Maintaining a healthy diet and good nutrition intake is pivotal to leading a healthy lifestyle—especially for elderly people. A World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that improper diet is the main reason behind a majority of the diseases that older people suffer from.

Unfortunately, elderly people often experience micronutrients deficiency, primarily due to reduced appetite and a lack of variety in their diet. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy diet for your loved ones.

Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables

Make sure to add a variety of nutritious and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to their diet. With fruits, don’t rely solely on apples or bananas, instead, go for color-rich pickings like berries, cherries, and oranges. Moreover, choose leafy greens like broccoli, spinach, and kale as well as colorful ones such as beets and carrots.

The best way to consume veggies is by making a salad. You can add a tablespoon or two of olive oil as a dressing or perhaps add some goat cheese to give it a richer flavor profile.

Be watchful of your carb intake

Try to cut down, if not eliminate, processed and refined carbs such as white flour, white rice, and processed sugar, as they cause an increase in the blood sugar levels, followed by a rapid crash, which ultimately leads to overeating issues and obesity.

Swap the unhealthy carbs with healthier, complex sources of carbs—like brown rice, flour, and pasta—which are rich in nutrients, especially fiber.

Opt for foods that are high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Including fatty acids in a diet can be extremely beneficial for health—particularly for elderly people. This is due to their anti-inflammatory properties that provide protection from serious medical conditions such as arthritis, cancer, and heart diseases.

Some great sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish—mainly Tuna, Salmon, and Mackerel. Other options include flaxseed, walnuts, and soybeans.

Add calcium-rich foods in your diet plan

Calcium plays an important role in keeping our bones strong. It’s so essential for our body that if we don’t get enough calcium, our body starts to reabsorb it from the bones, which can lead to severe medical conditions such as osteoporosis

Foods that are rich in calcium include leafy vegetables and dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt. You should try to meet your daily calcium intake requirements via your diet; but if you’re unable to do so, then you must take calcium supplements, as directed by a medical professional, of course.

Consume foods rich in fiber

As we age, our digestive system tends to slow down; this affects our ability to digest food. To counter this, include foods that are rich in fiber in your diet as they promote proper digestion and facilitate the process of the food moving through the digestive tract.

Moreover, fiber also reduces the risk of heart diseases. As mentioned previously, fiber-rich food includes wholegrain bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. Also, fruits, vegetables, and nuts also help you meet your daily fiber intake requirements.

Stay hydrated

Water is one of the most—or perhaps the most—important part of our diets; yet, it’s ignored very often. As we age, our body’s ability to conserve water is reduced, so we don’t feel thirsty much. But the body still needs water.

This can lead to dehydration, which may result in confusion and drowsiness, among several other medical problems. Therefore, it’s crucial to make sure that you’re properly hydrated throughout the day.

It’s recommended that you consume at least 8 glasses of water every day. If you find it difficult to drink plenty of water at once; try to keep a water bottle with you and take a sip every now and then.

Looking for a Personalized Care Providing Community?

If you’re looking for a reliable senior living community in Beverly Hills, CA for your elderly loved one, contact AGS Living.

We’re an assisted living community in Beverly Hills, CA who offers customized care to elderly people and highly emphasizes on providing personalized solutions.

For more information, you may give us a call at (818) 881-0055 or visit our website.