Dietary Changes That Can Boost Body Health In Auburn, NH

Maintaining good nutrition is an essential part of maintaining a senior’s overall health. As a person ages and deals with a slower metabolism and other health concerns, becoming aware of your food selection and intake is more important than ever. Below, are some key nutritional guidelines for seniors as well as options for senior care.

            Protein-Rich Diet Helps Boost Metabolism

            Many seniors complain about slower metabolism. Factors such as lack of exercise, poor sleep, and reduced muscle mass all contribute to a lower level of metabolism. You may believe that dieting would be the answer, but that’s just not the case. Actually, consuming 25% to 30% of daily calories from protein can boost metabolism. Some good sources of protein are turkey, milk, beef, quinoa, and shrimp.

            Increase Calcium Intake to Maintain Bone Health

            Strong bones help seniors prevent injury from falls and fractures. Both calcium and vitamin D are needed to ensure bone health. The Mayo Clinic recommends that men between the ages of 50-70 consume 1,000 mg of calcium while women over the age of 51 consume 1,200 mg. These are guidelines that are followed by Visiting Angels of Auburn. The best way to gain the calcium that your body needs is to incorporate it into your diet. Some good sources of calcium are low-fat plain yogurt, frozen kale, and broccoli rabe.

            Superfoods to Power the Body

            The below superfoods help your body thrive in a variety of ways:

• Blueberries: These delicious blue fruits are high in dietary fiber and are packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E.
• Beans: Beans are a great source of antioxidants and offer a hearty, lower calorie substitute to red meat.
• Greek yogurt: It’s full of probiotics and helps with the digestive system while delivering some much-needed protein.
• Fiber: Vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruit all have tons of dietary fiber and lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar levels.
• Fatty fish: Salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, and shellfish contain omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce blood pressure and high triglycerides and cholesterol.
• Spinach: Spinach fights infection and strengthens the immune system.

            Even though seniors may need a lower amount of calories, they may need a larger amount of calcium, protein, and other nutrients in order to thrive. In order to make sure that your loved one is maintaining good nutrition, you may want to enlist senior care. The senior care provided by Visiting Angels of Auburn includes meal preparation and planning. With the help of our senior care, we can ensure that your loved one is getting the nutrients that they need to thrive. Call Visiting Angels of Auburn to learn more about our senior care and how we can help your loved one eat properly.