7 Important Nutrition Tips That Help Elderly Stay Fit

Experts suggest that the lack of a proper diet is the primary cause for most of the diseases that affect the elderly population. Since seniors also face issues like loss of appetite, it can often result in severe nutrient deficiencies.

Although there are different ways through which seniors can prevent these health issues and deficiencies, maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is one of the most effective ways to do so.

With that in mind, here are some important nutrition tips that can help the elderly stay fit, healthy and active during their golden years.

# Drink Enough Water

Even though this might be one of the most obvious nutritional tips, but drinking enough water and staying hydrated is extremely important for seniors.

Sugary drinks or caffeine are known to cause dehydration among older adults. So, seniors can choose to avoid such drinks and can instead drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

# Go for Fiber-Rich Foods

Fibre is an essential carbohydrate that is known to keep the digestive system healthy and clean. Including fiber-rich foods in their daily diet, can prove to be one of the best home remedies for constipation among seniors.

Apart from this, fiber-rich foods can help with healthy aging among older adults. They also promote healthy cholesterol levels and help in keeping the blood pressure in check.

# Fruits & Veggies

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Seniors, however, need to include at least 5-6 fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, so that their body can receive the ideal amount of proteins and nutrients.

This is because a large number of adults above the age of 65 tend to experience a loss of appetite. But including different types of fruits and vegetables in their lifestyle can help seniors to maintain the nutritional value of their diet.

# Keep an Eye on Nutrition Labels

Purchasing packaged and canned food is an ideal option for older adults who live alone. However, one of the best ways to ensure that the food does not contain any added fat or sugar is to check the nutrition labels.

This will help the seniors to keep a check on the nutritional value of their meal and can help them to choose the ideal kind of food for their diet.

# Healthy Fats

Contrary to popular belief, there is no need for seniors to eliminate all types of fats from their diet. Instead, seniors should focus on cutting off saturated fats as they can lead to high cholesterol levels.

Elders must include foods that contain healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil, fish, etc. These types of foods can protect older adults from different diseases and can also help in improving their mental well-being.

# Include Vitamin-Rich Foods

Vitamins and nutrients that can help in maintaining bone density while also promoting overall health are quite essential for seniors. These include vitamins like Calcium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D and other important vitamins.

They are an ideal addition to the diet and offer various benefits for the body as well. Dairy products, leafy vegetables, fish, cereals, etc. can help the elderly in adding essential vitamins to their daily diet.

# Reduce Consumption of Sugar

Sugar, diabetes and fluctuating blood pressure are common health problems among the elderly. Although seniors love indulging in delicious, sugary treats, they may need to cut down on their overall sugar consumption.

Instead, they can opt for nutritional food that offers ideal amount of proteins and nutrients, along with different types of naturally sweet fruits.