We have all forgotten to eat at certain points in our lives, particularly during stressful periods. But when days go by when you just don’t feel like eating anything, it could mean that you’re not getting the nutrition and energy you need to stay healthy.
What causes appetite loss? Getting older is a big reason. Not only does your metabolism slow down with age, taste buds don’t regenerate as fast as they used to. So you might find it harder to taste the foods you once enjoyed.
Other factors include:
Medications
Antibiotics, for example, can affect taste buds. Pain relievers can also irritate your stomach, causing nausea and loss of appetite.
Depression or anxiety
Feeling down can rob you of your appetite — especially if you’re also eating alone.
Lack of mobility
Having difficulty buying a variety of foods means you may keep eating the same meals over and over, and get bored with food.
How do you get your appetite back on track? Try eating smaller meals at regular times during the day to stimulate your appetite and stabilize your body’s hunger signals. The greater of variety of foods in your daily menus, the better — and that includes a good source of protein at every meal. Use Ensure® to round out your diet. It offers complete and balanced nutrition and can also be added to your favourite recipes.
