Good food for the elderly

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1/ The role of nutritional diets in the elderly

Nutrition is a healthy and balanced diet of essential nutrients for the body. Food and daily food will provide nutrition for all of our body's activities. Usually food groups are measured nutrition through protein, carb, fat, water, vitamin and mineral content.
A healthy source of nutrition is extremely important for the elderly. First, this is the basis to help you control your weight and avoid diseases caused by overweight/underweight. It also reduces the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
As you get older, all life problems also change. In particular, health restrictions are becoming more and more obvious. You may need less calories, but nutrition is indispensable and you need to add more protein to avoid muscle loss.

2/ Obstruction reduces the need to use good food for the elderly

As you age, your nutritional needs will change. This change has no fixed rules and depends on the body of each person. Here are some common changes that are common
Calories Usually, the elderly consume fewer calories, so if you eat too much, you will lose weight control. Gaining too much weight will cause great harm to your health and longevity.
Especially, there will be many muscle and joint problems when you get older if you have excess energy for a long time. Due to aging, mobility and endurance decrease. However, if you do not add enough nutrients and exercise, you will face the problem of losing muscle mass. In the elderly, the organs function poorly, slowing down the metabolism and metabolism, so the need to use calories also decreases.
Appetite The stagnation of aging is getting closer and closer, causing the senses to become weaker and weaker. Some people have reduced ability to perceive taste and smell, leading to loss of appetite. Some others get better, they will eat less than the original.
If you're old and can't afford to exercise, then reducing your portion sizes is really a solution. However, nutritionists always advise everyone to supplement with adequate nutrients to maintain the health of organs, muscles and joints. Malnutrition in the elderly is equally harmful to children.
Appearance of health problems Age over time will develop chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, .... Therefore, good food for the elderly needs to be ensured. group of essential nutrients the body needs. Let's say you've been diagnosed with a number of chronic conditions, or try changing to a nutrient-dense, low-calorie diet. You also need to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet to avoid high blood pressure.
Medicines for the elderly Some people need supplements and medicines to treat some chronic diseases when they get older. Some of these are the triggers of anorexia. Therefore, you need to take some supplements to make up for the lack of nutrients. When you take warfarin, you should avoid eating grapefruit so that it does not block the effect of the drug. Add vitamin K to your body to stabilize your diet.
Impaired chewing ability Most seniors are susceptible to oral health problems. This is also a difficulty that hinders your ability to eat and chew. Some due to improperly cleaned dentures cause infections that cause bad harm to the body.
Changes in the immune system The immune system tends to decrease with age. This has inadvertently increased the risk of diseases especially food poisoning in the elderly. Therefore, the issue of food safety for the elderly needs more attention. However, at the same time, you need to add foods that support the immune system to compensate.
Influence from life and family When you get older, the change of members is also one of the big influences on daily living habits. Due to the happy or depressed mentality when adding or reducing the number of members, you are affected by the inherent appetite. Sometimes the large number of family members and different preferences also affect the quality of each meal.
Sometimes you need to talk to your family or a dietitian to find the best solution.

3/Solutions to improve nutrition

Because each person has different nutritional needs, the method is also different. You can learn the method that works best for you through a consultant. Or refer to some of the following strategies:
Use foods that supplement enough nutrients your body needs As your age increases, your calorie needs will decrease, but your nutritional needs will remain the same or increase. Therefore, good food groups for the elderly need to ensure adequate supply of vitamins, minerals, carbs, protein and healthy fats.
You can use some nutritious foods such as: vegetables, fruits, lentils, legumes, seeds, whole grains, low fat milk, lean meat. You should limit the use of fast food groups because they are low in nutrition and high in calories. Soft drinks and snacks are not recommended for the elderly.
Provide the right amount of fiber Even if you are old, you can't ignore fiber to support the digestive system to work properly. At the same time, this is also a good anti-aging agent for the elderly. More specifically than women, soluble fiber will maintain cholesterol at a safe level for health. If you are having difficulty, you can consult a nutritionist to know what foods your body needs to supplement.
Choose foods that are good for the elderly Elderly people should not eat too much sodium to avoid high blood pressure or high sugar consumption. You can choose moderate dishes that are not too heavy or low-sugar fruits to use for better health. Sometimes for convenience you can use some canned food. However, with processed foods, nutritional information should be checked before use.
Consider the nutritional group to supplement Sometimes the diet does not provide the nutrients the body needs. Please consult a nutritionist to be provided with the most suitable menu for your body. Also knowing about the drugs and taboo foods will help you avoid danger.
Provide enough water for the body Some people say that when the body is in a dry state, people will feel thirsty. So you should maintain about 8 glasses of water per day. Be it from juice or from soups do not necessarily add only filtered water if you cannot use too much.
Expanding social relationships Elderly people often appear pessimistic and depressed if they do not have a companion. Therefore, children and grandchildren in the family can also become friends to confide in. In addition, find other friends of the same age to share experiences.
Here you have the answer for what the elderly should eat. Regardless of age, nutrition and living habits also play an essential role.

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References: medlineplus.gov, healthline.com