As you become older, the definition of healthy eating starts to change – foods and drinks that constitute a balanced diet for health may be different from when you were younger. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to choose foods that provide you with the best nutritional value.
Dietary Needs Change with Age
As you get older, your nutritional needs, appetite, and food habits can change in ways that may affect having a balanced diet for your health.
- Needing Fewer Calories
Physiological changes you undergo with age can result in reduced calorie needs. Consequently, this may also lead to an altered body composition from the decreased food intake even in healthy older adults. - Loss of Appetite
A loss of appetite can be compounded by a reduced change in taste and smell and hormone level changes that influence how easily you feel sated. - Slower Metabolism Rate
Often, a less active lifestyle comes with aging. On top of having a slowing metabolism rate, this makes it even more essential to adopt healthy exercise and eating habits to avoid excessive weight gain that may lead to other health implications. - Medications and Illness
Some medications or health problems can negatively influence your appetite or affect taste, which can cause older adults to consume overly sweet or salty foods. Additionally, some can also interact with certain foods and nutritional supplements.
Balanced Diet for Health in Elderly
The key here is to incorporate foods into your diet that are as close to their natural form as possible, which means focusing on whole, minimally processed foods. Here’s how you can eat right today and insure yourself for better health tomorrow:
- Wholemeal Carbohydrates
Always opt for wholemeal varieties of bread, noodles, rice, or crackers over-processed white flour for more fiber and nutrients, and less sugar and refined carbohydrates which can lead to a spike in blood sugar. - Fats
Rather than going on a no-fat diet, pick foods with healthy fats which include peanuts, avocado, salmon that can protect your body against disease and support your mood and brain function. - Protein
Eating high-quality protein can improve your mood, boost your resistance to mental illnesses, and even provide you with mental clarity. Vary your sources of protein instead of relying just on red meat by including more fish, nuts, beans, eggs, and peas in your diet. - Calcium
Consume more milk, kale, almonds, broccoli, tofu, or yogurt into your diet to maintain bone health and to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Balanced Diet for Health Goes Beyond Nutrition
It’s also about the pleasure of eating, which increases when a meal is shared. Eating with others can be as important as adding vitamins to your diet. A social atmosphere stimulates your brain, makes meals more enjoyable, and motivates you to stick to your healthy eating plan.
Be Served Daily Balanced Diets for Health at TerraBella Windsor Lake
No matter your age or your previous habits, it’s never too late to incorporate a healthier diet into your lifestyle. If it motivates you better in creating this new healthy habit, find an accountability buddy neighborhood or consider moving into a senior living community where you can find individuals with similar goals as you.
To learn more about our exclusive senior living options at TerraBella Windsor Lake, call us at 803-902-4017 today!
