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Our ability to taste is one of the most pleasurable senses we have and even though the ability to taste as we once did may decline as we age, most of the time there isn't a huge change and we should be able to enjoy foods as we age as much or more than before. Taste sensitivity helps us enjoy our food and drink and helps us determine if food is good or bad for us.

Seniors with a serious taste sensitivity problem may experience loss of appetite, which leads to weight loss and less socialization. Depression may occur and the person may find it more and more difficult to eat - or enjoy what she's eating. If the problem gets this serious, the immune system may suffer and she may be more susceptible to diseases.

As we age, we may experience some problems that affect the body and mind, including a change in our sensory perceptions. Our sense of smell may affect how we eat, enjoy food and drink and also affect the type of nutrients we put in our bodies. Depending on how severe the loss of smell is, it could actually be dangerous if it means we don’t smell hazardous chemicals, gas leaks and smoke.

Our sense of taste is also affected by our sense of smell. If you eat something while holding your nose, you might taste salt, bitterness or sweetness, but you won’t taste the robust flavor of what you’re eating. The sensory perception that affects our sense of smell is call olfaction and this is what weakens when you age.

The fact that you lose sense of taste as you lose sense of smell is especially problematic for seniors. It could result in lack of appetite or of eating foods that aren’t good for you just to try and taste them. Think about how fresh bread baking makes your salivate and then think about how it would be if you couldn’t smell it. Your enthusiasm for eating would certainly wane.

Anyone who needs to control his or her diet may be greatly affected by sense of smell. If the olfactory system quits working or weakens, it’s more difficult to control and stick to a nutritious diet plan and a greater risk of chronic diseases is possible. You might eat less fruits and vegetables because they only seem to taste bitter rather than producing the same great taste they used to have.

Some seniors eat a lot of sweets and food that contain a high volume of fat because they can taste them and tend to eat more than those without a sense of smell problem. These seniors may become overweight or obese and become even more susceptible to dangerous or deadly diseases.

Surprisingly, when you chew food, the flavor of it is recognized in the olfactory bulb that rests behind the bridge of the nose. Seniors who have gum disease or other problems with teeth and gums may not chew as heartily and much of the taste disappears because the flavor never reaches the olfactory bulb.

Sinus problems and blockages of the nasal passages can also interfere with the olfactory bulb and your ability to perceive the taste of foods and your sense of smell. These disorders are often found among seniors and the results may damage certain receptors which can lead to diet problems and eventually, immunity problems.

Cancer patients, especially those who have had chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery could possible go through a cycle of damaged sense of smell and a reluctance to eat a proper diet because of lack of appetite or damaged sense of taste.

Research has found that spices and herbs don’t help with the taste of foods when a person loses their sense of smell. There’s no way to restore olfaction, but you can balance the problem by choosing natural sweeteners, powerful herbs and spices and by taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Keyword – In Home Care Rancho Bernardo

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Healthy aging in women is different than it is for men. As a woman you have special needs that need to be addressed. You experience many changes hormonal and as you age your risk for other conditions increases.

First, menopause is one of the most talked about changes a woman experiences as she ages. During this time your menstrual cycle stops and you have a major fluctuation in hormones. Eventually your body starts to compensate as other glands produce estrogen.

Many women choose to go through the natural process of menopause, but others choose to use hormone replacement therapy. This therapy can help you to feel more energy, have a stronger sex drive, and combat problems such as hot flashes.

When you think of heart disease, you most likely think about men. However, heart disease is also the number one killer in women. As you age, the changes in hormones actually cause your risk of heart disease to increase.

It’s important to get regular exercise and eat a heart healthy diet to help prevent heart disease. You should also get your cholesterol tested and talk with your doctor about any type of screening you need. Depending on your family history you may need to take a regular stress test.

Breast cancer also becomes a greater risk as you get older. It’s important to get regular mammogram screenings so that you can catch anything that’s going on early. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and also one with the best prognosis if you get early treatment.

As you age, your bones can also become more brittle. This problem is more common in women than men and is called osteoporosis. As your bones lose calcium they can become weaker and they can break more easily. This is one of the reasons older women have more fractures.

In order to have strong bones, it’s important to participate in weight bearing exercises. Walking is a great exercise for your lower body, but you should also make sure to do some kind of strength training for your upper body.

As your muscles contract, they pull on your bones and this stimulates the strengthening of them. Strength training exercises and taking calcium supplements is critical for your bones as you age. You should also discuss bone density screening with your doctor.

Most women are also concerned about their skin as they age. A diet high in vitamins and minerals as well as vitamin E supplements can help slow down the aging process of skin. Products containing retinol can also stimulate your skin to build new healthy tissue.

A healthy lifestyle is the most important factor for healthy aging in women. Eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and talking with your doctor about getting appropriate screenings can help you to get the most of this time in your life.

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Keyword – In Home Care Coronado

About Firstat Nursing Services

 Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com