Can colour help your appetite?

There are many studies concerning colour, and its effects on the mind. Colour can help stimulate moods and behaviours.

Studies have proven that the colour red increases brain wave activity, can give the effect of a room being smaller and can make an area feel warmer. Red is a great colour for those who have Alzheimer’s or dementia as it grabs a person’s attention.

In fact, red is proven to be an excellent colour for plates and utensils, offering good contrast with food and stimulating a person’s appetite. The difference helps to define objects more clearly and draws attention to the food.

Colour and contrast can assist people with sight loss and dementia to identify critical features and rooms. Due to the natural thickening of the lens of the eye, as we age, older people may experience colours as washed out and find blues, greens, and purples more challenging to differentiate.

Research has found that 40% of individuals with severe Alzheimer’s lose an unhealthy amount of weight and has had several explanations throughout the years. Some are suggesting it is due to lack of appetite through depression, not being able to concentrate on more than one item of food at a time, or the inability to eat unassisted. The Red Plate Study in 2004, found that Alzheimer’s patients eating from red plates consumed 25 per cent more food than those eating from white plates. Backing the idea that patients with the disease cannot process visual data because of visual cognitive deficiencies. By assisting the patients with their visual perception, the researchers were able to show improvement of the patients mental functioning. The team at WOW Mobility & Rehab have put together several gift packs, ideal for those who have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or anyone with visual impairment, consisting of red kitchen products