Our Senior Care Services Include Nutritional Assistance for Seniors in Hot Springs, AR and Nearby Areas

As people age, it can become more and more difficult to maintain your weight. In Diana Rodriguez’s brief, yet highly informative article on www.everydayhealth.com titled, Meeting Your Nutritional Needs as You Age, she offers important tips and information about our nutritional needs as we age. Senior care from Visiting Angels of Hot Springs can help your loved one eat healthily and maintain a regular exercise routine.

Visiting Angels of Hot Springs Offers Important Information on How Senior Care Can Assist Your Loved One with Their Nutrition Needs as They Age

Many people notice a change in their bodies after they hit 50. Keeping weight off can be more difficult, and your regular diet may need some adjustments. At Visiting Angels of Hot Springs, our senior care services can help seniors live a healthier lifestyle as they age. Some of these bodily changes include:

Your Metabolism Slowing Down

The less you exercise, the more your metabolism slows down. Because people tend to exercise less as they age, they won’t need as many calories as they used to. So how do you combat this?

Eat nutrient-rich food
Continue a healthy exercise routine

Digestive System Changes

As you age, your body will begin to digest food less efficiently. Therefore many seniors must take supplements for folic acid, and vitamin B12 and B6.

Changes in Appetite

As you age, you may need to take more medications. Some medications can alter your appetite.

Emotional Health Changes

Seniors face many emotional challenges as they lose friends and loved ones, as they lose their jobs, or have a hard time coping with physical issues. This can make many seniors depressed which can also minimize their appetites.

How to Stay Healthy

Staying healthy as a senior is important to both your physical and mental health. It is important to continue exercising and to take on a healthier diet. The National Institute on Aging suggests that seniors consume the following daily:

6 teaspoons of oils
5 to 7 ounces of meat and beans
3 cups of milk
5 to 10 ounces of grain
2 to 3.5 cups of vegetables
1.5 to 2.5 cups of fruit

Seniors who must focus more on their heart health are suggested to follow the DASH diet which recommends that seniors consume the following daily:

2 teaspoons of oils
6 ounces or less of chicken, meat, or fish in addition to 4 to 5 servings of seeds, nuts, and/or dried beans every week
2 to 3 cups of milk
7 to 8 ounces of grain
2 to 2.5 cups of vegetables
2 to 2.5 cups of fruit

It is important to remember that everyone will have different dietary needs and you should consult your doctor before making major changes to your diet. However, there are certain nutritional requirements that everyone should have.

Eat healthy fats
Take vitamin B12 supplements
Drink water
Make sure you are getting enough calcium
Eat mostly whole grains
Eat enough protein
Include lots of fiber in your diet

No matter what we do to avoid it, we will get older and our metabolisms will slow down. But the effects of aging can be slowed by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. If you have an elderly loved one who is having a hard time maintaining a healthy diet, senior care can help.

Learn More Today

If you are considering senior care, call our at home care agency today at 501-222-3493 and ask how senior care can help you or your aging loved one.