Diet is essential to your health and well-being, especially as you get older. Find out exactly what types of food you should be eating and what types should be kept off of your plate. Your stomach will thank you.
Getting A Healthy Diet
If you're cooking for yourself, you want to incorporate as many colourful, nutritious foods in your meals as possible. Add plenty of vegetables and fruits. Focus on whole grains and fiber-rich carbs. Pick leaner meats like chicken and fish. Try to limit your intake of processed sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
If you're not fond of cooking for yourself, there are senior retirement communities that offer incredible dietician-approved meal plans prepared by culinary professionals. Choosing a place with a sit-down dining facility will ensure that you meet all of your essential dietary needs, without having to use a pot or pan.
Here are some of the foods that you should watch out for:
Grapefruit and Grapefruit Juice:
This citrus is low in calories and filled with nutrients like Vitamin C and Vitamin A. But, it comes with an unexpected problem: grapefruit can negatively interact with your pills, which could render them ineffective and lead to unfortunate side-effects. It can affect cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and high blood pressure medications, along with other important prescriptions.
Lunch Meat:
Processed meats are very high in sodium. They're linked to increased risks to medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease. If you're dealing with high blood pressure or heart disease, you should use freshly cooked meats and low-sodium alternatives like egg or avocado.
Milk:
Milk and dairy products might be a problem - this is because you are more likely to become lactose intolerant as you get older. The unfortunate development happens because your body stops producing the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose in dairy. Try lactose-free alternatives like oat milk, rice milk, or cashew milk to see which one makes a worthy replacement.
Raw Vegetables:
Much like your hair and your skin, your stomach changes as you get older. You might find that most raw vegetables are harder to digest now. Snacking on carrot sticks or indulging in a hearty salad puts your stomach into knots. This is because most vegetables contain insoluble fiber that can strain the colon.
So, what can you do? Cooking them helps. All you have to do is steam your vegetables or roast them in the oven to make them easier on the stomach. That way, you can have your essential nutrients without sacrificing your comfort.
Other Raw Foods:
Certain raw foods pose a risk to seniors because their immune systems are often weaker. So, the risk of succumbing to viruses or bacteria attached to uncooked food is much higher - and sometimes, very dangerous.
Here are some popular raw foods that you should avoid:
Oysters
Sprouts
Sushi
Ceviche
Soft cheese
Egg (e.g., Caesar dressing, cookie dough)
If you're unsure about your diet, you should consult a doctor. They could give you a better idea about which foods you should stay away from and which ones you should be piling onto the dish in front of you.
