Site Overlay

Importance Of Healthy Foods For Elders

Healthy food for people over 70 means, among other things, eating enough fruit and vegetables every day. Healthy food keeps you fit and healthy. It promotes your concentration when you drive a scooter, for example, but also ensures strong bones and increases your immune system.

The importance of healthy eating for people over 70
Are you getting older? Then the appetite decreases and your taste and smell are less pungent. Your metabolism slows down and the absorption of nutrients changes. Furthermore, less exercise can reduce muscle mass and increase fat mass. Incidentally, malnutrition and underweight also often occur in the elderly; 1 in 14 seniors living at home in the Netherlands is malnourished. This also leads to muscle loss, delayed wound healing, and overall lower resistance. In addition, your joints become stiffer in old age and you react less quickly. Another factor is that older people need different amounts of certain nutrients than adults. For example, you need less salt and saturated fat in old age. On the other hand, food rich in protein, calcium, and fiber is very healthy, as well as vitamins D and B. Another reason why healthy nutrition is increasingly emphasized for the elderly is that it can reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases. From cardiovascular diseases and diabetes to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Furthermore, complete nutrition can certainly also play a role in postponing or preventing physical limitations. Because of the protection that a healthy diet offers against wear and tear to the bones, muscles, and the like.

What is healthy food for over-70s?
Getting older comes with flaws. You probably know that statement. However, as a 70+ you can slow down that process by paying attention to your lifestyle. Among other things, by eating healthy and varied food. This has a positive effect on your health and vitality in old age. Please find enclosed some advice for the elderly, namely:

Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
Put generous amounts of vegetables (at least 200 grams), fruit (at least 2 pieces), and wholemeal products on your menu every day. Not only are these products rich in vitamins, but they also contain fiber. These promote your bowel movements, but also contribute to better resistance and a healthy heart and blood vessels.

Replace butter, hard margarine with soft margarine, liquid shortening, and frying fat and vegetable oils. Your heart and blood vessels benefit from this.

Use of salt
Moderate your salt consumption. This is not good for your blood pressure and kidney function. Because it deteriorates as you get older. Ready-to-eat products, among other things, contain a lot of salt as a flavor enhancer. Therefore, it is preferable to prepare your meals yourself.

Energy requirement
Also, keep an eye on how much you eat. Because, as you get older, you are less active and your energy requirement decreases. Therefore, be moderate with the use of soft drinks, sweets, and fatty snacks. In addition, these foods deplete you, because your blood sugar level rises quickly, but also drops rapidly again. Choose a piece of fruit, a container with raw vegetables, or a whole grain product if you want to take a snack with you during a ride with your scooter. Then you will continue to feel fitter and more alert.

Make sure you drink enough. This ensures that your kidneys continue to function properly and waste products are removed quickly and properly. On the other hand, a factor is that the elderly are less thirsty. The advice is an average of 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid per day. The day is about 12 to 15 cups. Varying from tea, coffee, milk, soup, and of course plenty of water.

Put fish on the table every week, because it contains healthy omega 3 fats. Preferably twice a week, of which one oily fish. That is good for preventing cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, research has shown that it can reduce the risk of dementia and strokes.

Keep your bones strong. You can do this by exercising regularly, but your diet can also contribute to it. For this, it is important to get enough calcium because it is a building block of bone. Calcium can be found in dairy products and cheese, among other things.

Vitamin D
Also, pay attention to your vitamin D intake because it keeps your bones healthy and reduces the risk of fractures in old age. The advice for the elderly is to take extra vitamin D because you do not get enough of it through sunlight and food.

To maintain your muscle mass, it helps, among other things, to eat enough protein. Think of: dairy, nuts, meat, and legumes. In addition, exercise also helps to keep your muscles healthy.

Eat together
Do you not feel like cooking and/or eating alone? Ask a friend or good neighbor to eat with you. You can also inquire whether there is a meal service in your area. Or you can ask a friend and use a wheelchair such as [phrase incl. best wheelchairs for seniors] to join your good neighbor’s get-together.