There is no doubt that senior living in North Carolina can be stressful. You give up the freedom of your own apartment and have to deal with tight schedules and strict rules. But it doesn’t have to be like this! With some adjustments, you can make the transition from independent living easier for you and your loved one. Senior living is an important part of our lives, and it’s crucial to understand how it can meet your daily nutrient requirements. And if nutrition is an important part of your daily routine, then you should know that most senior-friendly independent living communities have certified dietitians who work with the chefs to ensure that meals are prepared with fresh ingredients geared toward your individual needs. Let’s look at how senior living meets your daily nutrient requirements:
Walking
Walking is a great way to exercise daily, and it’s easier than you think. All it takes is getting up from your desk or chair, putting on some comfortable shoes, and going for a walk. Walking outside in nature can also benefit your mental health; there’s something about being surrounded by trees and sunshine that makes you feel refreshed and relaxed! Walking burns calories and keeps you fit physically, but it also helps prevent heart disease by reducing blood pressure and keeping cholesterol levels down.
Eating A Variety Of Fruits And Vegetables
As we age, it becomes increasingly important to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. The daily recommendation is five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, which should be consumed at least three times daily. Some great examples are leafy greens like spinach or kale; berries such as blueberries or blackberries; orange-colored fruits such as oranges and tangerines; yellow-colored fruits such as peaches or nectarines; red-colored fruits such as cherries or watermelon; and green-colored vegetables like broccoli or green beans. Remember legumes! Beans are also a great source of insoluble fiber that helps the body break down sugars more slowly into smaller particles, so they last longer in your digestive tract.
Avoiding Junk Food
It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ll save your calories for the weekend, but if you’re eating chips and cookies all week long, it doesn’t matter how much you eat on the weekend. Your body is always working to process what it eats. If your diet contains too much junk food, it will use up valuable energy to digest these foods instead of other important functions like repairing cells or keeping your heart healthy.
Avoiding junk food is also important because it helps prevent weight gain, which can lead to heart disease and other health problems later in life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with high blood pressure or heart disease or has high cholesterol levels, avoiding processed foods will help improve their prognosis by reducing their risk of developing additional health conditions associated with these diseases.
Conclusion
Knowing that the food you eat plays a significant role in your daily health and well-being is important. As you grow older, meeting those daily nutrient requirements becomes increasingly challenging. However, retirement communities are equipped with amenities that make eating more enjoyable for older adults.
