Any health expert will tell you that there are two steps to living a better life: exercise and a healthy diet. This becomes especially important as we grow older and rings especially true for senior citizens. Exercise and eating well in particular are crucial as they do not only improve our life but prevent the development of various conditions.
Sadly, many senior citizens simply do not have the means or the patience to do what it takes to ensure they are eating well. An improper diet can lead to the development of various conditions such as weight loss, which in turn paves the way for more serious illnesses like weakened bones and muscles, diabetes and various heart conditions.
Still, it can be extremely difficult for seniors to maintain a healthy diet, especially if they are living alone. One way to make sure they are eating properly is to provide them with senior care in Los Angeles, as caregivers can help prepare healthy meals and also tidy the kitchen up after they are done preparing the food.
Apart from that, there are a few easy, but significant changes you can implement in your senior loved one’s diet in order to ensure they are living a healthy and a life that does not lack in quality. Here’s what you can do to ensure this:
Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake
Everybody knows that fruit and vegetables do wonders for your health, but what you didn’t know is that these two groceries should dominate the plate, and make up for at least half of it for each meal. Because they contain some crucial vitamins as well as minerals and fibers, they build up our body’s resistance and can help prevent heart disease and increased blood pressure. Seniors should take at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit every day. You can achieve this by preparing tasty smoothies or salsa and serving them with their regular meals.
Healthier Types of Fat
Bad cholesterol tends to increase if we consume only trans fats and saturated fats. These can also significantly increase the chances of contracting heart disease. By decreasing the amount of animal-based fats by limiting the intake of groceries such as bacon or butter, these fats can be kept in balance. Even simple changes as switching to fat-free milk can make all the difference. Naturally, some fats are essential to human diet, such as plant-based oils, nuts and seeds. These help with cell growth and replenish energy. Taking these steps can also help seniors keep diabetes at bay.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
One of the most important and yet extremely overlooked steps towards a healthier life is proper hydration. Hydration becomes especially important as we age, as the brain sometimes misses the hints body sends about it needing to hydrate. This is why it’s important to implement measures to ensure that seniors are drinking enough water during the day: measuring their bottles, creating a schedule or drinking a small amount of water every hour.
Add More Fibers
Increasing the amount of fibers in your diet is mandatory and applies to people of all ages, and there’s a good reason for that. Consuming enough fiber helps battle weight gain, energizes and reduces the risk of contracting diabetes and cancer and prevents the development of heart disease. Things like vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains will also make you feel full for longer periods of time. Changing the diet to include more fiber is also extremely easy: simply replace your regular bread and pasta with the whole-grain kind, use brown rice instead of white, and use flaxseed to spice up your salad.
