Eating the good type of food is important for a healthy lifestyle. Generally, we choose foods that we like in our regular meals. We do not think of the nutrients or their health benefits. When we get older and older, the nutritional needs of the elderly also change. We should be aware of the importance of nutrition in old age and know the ways to maintain the healthy body.
The healthy eating recipes for older adults will increase psychological acuteness, resistance to disease and illness, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better control of chronic health problems. When we get older, eating well can also be the key to a positive view and staying emotionally balanced.
Eating a meal full of vital nutrients has a positive effect on healthy aging, and it prevents the decline that can come along with it. Keeping fit as you get older would require a reasonable combination of balanced diet and the suitable kind of exercise.
Problems relate to nutrition in old age
Elderly people often have trouble eating well. Some people may have difficulty in chewing certain foods, others do not feel hungry. Sometimes, you would not like to just make meals for yourself, if you are living alone. These are some of the common problems related to eating that the seniors in US have to faced.
Bad nutritional eating habits, lack of desire for foods, Poor condition of false teeth, higher vitamin and mineral needs to resist the influences of medicine , Unwell digestion, weak nutrient uptake, regular struggling with several diseases, side-effects of medicines…
According to each level of age, we should have a diet to provide enough the power needs for our body. Below are Senior’s food guidelines:
Fruit – Concentrate on whole fruits rather than juices for more fiber and vitamins and aim for around 1 ½ to 2 servings each day.
Veggies – Select anti-oxidant rich deep leafy greens, including spinach, kale, and broccoli, in addition to oranges and yellows color foods like squash, carrots and yams. The body needs is about 2 to 2 ½ cups of veggies a day.
Calcium – Getting older bone health relies on adequate calcium take in to prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis. Seniors need 1,200 mg of calcium each day by way of servings of milk dairy products like yogurt, or cheese. Non-dairy sources include broccoli, tofu, and almonds.
Grains – Be clever with your carb supply and decide on cereals over processed white flour for extra nutrients and a higher fiber count. If you are unsure, try with pasta, breads, and cereals that list “whole” in the ingredient list. Seniors need 6-7 ounces of grains per day (one ounce is about 1 slice of bread).
Protein – Seniors need about 5 grams per pound of bodyweight. To know the amount of protein you need, simply divide your bodyweight in half. Vary your sources with more beans, fish, peas, eggs, nuts and seeds.
Beside these main elements, the old should take in more important vitamin and minerals that could help increase the resistance with the diseases.