The efficacy and function of nutritional meal replacement powder for the elderly

The core function of nutritional meal replacement powder for the elderly is essentially to fill the nutritional gaps in the elderly's daily diet and reduce the burden of gastrointestinal digestion. It is a nutritional supplement tool for the elderly who have difficulty eating and insufficient nutritional intake. However, it is by no means a "universal supplement" that can completely replace a normal diet. If used correctly, it will get twice the result with half the effort, but if used incorrectly, it may harm the body.

Don’t believe it. I met Aunt Zhang at a community free clinic last week. She is 72 years old. She is missing 6 back molars. She can’t bite hard vegetables or chew lean meat. She has lost 8 pounds in half a year without losing weight. She is also slightly anemic during a routine blood test. Later, the stomatologist suggested that she add a small cup of it between meals. I chose a high-iron and high-animal-protein version for her. After drinking it for 3 months, I came back for a follow-up visit. She gained 4 pounds and her dizziness was reduced a lot. For elderly people like Aunt Zhang who have clear eating disorders and whose daily intake does not meet the dietary guideline requirements, meal replacement is a real need. It has a good ratio of high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, and B complex nutrients that are commonly lacking in the elderly. You don’t have to chew hard and can be absorbed by washing them. It is much more balanced than randomly supplementing protein powder and calcium tablets at home.

The effect will be even more obvious if you encounter post-operative elderly people in the turnover period or disabled elderly people with dysphagia. I have seen many cases of elderly people with dysphagia after cerebral hemorrhage in the rehabilitation department before. At home, they would only feed them rice soup and noodle soup at first. The more they fed them, the thinner they became. Later, they switched to special medical meals for the elderly and had a gastric tube. After half a month, the protein level was raised, and the recovery speed was more than a little faster. There are also many elderly people with high blood sugar who dare not eat snacks when they are hungry. Instead, they make half a cup of low-GI sugar-free meal replacement, which is full without raising blood sugar. It is much healthier than secretly eating biscuits.

But this thing is indeed quite controversial. The people in the industry I have contacted are basically divided into two groups, and what they say makes sense. Most doctors in the clinical nutrition department are "supportive" and believe that for the elderly with clear indications, meal replacement is the most cost-effective nutritional supplement plan. It is cheaper than nutritional liquid infusion and easier to implement than dietary supplements. ； Experts in the field of public health are mostly "cautious" and are most afraid that their families will treat meal replacements as a universal meal. Even though the elderly have no problem with their teeth and can eat normally, they still give them meal replacements. Not only will their chewing ability deteriorate over time, but the phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, lycopene, and flavonoids in natural foods cannot be fully reproduced by high-end meal replacements. Long-term consumption will easily lead to a lack of trace elements.

It’s really not an alarmist. Last month, an uncle came over and said that his son bought him an Internet celebrity meal package for the elderly, so that he could drink it in the morning and evening without cooking. As a result, after drinking it for two months, not only did he become constipated, but his fasting blood sugar also increased from 6.1 to 6.8. When I looked at the ingredient list of the one he bought, the first three were maltodextrin, non-dairy creamer, and white sugar. The dietary fiber was also artificially synthesized in a very small amount. It would be strange if I didn't drink it and cause problems.

Speaking of which, I have been providing nutrition guidance for the elderly for almost 6 years. The most common saying is that meal replacement is just a "nutritional patch" and does not require you to change all your clothes. If the elderly can eat normally, have a stable weight, and have normal physical examination indicators, then there is no need to touch this thing. Usually steaming soft fish and boiling some rotten green leafy vegetables is better than any meal replacement. ； If you really have bad teeth, don't eat enough, or you can't eat during the recovery period after surgery, then make a targeted selection and give priority to those with a special medical food label or a formal blue hat. Don't believe the IQ tax that claims to "can cure high blood pressure and diabetes."

Oh, by the way, here’s a little experience. When making it for the elderly, don’t make it as strong as the instructions. Add half a spoonful less powder and more warm water. Drink a small amount many times. Otherwise, many elderly people with weak stomachs will be prone to flatulence and acid reflux after drinking it. In the final analysis, there is no good or bad thing in itself, it all depends on whether you can use it. Don't regard supplementary products as substitutes, and don't beat them to death with a stick and say they are useless. The best ones are suitable for the situation of the elderly in your family.