My Senior Is Tasting Metal After Chemo Treatments

By Jessica Ott | July 7, 2022 |

Extremely hard to comprehend is learning that a loved one is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. It might also be more difficult for seniors undergoing chemotherapy to live alone. This is why home care assistance providers are so helpful. Home care assistance support will, among other benefits, allow elders to age in place. They will transport the elderly to their doctor’s appointments, accompany them throughout treatment, and arrange for their aftercare.

When your seniors go through chemotherapy for cancer, it can be terrifying even when they have professional home care assistance. Things are bound to change when they go through chemo. They may feel nauseous, tired, and irritated with life. On top of that, things like the sense of smell and taste can change.

Home Care Assistance Hanover PA – My Senior Is Tasting Metal After Chemo Treatments

Using a cooking method known as “palate cleansing” is the simplest way to eliminate metallic flavors. You or home care assistance aides should learn about this when caring for a senior with cancer who is going through chemo. Palate washing uses acids (such as citric acid, acetic acid, malic acid, quinic acid, and shikimic acid) to mask or eliminate lingering tastes in food. However, as acids are naturally sour, we balance this flavor with a touch of sweetness. This mix of sweet and sour provides a delightful lightness to the tongue that eliminates all other heavy tastes, such as salty, savory, and spicy.

You’ve undoubtedly heard of a balsamic reduction consisting of equal parts balsamic vinegar and sugar-reduced over heat until the liquid thickens. The vinegar includes acetic acid, and the sugar contains fructose and glucose, both of which taste sweet. In nature, the combination of acidic and sweet is found in citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, etc.), green apples, pears, cranberries, and many other fruits.

Here are three cooking techniques for you and your senior’s home care assistance aides to try when your senior is tasting that specific metallic taste.

Vinegar and Sugar Method

Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar and 1 to 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to your recipe during the seasoning phase. The vinegar reduces the dish’s apparent density, while the sugar covers the vinegar’s taste. This method is the simplest method for cooking to eliminate metallic flavors. A little vinegar goes a long way, and this approach works best in one-pot, completely cooked recipes. Consider pot roast, chicken cacciatore, red beans and rice, chicken and dumplings, clam chowder, beef stew, and any other sauce-based dish.

Use Citric Acid to Cover Up the Taste

Use fresh citrus juices in cooking, or squeeze them over cooked dishes. This is most effective on tacos, gyros, sandwiches, and more. They may also enjoy drinking lemon or orange juice to get their desired taste.

Using Herbs for the Right Flavors

Your final meal should be garnished with fresh herbs that naturally cleanse the palette. These herbs include cilantro (fresh coriander leaves), flat-leaf parsley, basil, and mint (spearmint is better than peppermint for this). This method may be used for almost anything. They may also enjoy sipping herbal teas with bold flavors, and you can add extra fresh herbs to whatever they are drinking.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance Services in Hanover PA, please talk to us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions. In-home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.

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Jessica Ott

Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC

Jessica Ott is the Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC.

A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC is dedicated to providing our clients with a better quality of life through our support services while maintaining their independence in the comfort of their own home.

As a Home Care Agency licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we can provide families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in good hands.

We will work with you to prepare a care plan that incorporates your needs, your wishes, and your preferred schedule. Each client is matched with a caregiver who can best meet their individual needs, whether they reside in a house, apartment, condominium, assisted living, or nursing community.