In article
>,
bulka > wrote:

> I'm no trained health professional, but I've talked to a bunch of them
> about MSG, especially since I've cut back my 90yo dad's salt intake to
> about zero, and still want to have dinner palatable to me. The nurse
> practitioner, visiting nurse, cardiologist, nutritionist,
> gerontologist, whoever else I could get to listen - none of them seem
> to have a problem. And it is not some fancy bigpharm chemical; its
> the same stuff as in your home-grown tomatoes and a lot of other food.
>
> As for cooking, though, as much as I love it, it is different than
> salt. Does some similar thing in your tongue or brain, but not the
> same.

I don't use enough of it to be too worried about it. At least he likes
it.
>
> And Om - your dad has to eat at least once a day, even if it takes an
> obnoxious ammount of nagging or teasing or overspicing or whatever
> works. And push the fluids - water is best, but juice, coffee, milk -
> whatever he likes.

He is actually good about his water intake. He also takes pink lemonade
and I make him Mocha with sugar free cocoa mix. He likes that! He's
been eating better lately as I've left that fried chicken for him in the
'frige and his favorite, steamed baby carrot. He also likes bananas so
I try to keep them available even tho' he may eat 3 or 4 of those per
day and I worry about too much potassium.

Thanks. :-) I do try to get him to eat at least once per day. Just a
matter of making sure I make what he likes. I've tricked him into
eating many times by taking advantage of his bad memory.

>
> I learned the hard way. So, Mom doesn't want to eat with us tonight.
> OK. I figured nature would take over, she'd get hungry, I'd make a
> big breakfast, or she'd be back on schedule tomorrow. By the time I
> got tired of waitiing, it turned out that nature had a different idea
> and was shutting her down. A trip to the ER, and almost an elder-
> abuse charge.

I do worry about that! It's been a good couple of weeks now since he
has skipped a day. I keep very careful track of what he eats, even if
he just picks the chocolate out of the big jar of trail mix I keep on
hand for him.<g>
>
> We are practically force-feeding in Dad now, but mostly by nagging.
>
> Good luck.
>
> B

Thanks. Is MSG helping you get him to eat more?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." --Dalai Lama