Dysphagia Nutrition / Swallowing Difficulties

10 Best Thick Water & Food Thickeners

5 Best Thick Water Products

1. Hormel Thick & Easy Hydrolyte Nectar Consistency Lemon Thickened Water
2. Hormel Thick & Easy Hydrolyte Honey Consistency Lemon Thickened Water
3. Kent Thick-It AquaCareH20 Thickened Water
4. Kent Thick-It Clear Advantage Thickened Water
5. Hormel Thick And Easy Thickened Hydrolyte Lemon Water With Honey Consistency

5 Food Thickeners

1. Simply Thick EasyMix Instant Food Thickener
2. Kent Thick-It Original Instant Food And Beverage Thickeners
3. Nestle Resource Thickenup Instant Food and Drink Thickener
4. Hormel Thick And Easy Instant Food & Beverage Thickener
5. Simply Thick Easy Mix Gel Thickener Bottle With Pump

What is thick water?

Thick water is a type of drink used for dysphagia, a swallowing disorder. It helps prevent pulmonary aspiration during the act of swallowing in those with that condition. Foods can also be thickened to make swallowing safer. Everybody has had food “go down the wrong way”! HPFY has five thickened water products that prevent a person from choking on water.

What is thick water used for?

Most people have probably never heard of thick or thickened water – not until it becomes a necessity anyway. Thick or thickened water is used most often for a swallowing disorder called dysphagia. Swallowing involves using several muscles and nerves to get the food or drink from the mouth into the stomach. A person with swallowing difficulties may feel it hard or even impossible to get the food down their throat or esophagus due to some blockage in the esophageal tube or neuromuscular weakness in the tongue or mouth.

Dysphagia can be mild or severe and, in certain cases, cause pulmonary aspiration (i.e., food or drinks making their way into the lower respiratory area), leading to a cough or potentially even pneumonia. Patients who have been extubated are often advised to use food thickeners.

The IDDSI addresses the appropriate viscosity and consistency of thickened water. According to which the thickness of a liquid is evaluated by the amount of liquid that pours out of a 10 mL syringe in 10 seconds. 

Who can benefit from thick water?

People experiencing difficulty swallowing may benefit from the use of chunky water. But, before the administration of food thickener, it is recommended to consult a medical professional. Usually, swallowing is diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist. The specialist assesses the facial and oral structure and watches the patient eat and drink. The most common medical conditions that can cause swallowing problems are - 

• GERD and acid reflux
• Esophagus inflammation (esophagitis)
• Stroke
• Spinal cord injuries
• Thyroid nodules

People living with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, Dementia, or Alzheimer’s may develop swallowing problems.

5 Best Thick Water Products

People with swallowing difficulties can make drinking easier with thick water. Thick water allows for safer swallowing and helps improve the quality of life, and makes being nourished much easy despite their swallowing disorders.

5 Food Thickeners

Many have asked, “How do I make thick water?” If you are one of them, your search ends here. To make your food or water thick, you need a good quality beverage thickener, but choosing one may seem complicated and confusing. At HPFY, we have these 5 great food thickeners to make life easier.

The pre-measured packets allow for fast and easy preparation of beverages anywhere. This FDA-approved thickener does not continue to thicken over time and uses 60% less gel to achieve the desired thickness. The single-use packaging does not require spoons or scoops while eliminating open packaging. As a gel, it does not lump and only adds 1-3 g of carbohydrates.

Ideal for those with dysphagia and other swallowing disorders, this cornstarch-based thickener sets within 30-60 seconds and can be used in both hot and cold foods to any desired thickness without affecting the flavor. It gives the body caloric intake, nutrients, and hydration.

 

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.