An Apple A Day… Seniors And Nutrition

Every time you turn on the television or open a magazine, you are confronted about the  ever-growing worldwide problem of obesity. More and more people are unhealthily overweight; there have always been some individuals who have eaten unhealthily, but now the population as a whole now has to consider how our diets are affecting us. We become sluggish and lethargic if we are getting the wrong amounts of nutrients and so conscious thought about what we put into our bodies is essential, and that especially applies to seniors.

As we get older, our metabolism slows down and we can no longer burn calories at the same rate as when we were younger. It  makes it easier for us to put on weight and harder for us to lose it.  And putting on weight has a more negative affect on seniors than it does any other age group.

Being overweight can put unnecessary stress on the joints and thus accelerate the affects of arthritis, osteoporosis and other bone and muscle disorders and illnesses. It can also bring about the onset of diabetes, which is more common in seniors than in any other age group as it is.

While any senior should enjoy a little of what he or she loves to eat every now and again, no matter how unhealthy it may be, a regular balanced nutritious diet is just what the doctor ordered.

A typical senior diet should consist of:

* 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day
* 6 to 10 servings of complex carbohydrates a day
* 2 or 3 helpings of calcium-based products, which includes milk, cheese and yogurt (the low fat variety is best)
* 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry or fish a day to provide the body with protein* A large amount of fiber throughout the day, which can also be found in the cereals, fruit and vegetables mentioned above

All of the foods in the list above are finely balanced as far as amount are concerned. This diet would fulfill every nutritional need that a senior has and would encourage good health. However, dietitians do advise that seniors stay away from saturated fats and salt.  Salt is often a factor of increased blood pressure. Therefore, salt should only be used sparingly. There is an increasing amount of evidence pointing to the benefits of using natural sea salts opposed to processed salt.

Saturated fat is actually resistant to the body’s nutritional process. It is not broken down and used for good within your body. It just sits there and clogs up your arteries. As a result, it is a factor in heart disease, forms of cancer and gallbladder disease, as well as the widespread obesity in society today.

A well-balanced diet can boost your health, but a poor diet that does not fulfill all bodily nutritional requirements can actually cause it to deteriorate. In seniors, this is especially dangerous. After all, if you struggle to move, how are you supposed to work off the excess weight? If you are in shape you can avoid immobility. It is a vicious cycle that may relate directly to your diet.

All seniors should enjoy life to the fullest extent, but eating healthily on a regular basis can actively extend the amount of time you have left to enjoy it. Make the most of every opportunity because you only get one chance at life. Revolutionize your diet and reap the rewards!

Tagged as: Blood pressure, Diet food, health, healthy foods seniors, heart disease, nutrition, obesity, Saturated fat, seniors and healthy foods, weight loss