fractional nutrition is better perceived by the body. It is recommended to eat small meals in 4-5 meals at the same time. Beautiful table setting will help whet your appetite.

Fresh air, sport.

Walking on fresh air And physical exercise give you energy and stimulate your appetite.

Get rid of bad habits.

Having lost the pleasure of nicotine and alcohol, the body will look for it in something else, and most often in food.

Healing infusions of herbs and products.

Wormwood infusion, mint tea, radish juice, onion, garlic, parsnip, chicory, calamus, blackcurrant, plantain, all citrus fruits, green vegetables increase intestinal motility, strengthen the stomach, increase appetite. A course of vitamins, minerals, ascorbic acid strengthen the body and stimulate appetite.

Increased drinking regime.

In case of poisoning or overeating, clean drinking water – the best medicine. It flushes out poisons and toxins from the body. Dehydration disrupts everything vital important processes at the cellular level.

Treatment of the underlying disease.

With gastritis and other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney disease, rheumatic diseases, you need to get qualified medical advice and treatment.

One day fasting and diet.

Helps improve appetite intermittent fasting within 12 or 24 hours. The body will rest, get rid of residues undigested food, poisons and toxins. With gastritis, fasting is contraindicated.

Inclusion in the diet fermented milk products(kefir, yogurt) and fiber (microcrystalline cellulose, vegetables, fruits, bran) in large quantities restores digestive system, normalizes the intestinal microflora and stimulates appetite.

Conclusion

To increase the appetite of a child or an adult, it is necessary to find out and eliminate the causes of violations in a timely manner (to cure diseases, change lifestyle, adjust diet). A healthy appetite will provide good health and mood for many years of life.

To the question: "No appetite, the reasons for an adult?" there are many answers.

Nutrient deficiencies are a must affect not only well-being, but also health. Therefore, it is necessary to solve the problem of their absence as soon as possible. How to increase appetite and why did it disappear?

The difference between hunger and appetite

Before diagnosing loss of appetite, you should understand this concept. Appetite is often confused with hunger, a reflex that occurs when there is no food.

The mechanism for the development of hunger is triggered by a decrease in glucose levels, due to which a signal is sent to the centers of the brain. At the time of the onset of a hungry spasm, a person has active salivation, the sense of smell improves and pulling sensation"under the spoon".

All these symptoms help a person feel hungry and go in search of food. At the same time, he has no desire to eat certain foods, he is ready to eat any dish.

The manifestation of hunger, in which a person desires certain foods, is called appetite. This feeling is influenced by many factors: time of day, country of residence, taste preferences, emotional state.

Violation of habitual taste needs, when a person does not want food at all, is called a decrease in appetite. This condition leads to anorexia and other problems.

Associated symptoms

The brain signals that the body needs to eat. It contains neurons that carry a signal to the digestive organs.

In the body of an individual experiencing a feeling of hunger, increased insulin levels and active production gastric juice . The absence of hungry urges indicates that the brain is working on other needs. Reduced appetite - protection against certain diseases of the digestive system.

There are symptoms that often accompany a person in the absence of appetite. Nausea, weakness - the most famous of them. Thanks to these signs, it is easier for doctors to determine the cause of the loss of appetite.

Causes of loss of appetite

All the reasons due to which appetite disappears can be divided into two categories: pathological and non-pathological.

Pathological causes

More often poor appetite in adults speaks of illness.

To forget about problems with appetite, you need professional help.

TO pathological reasons Appetite reduction include:

Intestinal dysbacteriosis. In the processes of digestion, useful and pathogenic microorganisms. If their balance is disturbed, the body does not receive necessary trace elements from food.
endocrine problems. Lack of hormones leads to nausea and vomiting. As a result, the person becomes weak and loses his appetite.
Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Similar symptoms indicate a stomach ulcer, gastritis,. At the first signs of an exacerbation of the disease, preventive treatment should be taken.
Mental problems, neuroses. High workload, stress, lack of rest and moral support lead to apathy, depression. These problems are often accompanied by weakness, nausea, fatigue, and lack of appetite.
body intoxication. harmful bacteria can provoke intoxication, as a result of which a person will feel weakness and aversion to food.
Cardiovascular diseases. Deterioration of blood vessels provokes general weakness organism, and high blood pressure causes nausea.
Drug addiction. Necessity permanent reception medicines makes the gastrointestinal tract work hard. Because of this, gastritis, an ulcer, and pathology of the pancreas may appear.
Oncology. During the period of chemotherapy, a failure occurs in many processes, especially in the work of the digestive organs.
Viruses and infections in the body. With illness, there is often a significant decrease in appetite, as forces are directed to the fight against viruses. To a large number of toxins did not lead to weakness and nausea, should be maintained water balance ie drink plenty of fluids.

Non-pathological causes

Natural causes cause a situation in which a person refuses to eat.

They do not depend on any disease, as they arise due to external pathogenic factors.

Distinctive features non-pathological causes:

the duration of the symptoms does not exceed 4-5 days, then the increase in appetite occurs independently;
need not health care, medication;
absent Negative influence on health;
symptoms recur no more than once a month;
loss of appetite does not lead to sudden weight loss.

The list of non-pathological causes includes the following conditions:

Menstruation. In this period female body especially influenced by hormones. Sharp increase levels of estrogen and progesterone provokes weakness, loss of appetite. At the end of the cycle, abdominal cramps and headaches are often added to these symptoms.
Binge eating. Absence good nutrition during the day leads to an increase in appetite at night. The organs of the gastrointestinal tract were not subjected to stress all day, therefore, in the evening, when preparing the body for sleep, the food consumed can cause bad dream, nausea and vomiting. All this will lead to a decrease in appetite.
Prolonged fasting. If a person voluntarily refuses to eat, it can cause nausea and weakness. Since in for a long time food does not get in, the secret produced negatively affects the mucous membrane, irritating it. In the absence of food, efficiency decreases and weakness and loss of strength appear.

Diagnosis of poor appetite

Normal life is ensured by balance, which is the alternation of hunger and appetite. Violation normal state for any reason leads to a decrease in appetite, and then a feeling of hunger.

Eating meals with high calorie can increase the interval between the appearance of the desire to eat up to 4-5 hours.

However, if hunger does not come for more than 8 hours, this is a signal that problems have appeared in the body.

A decrease in blood glucose levels will cause dizziness, weakness, loss of strength.

To diagnose the cause that caused the loss of appetite, you should consult a doctor. He will appoint full examination body, including testing. If a woman has a problem with appetite, pregnancy should be excluded first.

Video - How to get better when there is no appetite?

What can increase your appetite

The causes that provoked a decrease in appetite and were identified during the diagnosis are eliminated therapeutic methods. Parallel doctors advise the patient to adhere to the following recommendations:

Follow a meal schedule. You need to eat several times a day in small portions. Dinner should be no later than three hours before bedtime. Eating daily at a certain time will contribute to the production of saliva, prepare the body for the absorption of food.
Food should be chewed slowly, without being distracted by extraneous stimuli (TV, computer). You should apply an attractive serving, work on a beautiful design of dishes.
Food should be tasty and varied.
When fighting poor appetite, it is very important to observe the daily routine: sleep for at least eight hours, do not forget about rest. Physical activity V mild form welcome, as sport stimulates the urge to eat.
Stress should be avoided conflict situations, bad emotions.
In order for the digestive juice to be produced more actively, you need to eat foods that stimulate this process, for example, pickled and salty dishes. Spices increase appetite spicy seasonings, herbs, sour berries, products with high content vitamins B and C, decoctions and infusions of bitter herbs.

Loss of appetite in old age

Lack of need for food and persistent loss of appetite may occur in the elderly. Retirees often limit themselves to healthy and nutritious food due to financial problems. In addition, it weakens with age, or diarrhea begins, the work of receptors worsens. The body begins to digest food poorly.

The above factors affect appetite. To avoid problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract, you need to increase the number of easily digestible foods. The menu should include vegetable stew, cereals, fish, meat low-fat varieties. Older people should avoid fatty and fried foods, not eat large portions and, if necessary, use a blender to grind food.

How to increase your child's appetite

Adults often have a problem feeding the baby because of his refusal to eat. To increase your child's appetite, you can take the following steps:

create an optimal diet age appropriate and characteristics of the child;
follow the diet;
spend several hours a day outdoors;
include outdoor games and sports in the daily routine;
attractively decorate children's dishes;
add fruits and dried fruits to cereals;
do not force-feed the child;
do not overfeed the baby;
reduce the number of snacks on cookies and other floury dishes;
place small portions on a plate.

If the lack of appetite lasts for several days, you should not independently look for the cause and carry out treatment. The specialist will quickly determine what the decrease in appetite is due to and prescribe medications to enhance it.

Good appetite is a sign excellent health. A person should want to eat, because the lack of appetite turns into serious health problems. Our body does not receive required amount vitamins and microelements. Today we will talk about how to quickly improve the appetite in an adult.

What causes loss of appetite?

Why is there a reluctance to eat?

There are several reasons:

gastrointestinal diseases - gastritis, dysbacteriosis, cholecystitis;
stress and depression;
viral and bacterial infections- the body is focused on this important problem;
improper diet or fasting;
medicines and harmful products- the use of some medical preparations herbal infusions, smoking.

In any case, if there is such a problem, you need to find the cause and get rid of it.

Consequences of poor appetite

If a person does not feel the desire to eat for a long time, this has a very negative effect on his health. As a result, all organs, including the brain, starve. Naturally, there is weakness, drowsiness, headaches and dizziness, fatigue, memory worsens. Our body cannot function normally, because it does not receive useful substances. Accordingly, all functions are violated.

In an adult, working capacity decreases, lethargy and fatigue appear. The child will grow poorly and gain weight. In a pregnant woman, this condition is generally dangerous, since a developing baby also depends on her during this period.

How to improve our appetite?

What are the ways to increase appetite?

First of all, it is necessary to remove the main reason that interferes with the normal desire of a person to eat. If this is a diet, you need to stop following it and slowly move on to proper nutrition. You can eat in small portions, the main thing is to eat. If these are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then it is necessary to cure them. In general, you need to find the cause and make every effort to get rid of it.

In addition, there are a number of methods to help improve appetite:

fresh air - movement, walking on the street is very helpful in resolving this problem;
any physical activity physical exercise require more enhanced nutrition;
the correct mode of the day, getting rid of smoking, drinking alcohol - all this helps;
fasting once a week gives a favorable result;
cook dishes that you would like to eat - aroma, taste and beautiful presentation will make you want to eat;
mood is very important - must be avoided stressful situations, take sedatives, that is, be calm, in a good mood;
eat healthy food- Some preservatives and additives blunt the body's ability to feel hunger.
drink plenty of water - dehydration can also be a common cause;
use vitamin and mineral complexes - vitamin deficiency can cause such a nuisance;
eat from dishes painted in warm colors - yellow, red, orange (color also affects appetite);
do not use a lot of fiber, it gives a feeling of satiety, but the body does not receive all the nutrients, because proteins, fats, vitamins are also needed;
Some herbs and spices make you want to snack, but you should not abuse them.

Herbs and foods that help solve this problem

In addition to the above methods, some herbs can increase appetite.

These include dandelion, wormwood, yarrow, bitter elm. It is necessary to take these herbs in a certain way, in the form of decoctions and infusions. Here are some recipes.

Dandelion Root Infusion

To prepare it, you need to pour two teaspoons of raw materials in one glass cold water. After eight hours, you can drink a quarter cup no more than four times a day. This infusion not only increases appetite, but also strengthens the immune system.

Infusion of wormwood

Pour one teaspoon of this herb with a glass of boiling water. After the infusion has stood for thirty minutes, drink a tablespoon before meals.

Yarrow juice

Squeeze the juice from this plant and, adding honey, take a teaspoon before meals. This remedy will provide you with energy and help cure diseases of the digestive system.

slippery elm bark

It contains many polysaccharides, which remove nausea and help digestion.

It is necessary to prepare a drink from bark powder, which in the amount of half a teaspoon should be poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for twenty minutes. After that, you can drink 1-2 glasses a day.

Chamomile flower infusion

Improves mood and increases appetite, as well as relieves stress infusion of chamomile. It is easy to prepare: pour a tablespoon of raw materials with boiling water and leave for half an hour. Then drink like tea throughout the day.

There are also many foods and spices that you want to eat after eating.

For example, pumpkin, carrot, cinnamon, ginger, mint, dill, onion, horseradish, Bay leaf, basil.

Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, an appetite stimulating element. Add cinnamon to tea, cocoa, it is very tasty and healthy. You can also do with mint or ginger. Brew tea with the addition of these products.

No problem. But if you can't even remember the last time you ate normally, that's cause for concern. What are the causes of poor appetite and what to do if it does not improve for a long time, read in this article.

Causes of Loss of Appetite

good appetite sign healthy body. But its decrease or sudden loss can signal many problems, including infection and stress.

infections

Decrease or sudden loss appetite can cause a variety of infections. According to medical center University of Illinois associated with loss of appetite such infectious diseases like pneumonia, hepatitis, HIV and AIDS, pyelonephritis.

chronic diseases

Poor appetite may occur due to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or colitis. Diseases of the kidneys, liver and cardiovascular diseases can also affect appetite. Meaning chronic diseases liver, chronic renal failure, (COPD), heart failure, hypothyroidism. As a rule, on final stages congestive heart failure or acute renal failure, the appetite disappears completely.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the feeling of hunger may decrease. The body is rebuilt, “engaged” in the production of hormones, etc. But most often the appetite disappears due to toxicosis. Don't worry, your appetite will soon appear!

Oncological diseases

Prolonged lack of appetite can cause. Most associated with poor appetite are colon cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Stress

In conditions of increased emotional stress, the last thing we think about is food. And upset us not only negative events. Sometimes lead to loss of appetite and joyful moments- falling in love, preparing for the wedding, holidays. The body will recover as soon as a person comes to his senses. And here chronic stress dangerous and can lead to exhaustion.

Psychological reasons

Medicines

The use of some medicines, including antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, can also cause poor appetite. Also included are digoxin, fluoxetine, quinidine sulfate, codeine, morphine sulfate, and hydralazine. The same thing happens after narcotic substances-, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and LSD.

Poor appetite: what to do

Are you increasingly forcing yourself to eat and do not know what to do with a poor appetite? Check out these simple and helpful tips.

Take a multivitamin

Daily intake of vitamins will help to wake up the appetite and bring nutrition back to normal. Special attention it is worth giving zinc, this mineral has a positive effect on digestion. Before buying and taking vitamins, be sure to consult your doctor.

As we found out, some drugs can impair appetite. But do not rush to say goodbye to them. To get started, talk to your doctor to see if the medication is the cause. If so, the doctor will help you choose the right analogue.

Drink enough water

Avoid stress

It is impossible to completely avoid stress, but it is quite possible to reduce its influence. How to do this, said the geneticist Alexander Kolyada in the article "". If you are depressed or in a state of constant anxiety, apply for professional help: appropriate treatment will help restore the taste not only to life, but also to food.

Change your eating habits

Sometimes poor appetite is due to the fact that the food has become boring and no longer causes satisfaction. Try something new and preferably useful!

You will find the best recipes without harm to health here - "", and here - "

Not so rare problem. Someone is on diets, limiting themselves in every possible way in food, but there are people who would be happy to eat plenty and gain weight, but it just doesn’t work out - there is no appetite. ?

To begin with, one important truth should be learned: a good (but not excessive) appetite is a sign of normal health, a lack of appetite is a sign that not everything is in order with health. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of a number of diseases, some of them quite serious. That's why if you are wondering how to increase your appetite, first of all you need to visit a doctor.

To increase appetite, you need to establish the root cause of its violation.. If the cause is serious, the doctor should prescribe the appropriate treatment for the disease. If you do not have any special health problems, and loss of appetite is associated with wrong mode day and stress, it is quite possible to increase appetite at home.

First, review your diet. It is usually advised to eat often, but in small portions.. If you have not eaten for a long time, and then pounced on food, the subsequent feeling of heaviness in the stomach and problems with digestion will discourage you from eating for a long time. And when the appetite still appears, everything will happen again. Therefore, it is better to eat often, but a little bit.

At the same time, nutrition should be regular and complete: if the body is used to eating at the same time, then the appetite will also come “on schedule”. Try to avoid all kinds of snacks and snacks: they do not help you get enough normally, but your appetite deteriorates. It is advisable to read the meal with a salad from fresh vegetables, which activates the work of the stomach.

Helps raise appetite beautiful decoration dishes. Beautifully decorated and served food seems tastier, and this is not a matter of self-hypnosis. At sight beautiful dishes we salivate, and literally: aesthetically attractive food provokes salivation, as a result, food is digested much better. And the production of gastric juice is stimulated by seasonings and spices. But do not abuse them, everything is good in moderation.

Often, loss of appetite is associated with dehydration. That's why to increase appetite, you must drink several glasses of water a day. Tea and coffee don't count, drink water! By the way, caffeinated drinks are one of the reasons for reducing appetite, so coffee and tea should be drunk at the end of the meal, and not before it.

In many countries, before a meal, it is customary to serve aperitif drinks that help increase appetite and improve digestion. Aperitifs can be non-alcoholic ( mineral water, sour fruit juices), but they are usually associated with alcoholic drinks. As an aperitif, they can serve, say, vermouth, brandy, port wine, etc. Bitters, for example, KV 15, stimulate the appetite well.

Of course, it is impossible to abuse alcoholic aperitifs. Quite enough will be 50-100 g of a weak aperitif 15-20 minutes before a meal Anything more is too much. If you do not want to drink alcohol, replace it with non-alcoholic aperitifs or herbal infusions and decoctions.

Peppermint, dill, chamomile and lemon balm stimulate appetite, you can drink decoctions of these herbs half an hour before meals. Similar action has and . Wormwood, yarrow, chicory, horseradish, dandelion, bison, parsnip, mustard, calamus, gentian, blackcurrant, plantain also help increase appetite.

You can, for example, try a collection made up of wormwood grass (1 part), white willow bark (0.5 parts), dandelion grass (1 part) and common yarrow grass (1 part). A tablespoon of the collection is poured with one and a half glasses of boiling water. Infuse for half an hour, strain and drink half a glass of infusion 15-20 minutes before meals three times a day. Please note that the effect will not be instantaneous: the increase in appetite will be gradual.

Giving up bad habits will also help increase your appetite. active image life and observance correct mode day . Sometimes appetite is reduced from a lack of vitamins and minerals, so you can drink multivitamin complex(after consulting a doctor).

Please note that if you can not increase your appetite in any way, and the decrease in appetite is also accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible!