As you or a loved one ages, you may notice physical changes. The body’s daily energy needs decrease, bones lose mineral content more rapidly and plaque buildup occurs in the arteries. With all these changes, your healthcare physicians might begin to discuss the connections between nutrition and aging because with the proper nutrition, your body can age well.
Healthy eating can improve memory, increase energy, strengthen the immune system, help manage chronic health problems and more. March is National Nutrition Month – here are some tips on nutrition and aging to keep your body and mind healthy in old age.
How Are Nutrition and Aging Linked?
When it comes to nutrition and aging, the foods you remove are just as important as those you eat. According to Steve McPartland from Brown Health, a lack of healthy eating for seniors can lead to a decreased immune system and a greater risk of chronic disease. Eating unhealthy foods can also speed up the aging of your cells.
Setting healthy limits, such as controlling portion sizes and limiting sodium intake, can help your body produce healthy cells to fight off or prevent certain sicknesses.
Start With Your Heart
Research shows that foods good for your heart are also good for your brain and the rest of your body. Some heart healthy tips for seniors include having a diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended that alcohol intake and processed foods be reduced. These changes can help your loved one maintain healthy cholesterol levels and fatty molecules.
Make Smart Choices
Depending on one’s lifestyle, drastic changes to eating habits can be difficult. Assessing one’s current diet and speakng with a doctor about nutrition and aging is a great first step in making small sustainable changes.
The optimal eating plan varies depending on age, weight, health status and level of physical activity. However, some common foods are also the best foods for the elderly who want to change their diet, including:
- Fruits and Vegetables: Dark leafy greens like spinach and kale and fruits like berries are high in fiber, antioxidants, calcium and Vitamin K.
- Lean Meats and Fish: Lean sources of protein, such as salmon or poultry, are great ways for seniors to retain muscle and increase their intake of Omega-3s.
- Nuts and Seeds: A handful of nuts like almonds, cashews or pecans is a quick way to get some protein and fiber between meals.
- Beans and Legumes: High-fiber whole grains, including brown rice and beans, can reduce cholesterol.
Meal Prepping
Creating a customized meal plan is a great way to ensure you or your elderly loved one consumes the proper amount of vitamins, protein and fiber with each meal.
If help with shopping or preparing healthy meals, FirstLight’s companion care services are here to help. We work with you to create affordable and nutritious budget friendly senior meal plans, and our caregivers are also available to prepare meals and help clean up while providing company to your loved one.
Living a Healthy Lifestyle With FirstLight Home Care
At FirstLight Home Care, we offer senior care services that make healthy eating for seniors an easy transition. Our caregivers can help you and your loved one understand the connections between nutrition and aging to make changes that keep them happy and healthy. Find a location near you and start improving your loved one’s eating habits, one forkful at a time.