For older adults, there are particular benefits of healthy eating. They include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. Eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced.
Diet Has a Direct Effect on Senior Blood Pressure
Diet has a direct effect on senior blood pressure. Seniors need to reduce their salt intake, and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in their diets. Seniors who consume a diet high in sodium are more likely to experience high blood pressure, which increases risk for heart disease, stroke and other health problems.
The Importance of Staying Hydrated for Seniors and Elders
Because more than sixty percent of the human body is made up of water, staying hydrated is important to keep our bodies functioning properly. Elderly adults are among the most at risk groups for dehydration, one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after age 65. Because of the potentially serious consequences of this condition to seniors, as a caregiver it’s important to recognize the causes and symptoms of dehydration as well as how you can help your loved one stay properly hydrated.
Eating Well as We Age: Advice for Seniors
We are all used to hearing the basics about maintaining a good diet: eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, stay away from foods that contain too much saturated fat and/or salt, and eat whole grains whenever possible. But as we age, our nutrition requirements change. If senior adults want to continue the good eating habits they’ve already established, making some dietary adjustments can help them stay as healthy as possible as they reach 50-60 years of age and beyond.
Get Moving: How Seniors Can Slow The Effects Of Aging
With a little effort, you can slow the telltale signs of aging. Research and senior citizens who exercise and eat a good, balanced diet are proving this. Research at the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, Calif., reaffirms the health benefits of exercise and found that it can even reverse the aging process.
Seniors: Eat Seasonally for Maximum Nutrition
No matter where we live, we expect to find a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables year-round in supermarket produce sections. Nothing beats eating fruits and vegetables at the peak of freshness—when they taste their best and are still fully packed with health-promoting nutrition.
Good Nutrition Gives Seniors What They Need for Better Living
Hunger and malnutrition prove to be a much greater issue for seniors than younger adults due to a wide range of social circumstances, such as living alone, and health conditions, such as dementia.
Seniors May Eat Less, But They Need To Ensure Good Nutrition
As seniors age they typically become less active and their metabolisms slow. As a result, they require fewer calories. But their need for essential, health-promoting vitamins and minerals does not decline. If anything, it increases.
Healthy Eating is Important for Senior Men
Healthy eating is important and can also be difficult for senior men. About 50 percent of men who live alone are at high risk nutritionally, according to a study published in the August 2004 Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly.
Healthy Eating for Seniors: Simply and on a Budget
Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods that give you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, and have energy. For seniors, it may be particularly difficult for two reasons: they may have physical limitations that prevent them from preparing food regularly and they may believe they cannot afford to.