A healthy diet is imperative to stimulate the healing process. For years, you probably told your children how important it was to eat their veggies and follow a healthy lifestyle. As we grow older the body needs nutrients to develop and remain healthy and strong. Eating nutritious food speeds recovery from illness or surgery at any age.
The need for a healthy diet is even greater for seniors. Problem is that as we age, it often becomes harder for us to prepare meals. This pushes us to eat foods that are not nutritious or to rely on fast food and restaurants that are expensive and unhealthy.
Encourage a Healthy Diet
First, we need to grab some facts about the connection between proper diet and health. There is a tendency towards lower appetite levels as we struggle to recover from illness or as we age. Appetite tends to lessen, and we aren’t reclined to eat as much. This can actually be a good thing if physical activity levels also diminish. In other words, you aren’t taking in a lot of calories, but you aren’t burning that many at the same time.
However, if we continue to be physically active, there is a need to eat healthy to keep up caloric input. Failure to do so can leave a person feeling listless and weak.
Medical Problems
Some medical problems that are linked closely to diet are: anemia, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If we develop any of these conditions, it is imperative to sit down with your physician and work out a diet plan to help ease these problems. Making a change to a diet may be tough, but it is essential to maintaining an energetic quality of life. In addition, certain foods do not mix well with medications. Always consult your physician and pharmacist to find out if there is anything you need to avoid.
Don’t Let Dentures Get You Down
Another medical problem that can greatly affect proper diet is your teeth. Some people with dentures have a tendency to eat poorly, or not at all. They claim to be uncomfortable using the dentures, or are embarrassed to use them in public. This is something people need to work around because failure to eat regularly can eventually lead to malnutrition and other health problems.
So…What’s for Dinner?
What is the best diet for a senior citizen? What about those who are recuperating from illness or surgery? Foods to eat include vegetables and fruits that are high in nutrients. Do eat plenty of fiber to help regulate the digestive system, including plenty of whole grains and bran. Try including low-fat dairy products; calcium is essential for staving off osteoporosis. Include some lean proteins, a good source of energy. Some healthy convenience foods are available that are low in sodium and fats, such as steamed vegetables.
On the Do-Not-Eat List
Discourage lots of deep-fried foods or sweets like candy or desserts. Regular dairy products and proteins that are full of fat could lead to heart disease and cholesterol problems. Lastly don’t consume sweetened drinks that are full of sugar, such as sodas, juice, or sweet tea.
If you follow these steps and spend time developing a good diet plan, you can be certain that your health will remain at optimum level. There is no reason why your quality of life should diminish due to poor dietary nutrition. Remember we are here to help you make sound choices when just a few adjustments can help keep you on the path to feeling healthy and happy.