{"id":244,"date":"2018-10-29T18:31:07","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T18:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.omegabenefit.org\/blog\/?p=244"},"modified":"2018-10-29T18:31:07","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T18:31:07","slug":"10-healthy-eating-tips-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/10-healthy-eating-tips-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Healthy eating tips for seniors."},"content":{"rendered":"

As we all know, when we increase in age our metabolism decreases. As a result, our food intake has a higher level of importance compared to when we were in our 20\u2019s or 30\u2019s.\u00a0 Here are some quick and easy tips to eating healthier and living a longer life.<\/p>\n

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  1. Eat a variety of foods<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Some of us stick to our favorite foods, and aren\u2019t open to trying anything new. To ensure that we are getting all of the necessary vitamins needed, we must have a well-balanced diet. According to the National Council on Aging, our meals need to consist of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean meats. Not only will this meal make your body feel amazing, but it will look more amazing, too.<\/p>\n

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    1. Minimize the salt<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      As we age, our sense of taste becomes weaker and we try to compensate for that by using extra salt. According to many studies, salt has a direct connection to high blood pressure. We know that stress, lack of physical activity, some medications, and a whole list of other factors can lead to hypertension. To combat this, exchange some of the salt for fresh herbs and spices.\u00a0 Herbs and spices like basil, cardamom, garlic and ginger are known to lower blood pressure. These ingredients also add a punch of bright flavor where you might normally add salt.<\/p>\n

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      1. Drink more water<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        We all need water to survive. Our muscles are about 70% water, our brains are about 85% water, and our blood is about 80% water. Not only do these percentages show we obviously need water, but our body gives physical signs when it is lacking water.\u00a0 Drinking fresh juice and some sugary drinks are okay once in a while, but water needs to the main source of hydration in our diets. You may be surprised how much better you feel just by upping your daily water intake!<\/p>\n

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        1. Read the labels<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Sometimes we can fall into the habit of buying the same things.\u00a0 We should question ourselves and ask \u201cHow often do I read the nutrition label?\u201d Those labels are not there to take up space, they actually hold real value. Some of the numbers on the labels may shock you. The next time you\u2019re shopping, take a peak at the nutrition labels and see what you find.<\/p>\n

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          1. Consider supplements<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Some of us are taking a lot of pills, medications, and other things already, and the thought of adding another thing to the list is overwhelming.\u00a0 Fruits and vegetables are great sources for vitamins, but in some cases they\u2019re just not enough. For example, people over the age of 50\u00a0 do not get enough vitamin B12 according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\u00a0 Talk to your doctor and see what they supplements they recommend for you.<\/p>\n

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            1. Reduce sugar<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Reducing the sugar in our diets is something many dietitians and nutritionists agree on throughout the world of nutrition. \u00a0We should aim to exchange some of our sugary snacks and treats with fresh fruits. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, strawberries are great for eyes and contain plenty of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help lower your risk of cataracts.<\/p>\n

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              1. Eat more Kale, if you can<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Kale is an amazing source of lutein and zeaxanthin, both are needed for healthy eyes and retina protection. Kale can help protect our eyes from sun damage, lower the risk of cataracts, and it can help protect our eye from macular degeneration. Even though this amazing leafy-green can help many, some of us who are taking blood thinners like Coumadin, and others who have a cruciferous vegetable allergy should speak to their doctors before eating kale.<\/p>\n

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                1. Try Green Tea<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  According to many studies, green tea has been considered to help reduce our risk of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and more. The studies referenced here focus on breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer.\u00a0 Not only does green tea help with lowering our risk of cancer, it can also help lower our risk of Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s. Both diseases are classified as neurodegenerative, and studies show that the compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons.<\/p>\n

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                  1. Not all fats are bad<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good brain health.\u00a0 Studies shows that is can help with improving healthy memory function. Seafood and fatty fish is an amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids.\u00a0 Not everyone likes fish, for those of us who doesn\u2019t , plant sources like nuts and seed also contain omega-3 fatty acid.<\/p>\n

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                    1. Enjoy your food<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Eating is not only necessary for living, it can add the spice life that we all need. So have fun, make revisions to old recipes, and share your knowledge of food to the younger generations.<\/p>\n

                      Leave a comment and tell us which tip are you most excited about trying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      As we all know, when we increase in age our metabolism decreases. As a result, our food intake has a higher level of importance compared to when we were in our 20\u2019s or 30\u2019s.\u00a0 Here are some quick and easy tips to eating healthier and living a longer life.   Eat a variety of foods […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28,25],"tags":[298,299,300,32,301,302,261,288],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":247,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions\/247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorhealthmedicare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}