Healthyeatingoptions forseniors

“Letfoodbe thymedicine” is aquote attributedto Hippocrates, the ancientscholarconsidered to bethe father of modernmedicine.Thesayingrelatestothe notionthatwhat people putintheir bodies can heal and/or prevent certainconditions

Forseniors with medicinecabinetsfull of over-thecounterandprescriptionmedications, theideaof relyingpredominantly onfoodto promoteoptimal healthmaybetempting, andvariousfoods canbe particularlyusefultothe 50-and-over demographic

According to the WorldHealthOrganization, poor dietisamajor contributortomanyofthe diseases thataffectolderpeople. Poor diethas been connectedtothedevelopmentofdiabetes, and degenerativediseasessuchasosteoporosis also may be linkedto thefoodsoneseat.The National Council forAging Caresays micronutrient deficiencyisoften aproblemamong theagingdue to factorslikelack of varietyindietand reducedfood intake. Eatinga varietyoffoodscan provideall of thenutrientspeople need to stayhealthy as they getolder.Certain foods maybeparticularly helpful

•Brain-friendly foods:Foods suchasavocado,leafy vegetables, sunflowerseeds, blueberries, andsalmon aregoodsourcesofvitamin E, antioxidants, omega-3 fattyacids, and other nutrients thatmayhelp ward off dementias likeAlzheimer’s disease,advises Sonas HomeHealthCare.

•Anti-inflammatoryfoods: Foods rich in omega-3 fattyacidsmay helpprevent inflammationthat can causecancerandrheumatoid arthritis.Aging.com says foodsthatarehigh in omega-3 fattyacids,like salmon,shouldbeconsumed at leasttwiceper week

•Fruits andvegetables: Fresh,cannedorfrozen producetendtobehigh in micronutrients, including avariety of importantvitaminsthat areessentialfor allcomponentsof health.The AcademyofNutrition andDietetics advises eatingdarkgreen vegetables, suchasleafy greens or broccoli, andorange vegetables,suchascarrots andsweet potatoes.

•Energy-boosters: Choosewhole grains that can provide sustained energy by wayofhealthy carbohydrates overprocessed grains

•Bone-friendlyfoods: Calcium-richfoods, such as milk,yogurtandcheese,can prevent calcium from beingleached from the bones, whichcontributes to conditionslikeosteoporosis

•Digestive system-friendly foods: Thedigestive systemslowsdownasthe body ages,asthe walls of thegastrointestinal tractthicken anddigestive contractions that push wastealongmay slowdown andbecomefewer.Foods rich in fibercan promote properdigestionbymoving foodthrough the digestivetractmoreeasily.High-fiberfoods alsomay helpnaturally reduce blood cholesterollevels

•High-ironfoods:Without enoughironinthe body, apersonmayfeel tiredand lethargic from areduced productionofhemoglobin,whichcarries oxygen in theblood from thelungs to the rest of thebody. A lackofoxygeninbody tissues from anemiacanbe serious,saysthe NationalCouncil forAgingCare. Tofu,spinach,lentils,pumpkin seeds, andfortified breads andcereals arehigh in iron

Smart foodchoicescan help seniors livelong and healthylives.