Thick WATER, Thick COKE? | Thick-It Taste Test

[@abunchahooey]

I’m a nurse, and I always feel so sorry for patients that just want a cold drink of water, but due to their inability to swallow without choking, their only option is thick it. Think of wanting a cold refreshing drink, and only being able to take spoonfuls of gel.

[@emmymade]

For sure. And to think the amount I made was a mere 4 oz. of water. 😕

[@ayrenbethancourt9379]

In those cases, the patient is normally fed with a tube and a drip.

[@therealJamieJoy]

Can they take ice chips? Is it possible to make it very cold to help? That sounds so awful. :(

[@Trekkifulshay]

@@therealJamieJoy Unfortunately some people can aspirate the melted water or the juice from eating grapes etc.

[@therealJamieJoy]

@@Trekkifulshay :(

[@cattys5830]

After my Dad’s stroke, he could not swallow thin liquids as he could possibly choke. I used Thick It for his Duncan Donut coffee that he loved so much. It did not change the flavor and he enjoyed his coffee. I lost my Dad last year and miss him terrible. I cherish the coffee times we had together. ❤

[@sofiamoreira4320]

Big hug ❤️

[@Jan-ow6io]

I'm sorry.

[@zarahya6123]

That was very kind of you! I'm sorry for your loss.

[@darkdaegurth]

That is actually awesome advertising too. Sorry for your lose

[@tthappyrock368]

I'm so sorry for your loss!

[@WinterWitch01]

My dad & I both have Neurological diseases, his Myasthenia Gravis & mine Syringomyelia and we both have Dysphagia. I’m dreading the day we have to start using Thick-it. Don’t take your ability to swallow normally for granted, constantly choking is terrifying.

[@brrrits]

Definitely not something I ever thought I was taking for granted, but you are totally right. All the best to you and your dad 🫶

[@rubytheservicedog8655]

I have dysphagia and there are times all I can drink is Ensure Clear and only a very small amount of it at a time, I really have to think sometimes of how fast I eat I sometimes feel it will get stuck in my throat. I can't take most of the medicine I'm supposed to because I can't physically swallow big pills anymore I only take my seizure pills and heart meds because that's what my body will allow

[@AmesNotAmy]

When you do need to I’d highly recommend checking out simply thick instead of thick it. It is a gel based thickener as opposed to the powders and mixes in so much smoother and thickens much faster as well. Best wishes to you! 💕

[@PRDreams]

I choke constantly in my sleep. Terrifying indeed.

[@OncleClara]

I have syringomyelia (without the chiari malformation) and I don’t have dysphasia but I do have other symptoms. Completely agree with not taking anything for granted. Neurological disorders are hard and can affect anyone. It’s a scary feeling having your body stop working the way you’re used to.

[@classicalpeach]

I work as an RN and have taken the time to try the thickened fluids to better understand what my patients have to experience. Thickened water is truly awful but necessary at times. Luckily my hospital supplies pre-thickened lemon flavoured water and cranberry juice which is somewhat more palatable. An interesting fact is that even things like ice cream needs to be thickened. When regular ice cream melts in your mouth, it is too thin and can caused aspiration for some people, so you can also get thickened ice cream, which is actually quite pleasant. Imagine a frozen pudding. Very smooth and creamy.

[@bethwilliams8748]

We have a brand of “no-melt” thickened ice cream that looks genuinely nice. I may have googled to see if so could buy some for myself lol

[@shaggymadful]

Magic cup! My patients would usually go for this if nothing else.

[@mattg4836]

How is thickened chocolate milk?

[@aniquinstark4347]

​@@mattg4836 It would probably be similar to pudding

[@tthappyrock368]

I volunteered in a day center where people had liquids thickened for them but never knew ice cream would need that as well!

[@alltheday]

Emmy, eating a cockroach: That's a lot to get through, but great crunch Emmy, drinking thick water: This is one of the worst things I've ever tasted.

[@kingtimot]

I'm pretty sure that was a giant waterbug... but still, she was really hesitant to bite it at first. LOL

[@mspears_bobobuddytheseniorcat]

Ewww! What’s the video called?

[@alltheday]

@@mspears_bobobuddytheseniorcat I was being a little hyperbolic for the sake of humor. But look up her "Bugmas" series to see her eat bugs at Christmas time a few years ago.

[@mspears_bobobuddytheseniorcat]

@@alltheday Oh okay, thank you! I have never seen her eat bugs so I’ll check it out!

[@alltheday]

@@mspears_bobobuddytheseniorcat I believe she did Bugmas for two years so there are quite a few videos to enjoy!

[@emilyloveslp]

This is why so many people with dysphagia are at risk for dehydration 😢. Thank you for bringing awareness to swallowing disorders Emmy! -Sincerely, a speech-language pathologist

[@planclops]

Hey, fellow SLP!

[@VintageVegans]

I get 4 L of IV fluids every week.

[@pawsfurGod]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@minime7375]

Wouldn’t it be better to eat things like a lot of cucumbers and watermelon?

[@labaccident2010]

@@minime7375 they can’t swallow properly, so the watermelon would be out, because it practically breaks down to water

[@belantww]

I think that since water is so necessary for our existence, our bodies tend to react negatively when it senses something “wrong” with it. The visceral response is probably somehow tied in to our survival instinct.

[@henruda]

Imagine cupping water from a stream and it was thick and viscous. It would be full of bacteria and biofilm for sure 🤢

[@Chakwaina]

It is tied in to the fact that water with Thick-It in it is like slime in your mouth.

[@carrington2949]

Agreed.

[@tashahiggins3342]

My sister has a swallow disorder and only gets drinks of the nectar consistency. She used to choke every time she drank anything and with the nectar, she doesn't doesn't choke anymore. It really makes a difference!

[@andrealauer4493]

I've been a cook in a nursing home for 12 years. We used to use ThickIt, but we switched to one called "Simply Thick easymix" it's Xanthan gum based & is as a liquid instead of a powder and it's a lot easier to mix in to the drink. We buy little pre-measured packets, and also large jugs with a pump top. Oh, and we also buy some pre-thickened drinks made by Hormel. The line is called "Thick and Easy"

[@davannabruketta3151]

I LOVE the gel! Its soooo much easier to use and honestly less wait time than usimg powder and i feel it doesnt have that left over grit that the powder leaves no matter how well you stir it.

[@vivianneaudiss2532]

We definitely loved the gel waayyyyyyy more than this stuff. It took one serving of the powder to know that wouldn’t work. The gel was a lifesaver

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

Does the gel make the drink more tolerable than the powder? Or are there not many differences in the finished product of both?

[@bonnielee78]

Maybe Emmy could try the different ones you mentioned. I would be extremely curious to see the comparison.

[@BrandyJButts]

We use the gel at my hospital! Way better.

[@LDuncanKelly]

My mom had to have "thickuids" for a while after a stroke... The one she didn't mind was the Katie Shake (1/4 C each of ice cream, Jello, and cottage cheese or yoghurt) which tastes like a normal milk shake, which you already expect to be thick so it feels "normal" aside from not melting at room temperature.

[@HayTatsuko]

"Thickuids" --- nice portmanteau, that. I think I'd also opt for things that would normally be thickish so that it wouldn't bug my textural senses so much.

[@sofiamoreira4320]

I am a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine doctor and I work daily with patients with dysphagia. Besides the cognitive and motor implications, seeing people not being able to enjoy their favourite food is heartbreaking. Luckily there are nowadays more brands developing thickening agents with different properties and we now have options that are smoother and less grainier. But still. It’s one of the hardest part of the job. 😔

[@sofiamoreira4320]

I forgot to mention we prefer thickeners made from xantan or pectin! Starch is cheaper but despicable 🤢

[@lipstickzombie4981]

​@@sofiamoreira4320 Sadly my cost cutting hospital is still using starch based thickeners to this day. 😔

[@lemonz1769]

@@lipstickzombie4981 in nursing homes most of the juices are pre-thickened with xanthan gum.

[@MrMit50101]

@@sofiamoreira4320 please advise what brands you would recommend I currently drink coke mixed with water for some reason it feels denser so helps push the food down but I don't like the fact that I'm forced to drink coke and nothing else besides energy drinks have that same density and that's even worse than coke

[@YYaz242]

Hello fellow PMR doc!! I’m always surprised when I have patients that don’t care. They’re very much a minority.

[@m.barahona1577]

Simplythick gel (which can come in little packets or a big bottle with a pump) doesn't thicken up as it sits over time, unlike thick it. Much more pleasant textually! The pediatric hospital I work at almost always recommends it over thick it. I would love to see you try preparing dysphagia meals as well (mechanical soft texture, puree texture). Thanks for sharing dysphagia awareness!

[@mrsmom885]

I think this is the very first time I've ever seen Emmy not be able to hide her "distaste" for something!

[@WinterWitch01]

Shows you just how gross Thick-it is, hu?

[@atolm1]

i feel like shes literally eaten fried animal anus and that was fine, but this not so much

[@PositiveVibesChangeLives]

Have you ever seen her videos when she eats salmiak? Lol she definitely can't hide her distaste for that 🤣

[@brianwilber1873]

Um may I suggest her cookie dough bread video?

[@tracytrebilcox]

Her face after the first glass of thickened water was one of absolute dread. I don't think I've ever seen her dislike anything so intensely.

[@derradune6722]

My mother needed that during the last months of her life as drinking any liquids would cause her to choke as it would go down the wrong way. She hated it, but it was the only way she could have fluids. Mum loved her cups of tea so it was really sad that she couldn’t enjoy them towards the end of her life. 😢

[@laraq07]

Same with my mom. Sadly, she passed about 4 weeks after she started to need this.

[@mamaschmeeda]

So sorry. My Dad too

[@caroleclark9911]

My dad had to use it also and he hated it.

[@ileesamsaoh]

My mom had the same experience with it. She eventually ended up needed a peg tube and ended up with aspirational pneumonia from post nasal drip anyway.

[@kylieshaye6562]

I really wish someone could find a way to make this product more enjoyable, people at the end of their life deserve more in my opinion.

[@tippib2222]

I’m extremely glad products like this exist for those who need it, while sympathizing with them.

[@beltlevel]

I didn't expect so much joy when you said "Hmm! Ok. It's still terrible." You're a treasure, Emmy.

[@laurenelizabeth3502]

I’m a speech pathologist and I have had my fair share of experiences with thick it….thank you for bringing awareness to dysphagia! Love your videos Emmy! ❤️

[@laurenelizabeth3502]

@@louiselane449 typo😌 we deal with both!

[@CynthiaPrice79]

I was thinking the same as the commenter, but assumed it was an auto-incorrect.

[@zzizahacallar]

@@laurenelizabeth3502I knew what you meant.

[@kharynj6629]

Thank you for all you do!

[@lipstickzombie4981]

Yep. Not the most pleasant thing to retrain patients to adjust to the thickener life for their own safety.

[@melankaliastambaugh587]

When my mother was ill and recently extubated, we were really surprised that the nurse said "yes" to her Pepsi request. ....and then it arrived at pudding thickness. It was a lot for her to deal with, but I was absolutely fascinated by the suspended bubbles in the completely flat-tasting soda. It looks especially cool if you hold it up so the light can shine through. Thick-It is very very weird, but also life saving. I'm glad to see videos like this, so maybe it's not quite so alien during an already disorienting hospital experience. 🖤

[@nissaskid]

It really doesn't change the taste, but you realize how much texture affects taste

[@trblemker00]

True !!

[@Nunununo]

My grandfather really hated tap water when he had to drink thick water. He didn’t normally mind, but the treated water taste and slime upset him. 😢

[@amandarobinson6452]

I worked in in-home health for about 10 years and had several clients who had to have thickened liquids and they HATED it. Because I was curious I tried some thickened liquids and I can't say I blamed them for their dislike. It definitely takes that refreshing feeling out of drinking certain drinks, especially carbonated drinks.

[@kylieshaye6562]

Could your clients just get an IV for hydration if they refuse to drink thickened water?

[@amandarobinson6452]

@@kylieshaye6562 Since it was care in their personal homes if they got the drink themselves they could refuse the thickener. If I were to give the drink I had to thicken it but they could refuse. I had to document each refusal incase something happened because they weren't drinking thickened liquids. I worked mostly with individuals with developmental disabilities that didn't understand why their liquids needed to be thickened but knew they didn't like it. If a client showed signs of dehydration we had to take them to the ER for evaluation and IV liquids.

[@Random-Wanderer232]

I'm in the same field of work. Id agree, this stuff has always been gross to have to give to people.

[@Random-Wanderer232]

Thanks, Emmy ♥️

[@bakekay21]

I would think that using psyllium husk or gelatin might be better for a person.

[@Orcael]

I'm a director for a network of group homes for folks with disabilities. I've seen more than a few elderly individuals come home from a hospitalization for things like aspirational pneumonia, with orders for modified food textures (including liquid thickeners). The hardest part is seeing that light in their eyes -- the one we all have when it comes to the joy of delicious cuisine -- slowly dim away as they lose that life-long connection with food and beverage as they knew it. Heartbreaking. I appreciate your sensitivity and empathy in this video; I'll admit I briefly worried it would be a laughter gig at the expense of a sad reality many people face, but... of course, that's not who you are.

[@emdeejay7432]

I love the way you speak. It's so eloquent and with such poise that watching your videos is very relaxing and enjoyable. I just started watching your channel and am definitely a fan. You have a new subscriber.

[@1ncorrectly]

Thank you so much for explaining for those who didn't know! I've seen so many ignorant content creators mocking Thick-It and acting repulsed by it for views, not knowing how important it is for many :/

[@karenporter3156]

Thanks for this video and bringing attention to the plight of so many, it is so very sad that anyone has to use this product, and yet I am grateful that is available as an option. My father needed to use this product, but was never offered it as a drink to sip, it was always given to him with a spoon to ensure not too much entered his mouth which would have choked him. He called it fat water and totally disliked it, he longed for a real glass of water. Generally he would refuse the water version, but if I thickened a coffee, juice, beer or wine and called it pudding, he could accept it more readily. Thanks again.

[@emmymade]

Fat water is a great way to describe it. I'm sorry your dad had to have water this way, too, it's nothing like water. 😕

[@karenporter3156]

@@emmymade Thank you.

[@nurseprac.nikki513]

As a nurse practitioner, we use this all the time for our elderly patients so it’s funny seeing Emmy trying it. Thick it comes in ready made flavors as well, including coffee for those who need that morning boost.

[@Tomalexi]

Thank you for your hard work! ❤

[@tonray9395]

We gave this to my mom (usually with orange or cranberry juice) for many years towards the end of her life, she drank it without issue..and BTW those with swallowing difficulty should not use a straw to drink.

[@gabriellastauffer]

@@tonray9395 good to know! I use a straw in my water bottle every day and didn't know that

[@taurussun2228]

Yes this is very common in the hospitals and nursing homes. They also have different flavors. Well, thickened juice.

[@scott8919]

I want to see Emmy experiment with this and see if she can make a drink/pudding that's not just tolerable but good.

[@miremsis1121]

Yeah! Would be interesting if she kept it healthy too (e.g. not loads of added sugar)

[@Spyrika]

Probably use flavors that you'd use in like pudding or something. Banana maybe. Then you can pretend it's banana pudding or whatever. Maybe applesaucey

[@Theater00jock]

I would bet you apple cider could be used to make something very similar to apple sauce.

[@BloosSelfReliance]

When I worked as a chef in a rest home all we used was Arrowroot powder. Totally natural, no unnecessary additives and does EXACTLY the same thing.

[@martyd.1062]

My father is 94 and has congestive heat failure. In the last few months he had to have thickener added to everything he ingested. He has to have ALL his food puréed, and his liquids thickened. I’m thankful that he is still with us. But I feel so bad that he has to do this in his elder years. Thank you for posting this. It is very helpful in my understanding of what -sadly, he and many others have to go through.

[@chuckmckendry194]

I used to work in a hospital kitchen, and we used this stuff a lot. We had small packets of the thickener. We got prethickened Milk, Apple Juice, Orange Juice & Cranberry Juice in both Nectar & Honey consistency, we also got a lemon flavored water, both Nectar & Honey consistency. The packets were mainly for pop & broth. We had separate packets for hot tea and coffee.

[@pattygapate]

I’ve worked in a personal care home for 20 years. I’ve had experiences with the thicken up powder. Now at my facility the fluids come thickened( oj, apple, cranberry and lemon water). I tried this stuff and I actually don’t mind it compared to the previous ones. It seems smoother to drink than the ones Emmy is drinking( ours don’t cling to the side). It works well for someone who drinks supplements ( like ensure, glucerna,resource etc.) I have yet to try it w/hot fluids but we have pre packaged thicken tea and coffee and those taste awful( looks like tar or asphalt)!

[@ariannac3767]

Oh man I have some serious sensory issues and I don’t think I could handle this at all. I have so much respect for those who need this in order to drink fluids, it must be tough. Thanks for spreading awareness!

[@asmrpjm673]

Emmy, I'm a COTA and we did this in school one day and it was horrible! We thickened everything. Frapuccino wasn't too bad. I think water was the worst. I thickened mine so that I had to eat it with a spoon. Absolutely dreadful. Love you.

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

You're my lighthouse Emmy :) Keep shining and marking my way home!

[@emmymade]

🧡

[@PositiveVibesChangeLives]

I've seen every single one of your videos but my FAVORITES are the trying for the first time or experiment videos, like this one, and your hard times videos.

[@Serenity_Dee]

I was wondering what the use case for this stuff was beyond faintly distressing internet videos and it's the first thing you tell us! This is why I love your channel.

[@limalicious]

Stick blend it! I have to use Thickit in my breakfast shake because my esophagus pushes things back out in the am due to cervical dystonia caused by EDS. It eventually improves *some* throughout the day, but I still have to add a bit to my water/electrolytes so I can actually swallow. The flavors of my protein shake and the electrolytes makes it taste better.

[@LeilahT]

Awesome advice, thank you!

[@janetdecibell5798]

Hello fellow eds person with dysphagia - I just thought I'd say that the best flavour and consistency I've gotten has been from putting xanthan gum in a blender with water. Works really well and doesn't affect the taste at all. I use 2g xanthan gum per litre

[@Ri0woh]

Speaking of thick, have you made or tried clotted cream? It is usually a 24 hour process, but theres a 15 minute microwave version that I think is very interesting!

[@micheleolson9914]

I wonder if a difference in temperature would make it better? The consistency looks to vary from thin milkshakes to a thicker smoothie, and we love those, right? And Coke slushies are awesome! Our brains sure can get stuck in familiarity. Interesting video for sure. 💜

[@titasmom678]

Thank you as well for demonstrating this for people. I think people just have no idea what the elderly and people with dysphagia go through every day. I hope people can have more empathy for people who complain about having thick it added to their foods or they might not get any nutrients. God Bless you, Emmy!

[@lissajedi]

My mom had a bad stroke that put her in a nursing home, and all of her drinks were thick like that. There's different levels of thickness, and she managed to get up to the lightest level, but that's as far as she progressed before she passed last year. May taste awful, but it helped keep her hydrated

[@saria5657]

nectar (lowest), honey ( like honey) and pudding thick ( exactly like pudding)

[@Samantha-ts1ht]

I have watched Emmy eat everything under the sun and find the good in anything. This is a definitely a moment. Love ya Emmy!

[@Aleena8700]

I'm a nurse we use this for many patients♡

[@haleysilvamario3313]

I’m a few months away from becoming a dietitian and I’ve had a lot of opportunities to try dysphasia foods and thickened liquids. It is very sad seeing how patients refuse the diets and often become malnourished from refusing to eat. From trying thickened liquids in the past, I will say that the liquid thickener makes the texture significantly better. And if you thicken carbonated beverages it helps to let them go flat first. Thank you for making this video!

[@raphaelsylla876]

I'm happy Emmy shared this to her lovelies! And how everyone from the medical field affirms this.

[@kunsgnosconradhancock-robe9816]

As a Healthcare worker. Thank you for doing this to show people what people have to do to drink. As well as those who serve this to patients because I have always believe they should have to try every thickened style so they understand what their residents go through just to drink.

[@mungbean345]

I see that Nestle has one called ThickenUp Clear which contains: Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, and Potassium Chloride. I wonder if the difference between starch of yours and the gum in this one would affect the texture in addition to the clarity? 🤔

[@vividdawn913]

That's what I used, when I had to have thickened stuff. It's awesome! I put it in fruit juice, hot chocolate, and soups.

[@mungbean345]

@@vividdawn913 Thanks for sharing! I haven't bought one before, but I have intermittent swallowing trouble, so I've definitely considered them. It's nice to know which ones people prefer.

[@Ann-ominous]

My dad unfortunately needs this product now that his vascular dementia has progressed to include dysphagia. His room at his residence is so warm and yet he’s got to wait for mealtimes to get a few little cups of this sludge. It’s no wonder he’s always dehydrated. Thank you for bringing awareness to the reasons why someone may need this product.

[@anufoalan]

Yeah I think there’s something not quite right with your Thicken Up, because I’ve never had it not go clear (though that might be because I have a different way of doing it) also I think ours is more powerful because it’s 1 tsp/cup of liquid, and carbonated liquids don’t thicken well from experience because of the carbonation (honestly hot liquids and dairy based liquids also do terribly too, usually dairy based drinks have to go in a blender with thicken up and it still gets weird). For context how I make thickened beverages is put a bit of the liquid in the cup with a bit of ice (thickened fluids cannot have ice because it thins the fluid so if your thickened beverage warms up it’s too bad) and the Thicken Up (again 1 tsp/cup) for the total amount you need so pudding thick I would add 3 tsp, mix really well, then add the rest of my liquid, and mix again until it’s clear which takes barely a minute at that point and then by the time you walk back to the room it’s the right consistency. Also all of the thickened fluids are meant to be consumed with a spoon, nectar you can maybe drink but the other two you have to scoop.

[@suzettefaircloth5037]

But hers is thick it brand and yours is thicken up. They're different brands. That's why the differences, not because hers is defective.

[@anufoalan]

@@suzettefaircloth5037 both made by nestle my guess is Thick It is the US brand, I’m Canadian where it is Thicken Up, the ingredients. So it should be clear and not need that much powder

[@ixchelkali]

Thicken Up clear is xanthan gum based and Thick It is cornstarch based.

[@anufoalan]

@@ixchelkali Funny just checked a packet of Thicken Up from the kitchen cupboard before break and the Ingredients list is: Modified Cornstarch and Maltodextrin. So I’m not sure where you’re getting your information from.

[@davannabruketta3151]

In my experience hot liquids are the easiest to thicken. Milk though is awful it goes from refusing to thicken to nectar to all of a sudden trying to be honey-puding consistency. Had a new person trying to make a nectar milk and they didnt follow directions and ended up making a milk that passed the blizzard test....

[@el_senor_xan]

I work in a nursing home with many residents with dysphagia and it is satisfying to see how you explain so well something very common in older adults who suffer from a neurological disorder. Greetings from Chile!

[@AvenRox]

I work in an assisted living community for seniors, particularly in the dining room. We use this all the time for certain individuals who have trouble swallowing!

[@northeternal5227]

Emmy, I've taken care of patients and done some in-home care as a CNA where we had to use "thickener," but we found (and the families of the patients found) that applesauce and puddings work, also one of the gentlemen I cared for I was instructed to use the Chocolate flavored Ensure with a scoop of Chocolate ice cream and serve it with a straw. Medicines will go down easier for some patients when the applesauce or puddings.

[@ideasmatter4737]

I’ve always imagined it tastes better than aspiration pneumonia! But I always feel bad for my patients who need it!

[@sillyotter9047]

As someone who's needed it before, this is it. Drinking regular liquids is so hard and you aspirate so often the taste doesn't matter as much as that you can actually swallow it!

[@msjkramey]

​@SillyOtter can I ask why you needed it? If it's too personal or hard to talk about, don't worry about answering that

[@sillyotter9047]

@@msjkramey I have cystic fibrosis and was intubated after a severe lung infection. When you are intubated for a long time, the muscles get weak from not being used, and intubation it self can cause damage. So for a while after I was extubated, I had trouble swallowing liquids.

[@deanacantrell1612]

My daughter is special needs & she used to use thick it everyday in the pudding consistency in her sweet tea. As a baby she had to have powdered baby cereal to thicken her bottles. After she had aspiration pneumonia & almost died, she now has a feeding tube. I just let her taste suckers or cake icing for pleasure.

[@cherrytrees7255]

Said in the sweetest way possible: "Mmmm, that's still terrible." - Emmy 🤣

[@Fenryk]

"Hmm! Okay, it's still terrible." I lost it, you are so funny, Emmy

[@oogiegoogie2826]

I love how excited she gets when she discovers how disgusting something is lmao

[@Hihihihihihi2024]

Honestly Emmy Ive learnt some interesting things from you the world needs more knowledgeable open-minded individuals like yourself your a breathe of fresh air

[@happymack6605]

My grandmother was made to drink thickened beverages and hated it. Her exact words,”I’d rather choke.”

[@spikefivefivefive]

It's actually to prevent choking.

[@ifyoutubedeletes1morevideo880]

😔 aw im sorry

[@happymack6605]

@@ifyoutubedeletes1morevideo880 💕

[@sk8trmuffin]

Thank you for sharing this! I worked with kids for many years. One kid i worked with had digestion issues and had to have his liquids thickened with this product. I actually got to witness his transition from thickened fluids to regular fluid consumption and it was such an interesting and informative process.

[@NorseButterfly]

In the Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) community, many of us deal with sporadic dysphagia, mostly dealing with thicker foods like mashed potatoes and such. IV fluids are the go to for us. I think also because the majority of EDS patients also have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia), and IV fluids are the easiest way to control symptoms. I have issues with semi soft foods sometimes, so trying to drink something like this would be a no go.

[@puggirl415]

Oh no not another thing related to EDS! I've just gotten diagnosed and it's super interesting and scary how many conditions seem to crop up from having this condition. A lot of physical issues I've had I would have never related to each other but they all seem to have commonality with EDS. Thanks for sharing that info.

[@wingv313]

Who else wants Emmy to be their bestie? Such a kind and loving human being🥰 Thanks for bringing awareness-you rock Emmy😊

[@tigerprincess1109]

I may be stupid but I had no idea that when liquid goes down the wrong way it was going into your lungs so yes, I did learn something 😂

[@emmymade]

Awesome!💫

[@therealJamieJoy]

It is SUPER DANGEROUS to get anything liquid in the lungs. This is why our body has the instinct to violently cough to expel the liquid. It's impossible to suppress the horrible hacking that occurs when you swallow "the wrong way." That's why when you have to be intubated (putting a long tube down your throat in order to use a breathing machine in ICU) this urge cannot be suppressed. That's why you have to be constantly in a state of sedation if you are intubated. My poor mother-in-law had to be intubated when she had covid. It's really traumatic. :(

[@tigerprincess1109]

@@therealJamieJoy so sorry to hear that. Can't imagine what that's like :(

[@therealJamieJoy]

@@tigerprincess1109 thank you, you are very kind.

[@pheart2381]

Your cough reflex stops liquid going into your lungs normally.

[@epocalypsefilms]

“Mmm! It’s still terrible.” A great quote

[@emmymade]

Why, thank you.

[@natfoundachannel6886]

I'm an SLP and if you use the right product and do it right, it's not so bad. The key is not to over do it. The resource clear brand is by far the most tolerable that I've used. There are a lot of great resources out there for dysphagia diets, it doesn't mean all of your food has to be nasty. It just takes some creativity.

[@banafanafofana6914]

One may even call them 'thicquids' 🧐😅

[@JAdamsRD]

There’s another product, that we use at the nursing home I work at, called Simply Thick. It’s a polymer, not a powder, and comes in a bottle with a pump. It mixes much better, and more consistently in fluids.

[@uggles_mcfuggles]

Emmy lightly throwing shade at the thickened water is the best thing.

[@joycewilson3443]

Thank you Emmy for making this. My granddaughter was born with a cleft palate. We had to use this when we gave her water. Now I use it for recipes. Make collisions when I make cheesecake and even in making fresh whipping cream to stabilize. This is what you would use in a instant pudding recipe.

[@ja4n1]

That is what we would use to thicken drinks for people who had strokes and couldn’t swallow

[@CaptainDar]

Yep, my dad had a TBI in a car accident and had to have this in the nursing home.

[@judywood4530]

Emmy, you might try this same experience using guar gum or xanthan gum to see if thickening with these is any more palatable. I cannot say that I enjoyed this video. I nearly gagged when you ate the spoonful of Coke, but I stayed with you until the end.

[@emmymade]

Thanks for sticking with me. 😊

[@AmesNotAmy]

@@emmymade you should try it again with the simply thick brand. It is gel based so it mixes in super smooth and thickens almost instantaneously. Also really no flavor to it whatsoever.

[@elnorashandy9481]

As a nurse who has used this for so many patients I can say the folks who need it usually do not enjoy drinking it, esp plain water. fruit juice seems more tolerated

[@samanthashaw8329]

Nasty crap It's used quite often in nursing homes for people who have a hard time swallowing right or have this dysphagia condition

[@spacekitt.n]

you can do the same thing with plain beef gelatin or gum arabic--its probably cheaper too (and 0 carb)

[@gingersnapjudy]

Our pudding consistency is pudding. Not runny at all. We spoon fed it to our residents. We generally gave it in fruit juice not water. Remember this is a MEDICAL product.

[@nyxology8630]

I used to work as a Dietary Cook in a nursing home. We used a brand similar to thick it to thicken the drinks for our residents and to also thicken Puree's foods . You really have to watch the consistency when using this type of product and make sure you are adding the appropriate amount because sometimes the measurements are off. They do have Pre Mixed thickened beverages that are in tall juice box's or bottles. We ended up getting Nectar and Honey thickened pre mixed where I used to work. It taste's ALOT better then mixing yourself. I remember that we had Apple Juice, Fruit Punch, Sweet Tea, Water and Orange Juice in both nectar and Honey thick. If the resident was pudding thick we would then add the powder to bring it up to a Pudding Consistency. You should find the Pre mixed and try those. I actually sampled them. Sweet tea was my favorite LOL

[@JulianaBlewett]

This isn't a "taste" product. It's a quality of life item. My father eventually died from aspiration pneumonia from Lewy Body dementia.

[@grrrlgeek2536]

"The water is suspish." The emmymade x Bailey Sarian collab we never knew we needed. 😃😃

[@illfayted]

I really hated this as a trend. I don't think we should be buying up something a lot of people need to survive just for funsies. When the thick water thing happened it was just after my dad had a stroke and it made it difficult to find in some places and because of the shortage more expensive.

[@illfayted]

As far as mixing goes, it's much better to mix it into warm liquid and then chill it after it's fully dissolved.

[@pixxie__]

I completely agree

[@tonkinbray]

I'm a nurse in the UK and we don't stir or mix the thickener. Instead we follow the Portsmouth poor technique where the liquid is poured into a separate cup with the thickener in it. Its the poured to from one cup to another until it has reached the correct thickness. I found that the liquid doesn't clump at all and it doesn't have the grainy texture. But typically we flavour the liquids with cordial (squash) and that seems to make it more palatable xxx

[@kayteegrace8283]

This isn't a trend. Its a medical product. It's for people who have swallowing issues and need thicker liquids. When people buy it and play with it, people who actually need it can't get it.

[@cummywummiez]

Doubt

[@kayteegrace8283]

@@cummywummiez there was an issue a while back that caused shortages because of this trend.

[@figmo397]

My boyfriend's mother was subjected to fluids with that mixed in because the folks at the nursing home insisted that she couldn't swallow--even though she could. 😞 When she got to go home, they sent a can of Thick-it with her. Just for the heck of it, I tried making "instant pudding" with milk, sweetener, cocoa powder, and Thick-it. The texture was "off," and it tasted of corn starch.

[@KAITHEINVADER56]

Please stop buying this if you dont need it😞 people who want to test ot keep buying it because of videos like this and the people who need it can't eat or drink anything because it runs out. I few times I almost couldn't get this for my son because it was sold out

[@SpiritHunterDSG]

Sounds like a personal issue 😢

[@lancerevell5979]

Amazon has many varieties of this.

[@cummywummiez]

I doubt a few KZbinrs is gonna do that this isn’t like people buying ps5s

[@KAITHEINVADER56]

@@SpiritHunterDSG this product is a medical product

[@KAITHEINVADER56]

@@lancerevell5979 okay? But this is the kind that my child needs swapping it isnt a good thing to do

[@lanabmakeup]

While including a scoop is nice, having brands stop making and including them is a great way to reduce plastic waste. People can use measuring devices that they already have at home. Many detergent brands in Australia have started doing this and it’s been very well received.

[@josie5670]

I work in a care home in England and we put this in cups of tea for residents. It’s a different brand and you put the thicker in before the drink rather than after which is supposed to make it easier to mix through. Also the one we use uses WAY less thickening product

[@morninglaurie]

There is another kind (a gel in individual packets…Simply Thick?) that is not as off-putting with the texture. (Someone in household needed thickening for a while). So we have tried both. Water is always going to be weird thickened, but at least the gel mixed in totally clear in a very drinkable nectar consistency…flavor of some kind is necessary!

[@KAITHEINVADER56]

Yeah simply thick disolves way better than thickit

[@missatato2099]

I am a student nurse and thickeners are used for multiple reasons such as dysphagia, stroke etc. When its thick tea/coffee that's hot, its just gloopy and doesn't look appetising. Thanks for sharing this Emmy! #moreawareness

[@kathycook3024]

My 89 year old mom has to use this. She uses Hormel Thick & Easy. She usually has it mixed with something like Crystal Light

[@MelindaPittser]

I have some questions. Does it fill you up more than water? Does it keep you filled longer? Would it be a better texture if you mixed it in a blender? Could you just use cornstarch, and what is the difference? If you did use cornstarch, is the texture better? More like a gravy texture

[@elizabethmccoy272]

I would keep that measuring spoon forever! It’s perfect for baking!

[@melaniefisher8823]

I work in an Assisted Facility (the place elderly go BEFORE a nursing home...I an the cook there, we have three(!!!!) 103 year olds, but it's the "youngster" 89 year old who needs help swallowing. If it wasn't for the thick it he would have to go to a nursing home. Mannnnnny people need this and don't even know it's available.

[@violapastuszyn1349]

I wonder how close this is to Insta Clear Jel? The ingredients seem the same - modified starch, but the clear jel does keep things pretty clear - at least when I've used it.

[@williamannis2354]

When I worked in neuro we were always taught to add the thickening powder first and then pour the drink so it dissolved easier and didn’t feel so granulated :) seemed to work well

[@marystarnes6522]

This stuff helped my grandma soooooo much! She had Parkinson’s. Based on what she said, she thought Thick It was kinda gross at first, but once she was no longer chronically dehydrated and felt much better, she loved it.

[@emmymade]

I'm glad it helped her. 🧡

[@felipebiggi]

9:35 "Wow the neighbor's dog is not happy, let's give that a taste" Listen to that without a context lol

[@peacefuldaizy5717]

A great idea for another video is how you can possibly make a thickened beverage more palatable. I worked in a group home where one individual had to have her drinks thickened with Simply Thick. She ALWAYS drank chocolate milk, and I'm wondering now if it was more palatable than, say, apple juice.

[@tianamariee6287]

Just a guess here, but I would think that thickened chocolate milk would be way better cuz it would probably be reminiscent of a chocolate pudding, not exactly of course, but similar enough to be palatable.

[@ksmith3261]

14:54 “mmm, okay…. It’s still terrible” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Anna81Louise]

How would this taste if added to a cordial or iced tea or another sweet, still beverage? How is it different to jello?

[@amberdragonfly3]

I find patients like it better when mixed with juice or shakes...water is rarely liked. One tip to help is to treat it like the starch it is. Like cornstarch, if you mix a small amount of liquid in first to make a paste then slowly add more liquid to dissolve it, you'll get a smoother consistency overall. We don't use Thick It at work anymore, we use Simply Thick gel which is a xantham gum based thickener rathet than starch. It mixes much easier and smoother with a better result and slightly more clear appearance. The only thing is that it doesn't mix with Boost Breeze or Resource, but we can give alternatives for those.

[@sinfulprinc3ss]

My doctor recommended this for my baby. He was 2 months premature and had some swallowing issues with formula. It helped tremendously!