How to thicken liquids for a medical diet verywell health. The recommended thickness for liquids is specific to the individual with a swallowing problem. Honey thick liquids your doctor recommended a special diet. Resource dairy thick resource thickenup thickened juice beverages. Your speech pathologist has recommended either nectarthick or honeythick liquids, depending on which one will work best for your needs.
If your child is under the age of 12 months, it is recommended that you use infant cereal to thicken liquids. Thickit thickened water honey consistency at walgreens. The process of eating simply becomes difficult and tiring. Variability between ddf lots two resource honey thick lots and two resource nectar thick lots were tested and showed minimal variability in viscosity between lots. Important information thicken all liquids including water, soup. This means that they can more easily enter your airway during or after you swallow. Jefferson county care transitions coalition presents. Spoon thick liquids are more solid and will remain on the spoon when the spoon is tipped. Instructions also tend to be listed on the container. Pdf viscosity measurements of nectar and honeythick liquids. To prevent dehydration you will need to drink 68 cups of thickened fluids each day. Jan 16, 2020 honey like or moderately thickened liquid will no longer flow freely off the spoon. Thin, nectarlike, honeylike, and spoonthick modification levels, which remain in practice today 5.
A clinical dietitians guide to iddsi dietitians on demand. Thickened liquids are used to protect people who have had a stroke, head injury, cancer, etc. Online, in store, or by phone, shop the way thats best for you. We also strive to find the least restrictive amount, frequently utilizing. Examples of thin fluids that need to be thickened and mixed consistency foods to avoid are provided. A liquid that is easy to pour yet thicker than water, closer to a heavy syrup. This chart is a guide for thickening liquids to the viscosity levels of nectar, honey, or spoon thick consistencies. Honeythick liquids are slightly thicker, less pourable, and drizzle from a cup or bowl. For ease of read and to lessen the confusion, im sticking with the generic nectar and honey thick liquids for this post. How and why to thicken liquids nationwide childrens hospital.
Add level measured thickener into a dry, empty glass. The foodservice industry is already starting to dual label their products, so be sure to check for the new labeling. There are thickened liquids you can buy at a drugstore. Your speech pathologist swallowing specialist has recommended that you drink only thickened liquids and avoid thin liquids. This amount of thickener will vary, based upon the specific thin liquids, and their temperature. Thickened liquids are prepared by adding starch or gum thickeners to thin liquids e. Thick custard thick vanilla or plain yoghurt fruche mousse pureed fruit thick gravies or sauces thicke. In addition, paediatric stakeholders reported common use of a drink thicker than water but thinner than the commencement point of thickened liquids commonly used for adults. This helps the fluids go through your mouth and throat more slowly. Level 2 mildly thick drinks may be used if thin drinks water, milk and level 1 slightly thick liquids flow too quickly to be swallowed safely by your child. Dont hand out thickened liquids like oprah a compensatory. About the iddsi consumer handouts consumer handouts for. As a clinician, you can start using dual labeling in your documentation to get familiar using the terminology.
We have a few more tools in our toolbox that we can explore first before we resort to the oprah thickened liquids method and you discharge everyone on your caseload so that you can get to happy hour on time. Foods allowed on a full liquid diet food category foods allowed cereals cream of wheat, cream of rice, and other cooked cereals made with refined grains blended or pureed oatmeal and other blended whole grain cereals. Continue to stir it, preferable with a fork, to the desired consistency. Resource thickened juice resource thickened milk resource thickened water imperial sysco thickened juice. Thickened fluids winnipeg regional health authority. Guidelines for consistency modifications of foods and liquids. Thickener instructions will vary depending on the thickener brand. Almost all liquids can be thickened to this consistency. Mashed potato flakes, infant cereals or pureed vegetables can be used to thicken soups. Viscosity measurements of nectar and honeythick liquids.
Magic cup products are ideal for dysphagia diets, appearing ice creamlike when frozen and iddsi level 4 when served chilled as a pudding. The signs of dehydration include being thirsty, having a dry mouth, peeing less often and confusion. May need to be thickened if on thickened liquids creambased soups are naturally nectar thick but will need thickener if on honey thick liquids brothbased soups need thickener added for nectar and honey consistencies level 2 chunks must be very tender and smaller than. Honeycustardlevel 400moderately thick and puddingspoon thick. Dysphagia dietary guidelines and the rheology of nutritional. Pureed foods and thickened liquids for people with dysphagia. Nectar thick liquids are the consistency of apricot nectar.
Theyre not pourable and usually require a spoon to. Suitable for people with feeding or swallowing problems and makes swallowing safer. Some foodsfluids are naturally thick but others need to be thickened with either natural or commercial thickeners. These are nectar thick, honey thick, and spoon thick.
As long as the liquid is at least as thick as what you are prescribed, its ok. Thickit thickened water honey consistency walgreens. Nectar syruplike consistency honey like cold honey on a spoon pudding. You may need to avoid juicy foods like watermelon, apples or oranges. When liquids are aspirated, it can lead to pneumonia. International dysphagia diet standardisation initiative. Home first,obtainathickeningagentatyourlocaldrugstore. Mar 29, 2016 the three consistencies of thickened liquids are. Because we have seen instances in which the functional safety of a swallow is worsened with the use of thickened liquids, we prefer to preface the use of thickened liquids with a modified barium swallow mbs study to identify the components of the. Please refer to the table below to learn about the different liquids. This consistency is difficult to drink through a standard straw. For example, when recommending the liquids of nectar thick, add. Fluid slowly drips in dollops off the end of the spoon. However, hormel nectar thick was honey thick by the ndd definitions fig 1.
Thischart is a guide for thickening liquids to the viscosity levels of nectar, honey, or spoon thick consistencies. The amount of thickener may need to be adjusted to meet your individual needs. This gives your child extra time to control the liquid while swallowing. People with swallowing problems may find it difficult to swallow thin fluids such as water, milk, tea, coffee etc. Liquids will require a thickening agent to be added to achieve this consistency. Buying thickened liquids you can buy liquids that are already thickened, such as. Honey custardlevel 400moderately thick and puddingspoon thick level 900extremely thick steele et al. Internationally known as slightly thick or 1 honey thick liquids. This consistency allows for a more controlled swallow. Liquids are thick enough to be given by spoon, but, when spoon is placed upright, it will not stay upright. Requires effort to drink this thickness through standard straw.
Some milk shakes and thick shakes may be this thickness level already, but other drinks may need thickener added to reach the correct thickness level. Most adults need 6 to 8 cups of fluid every day, and it can be hard to meet this requirement if you dont like the thickened beverage youre drinking. Tilt the spoon and watch the liquid flow off the spoon. Instead, honey like liquids will drip off the tip of the spoon. Jul 18, 2017 a honey thickened liquid diet is most appropriate for individuals that experience, to some degree, difficulty swallowing. One tablespoon equals fruit exchange which equals 4 grams of carbohydrates. The national dysphagia diet guidelines essential puree. Purpose this study was designed to identify which of 3 treatments for aspiration on thin liquidschindown posture, nectarthickened liquids, or honeythickened liquidsresults in the most successful immediate elimination of aspiration on thin liquids during the videofluorographic swallow study in patients with dementia andor parkinsons disease.
Why does it matter how thick or thin the liquids i have are. Spoon thick or extremely thickened liquid will no longer drip off the spoon. How to thicken liquids nova scotia health authority. The chart below lists the foods allowed on a full liquid diet. Nectarthick liquids are easily pourable and comparable to apricot nectar or thicker cream soups.
Honey thick level ii pudding thick level iii of course, if you are thickening liquids yourself, there can be variations somewhere between the level i. Use a whisk, fork or blender to mix these foods into thin fluids. How to thicken liquids for many people with swallowing problems, it is safer to drink thick liquids. The categories of consistencies are slightly thick, mildly thick, moderately thick and extremely thick cichero et al. Your doctor and speech pathologist have found that it is safer for you to drink thickened liquids.
Nectarthick mildly thick honeythick moderately thick puddingthick extremely thick thickening liquids at home you can thicken liquids at home with thickening powders or gels. Dysphagia liquid consistency intermountainphysician. To atthicken liquids see can instructions for amount of thickener. Pdf this study compared the viscosity thickness of five different liquids thickened to nectar or honeylike consistencies with a variety of. Liquids that are thickened may be called slightly thick, mildly thick or moderately thick. Thickened liquids your healthcare team will check one box to show you how thick your liquids should be. A randomized study of three interventions for aspiration of. Your healthcare team will check one box to show you how thick your liquids should be. Protocol 201 showed reduction of thin liquid aspiration in videofluoroscopy. You must thicken to level you are prescribed or more. By honey thick barium probably more correctly labeled spoon thick 47% of the time. Pdf viscosity measurements of nectar and honeythick. This should lower the risk of liquids going into your lungs or causing you to cough. How to thicken liquids nectarthick upmc healthbeat.