Q: Since I have congestive cardiac failure, I am required to take diuretics regularly. My doctor has asked me to increase my magnesium intake as my blood test has shown a low level of magnesium. Can you suggest some foods rich in magnesium?

LP, Camac Street

Magnesium deficiency may aggravate edema in heart failure patients who are on diuretics for a long time. Rich sources of magnesium are whole grain cereals, nuts, dairy products, bananas, cabbage and cauliflower. However, make sure you consume low-fat dairy products and avoid taking cabbage/cauliflower at night for dinner to prevent gas and abdominal discomfort.

Q: My mother is 78 years old and underweight. Besides suffering from anaemia and arthritis, she also eats very little. Can you suggest a suitable diet to improve her condition?

FD, Barasat

The diet for your mother should provide her adequate nutrition to improve her present condition and help her maintain good health.

Do not force her to eat — instead concentrate on planning a menu including the foods she likes and tolerates well. Give her small amounts of food at a time at regular intervals. Dinner must be particularly light and easily digestible. As the metabolic processes slow down with aging, only adequate calories are required for normal activity. Your mother can be given some extra allowance as she is underweight, but do not feed her foods which are very high in saturated fats or calorie-dense processed foods that are difficult to digest.

Also, try and offer her a variety of cereals like rice, chira, muri, cornflakes, porridge, sago, suji and thin rotis and bread if she can digest wheat. Pulses may be incorporated as thin dals or in fermented form like idlis, dhokhlas or as sattu. If she is unable to digest milk, you can give her curd, lassi, chena or milk as custard or pudding. Health drinks low in saturated fat can also be added to her diet schedule. These will ensure adequate intake of protein as well as calcium and phosphorous to strengthen her bones. Serve her a variety of vegetables and fresh fruits. If mastication is a problem, serve them in a pureed form and avoid the hard ones. If she is given animal protein, the best choice is lean fish. Chicken (after removing skin) and egg-white may also be given, but it is safer to avoid the sources containing saturated fat and extra salt. Make sure she takes enough fluids specially during the day. Water must not be taken just before or after meals as it may make her feel bloated and hinder digestion.