Mushrooms are more than just yummy fungi that you see in soups and sautée. They enable you to reap more health benefits than you think they do, especially in your golden years. Thanks to the benefits of mushrooms, you and your loved ones will be eating healthily past 65 and long after that!
Encouraging Folic Acid Intake
Mushrooms are a delicious source of folate. Specifically, folic acid. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9, which is a vital nutrient that improves the health of various aspects of the body. They improve nerve function, brain health, and the overall production of red blood cells and DNA. Despite this, elderly individuals are commonly found to be deficient in folate. Mushrooms, being rich in folate, are an effective food to incorporate into your and your family members’ meals, receiving the health benefits this vital nutritional component offers!
Protection Against Illness
A majority of cancers include age as a leading risk factor, the median cancer patient age during diagnosis being 66. This is why it’s doubly important to prevent falling victim to cancer once you approach your golden years. A natural way to lessen your and your loved ones’ risk of cancer in the mature stages of your life would be to incorporate foods rich in the nutrients selenium and vitamin D into your diet. Thankfully, mushrooms contain both. These components prevent tumor growth and can deter the growth of cancer cells in one’s body.
Promotes Healthy Digestion
Elderly individuals’ muscles tend to slow down in function once they’ve reached their more advanced years, including the muscles in their digestive system. Furthermore, they tend to engage in less active, or even sedentary lifestyles that lead to digestion slowing down. Unfortunately, this can easily lead to you and your loved ones experiencing digestive issues at the age of 65 and above. This can lead to common digestive health problems that tend to plague older adults, such as:
- Acid reflux
- Constipation
- Malabsorption
- Diverticulosis
A natural way to prevent such problems from occurring in you and your loved one would be to consume foods containing fiber, a nutrient that promotes regular bowel movements. Mushrooms’ fiber content (beta-glucans, chitin) ensures that you and your loved one’s digestive system are in good health.
Keeping Mind Sharp
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a ‘pre-dementia’ condition, at the stage between regular cognitive decline from aging and more severe cognitive impairment such as the various types of dementia. It may sound hard to believe, but studies have shown that including mushrooms in your diet may reduce older adults’ chances of developing MCI. Therefore, by consuming mushrooms, you and your loved one would be preventing the various neurological conditions that MCI leads to, such as Alzheimer’s disease. This allows you to keep your mind sharp and quick, without the various challenges that dementia brings including memory loss and a shorter attention span.
Keep Your Loved One’s Mind Sharp at TerraBella Hillsborough
As your loved one reaches their senior years, they’re likely to experience mental decline. If your loved one requires assistance with daily living, do take a look at TerraBella Hillsborough’s senior living options.
