Final answer:
Food thickeners help people with swallowing difficulties by altering the consistency of food and beverages, making them easier to swallow and reducing the risk of choking and aspiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food thickeners help people with swallowing difficulties by altering the consistency of food and beverages, making them easier to swallow. Thickeners, such as vegetable gums, stabilizers, gelling agents, and emulsifiers, increase the viscosity or thickness of liquids, ensuring that they move more slowly and smoothly through the throat and esophagus. This helps prevent choking and aspiration, improving safety and reducing the risk of respiratory problems.