Weak Appetite Increases Mortality in Elderly (Mostly Women)

A study following elderly individuals¹ for 9 years has found that a lack of appetite increases mortality risk by 50%, a risk that can be eliminated by regaining appetite. The stomach hormone, ghrelin, is key to having an appetite. Ghrelin also activates growth hormone, enabling physical rejuvenation. A lack of appetite turns out to be an excellent diagnostic predictor of health.

“These findings are important because they show how subjective appetite measurement can predict death, even when adjusting for health and many other variables,” said Dr. Danit Shahar, a researcher with BGU's S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition and Department of Epidemiology.

The first step to boosting appetite in an older person is some digestive enzymes, taken about ½ hour before eating. My Digestive Helper product is specifically designed for individuals with weak digestive status, as it has herbs in it that bring circulation to the digestive tract and sooth the digestive tract, along with the enzymes. If that is not enough I recommend some GI Soother to help nourish the general balance of the GI tract and the GI lining.*

Some people will make themselves eat even though they have little or no appetite. That is not good enough. IF needed, extra DHA and zinc (Strengthener Plus) can also be used to help boost appetite.*

It may seem odd to many who have appetites that are out of control that the opposite problem can be so serious – but it sure is. Restoring lost appetite is a true sign of improvement, as anyone recovering from the flu certainly knows.