02/23/2017
Essay of the day.... Change of Taste related to aging.
The changes aging individuals experience are not necessarily harmful. With age, hair thins and turns gray. Skin thins, becomes less elastic, and sags. There is a slowing down of functions which goes forward throughout adulthood – loss of function of bodily organs.However, when we start aging in certain period of time, we lose the function of smell and taste as well.
Our sense of smell as our sense of taste relies primarily on odors. Our sense of smell and taste change as you age. Between the ages of 40 and 50, the number of taste buds decreases, and the rest begin to shrink, losing mass vital to their operation. After age 60, you may begin to lose the ability to distinguish the taste of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter foods.This is the reason elderly people tends to use more salt in their food. The sense of smell does not begin to fade until after the age of 70.
For many, losing the senses of taste and smell means diminished appetites. The aroma of a delicious meal is what causes us to long for a taste. If food suddenly does not smell or taste as it once did, we may not eat as much as we should. We may lose interest in fruits, vegetables and other dishes that provide the nourishment critical to maintaining good health. Because saliva production also diminishes with age, we may also experience dry mouth and have difficulty swallowing. If we are elderly, this can sometimes mean that eating becomes more of a chore than an enjoyment, again possibly leading to malnourishment..
Losing our senses of taste and smell may not be fun, but it does not mean that the good life is over. We can prepare ourselves for these changes in advance. Be prepared to accept change, adapt, and be aware of potential hazards. By doing so, you can commit to aging graceful every step of the way.