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| Consider a service such as Mom's Meals to maintain healthy dietary habits. |
Bodies need different things at different stages. What a teenage boy eats during their active youth would make a sedentary senior obese in no time. The fact is, the body has different caloric and nutritional requirements during the different stages of life. While the general principles of health remain the same, it is critical for seniors to know how their dietary needs many be changing so they can meet those needs for greater health.
Metabolic changes: As people age, the metabolism slows, and this means that it can be more difficult to lose weight. The body burs fewer calories, even if you are as physically active as you once were, you may need to cut back on calories. Seniors should consider caloric needs carefully, as maintaining a healthy weight can help ward off other problems and conditions.
Digestion: The body has greater difficulty processing certain vitamins and minerals as we age. This is often a result of decreased saliva and stomach acid. Increasing fiber intake, and supplementing for things like B12, folic acid, etc. can help to maintain mental alertness, and help the body function properly. Seniors should consider taking a multi-vitamin, and focus on eating foods in their raw whole form, rather than processed. Whole fruit, for example, provides greater fiber than fruit juice.
Hydration: Many seniors suffer problems associated with dehydration. As the body ages, the ability to regulate fluids may decrease, as well as the sense of thirst. Thus, the body does not signal when it needs water. Seniors should track fluid intake, and be sure to always have a drink on hand to prevent problems with dehydration such as dizziness.
Senses: Just as the sense of thirst can decrease, so can the sense of smell and taste. This means that many seniors will over-salt foods, etc., to help them taste better. This can lead to high sodium intake, high blood pressure, and water retention. Consider using spices to season foods rather than salt. Look for naturally sweet foods, rather than using sugars.
Medications: Often times the health conditions of a senior will impact their diet. Heart conditions may require low sodium foods, kidney conditions may require a renal friendly diet etc. Talk to your doctor to determine how nutritional needs may be impacted by health conditions, and what to watch out for.
In order to maintain healthy dietary habits, consider using a service such as Mom’s Meals, which delivers freshly prepared meals to the senior’s door, can meet dietary restrictions such as diabetes, renal, and heart healthy, and offers over 70 menu items for variety and choice.
Help support this ad free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here. It will take just two minutes.
About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.
Digestion: The body has greater difficulty processing certain vitamins and minerals as we age. This is often a result of decreased saliva and stomach acid. Increasing fiber intake, and supplementing for things like B12, folic acid, etc. can help to maintain mental alertness, and help the body function properly. Seniors should consider taking a multi-vitamin, and focus on eating foods in their raw whole form, rather than processed. Whole fruit, for example, provides greater fiber than fruit juice.
Hydration: Many seniors suffer problems associated with dehydration. As the body ages, the ability to regulate fluids may decrease, as well as the sense of thirst. Thus, the body does not signal when it needs water. Seniors should track fluid intake, and be sure to always have a drink on hand to prevent problems with dehydration such as dizziness.
Senses: Just as the sense of thirst can decrease, so can the sense of smell and taste. This means that many seniors will over-salt foods, etc., to help them taste better. This can lead to high sodium intake, high blood pressure, and water retention. Consider using spices to season foods rather than salt. Look for naturally sweet foods, rather than using sugars.
Medications: Often times the health conditions of a senior will impact their diet. Heart conditions may require low sodium foods, kidney conditions may require a renal friendly diet etc. Talk to your doctor to determine how nutritional needs may be impacted by health conditions, and what to watch out for.
In order to maintain healthy dietary habits, consider using a service such as Mom’s Meals, which delivers freshly prepared meals to the senior’s door, can meet dietary restrictions such as diabetes, renal, and heart healthy, and offers over 70 menu items for variety and choice.
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Help support this ad free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here. It will take just two minutes.
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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.
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