Why Seniors Need to Eat a Healthy Diet
Taking care of your health is an important part of your life, especially when you are in your golden years. A healthy diet is one of the easiest and most effective tools you have to take care of your health at home. As a senior, it is important that you take special care in choosing a diet that meets your nutritional needs and gives you the energy and strength you need to navigate your life.
Maintain Brain Health
Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body, and it needs to be taken care of. Certain foods have known qualities that allow them to help your brain health be its best. Things like omega-3 fatty acids have shown a major positive impact on brain health in people of all ages. By taking care of your brain health you can make sure that you can enjoy your later years and spend your time comfortably with the people you love.
Prevent Heart Disease
The right diet can also help you to keep heart disease away. When you are able to take care of your heart you can feel better generally and have more stamina. A low-fat diet can reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating lots of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables will also help you to protect the health of your heart.
Build a Strong Immune System
As you age, your immune system can take a lot of damage and have difficulty fighting off the various illnesses you are exposed to. The food you eat can help you to build up your immune system and be more resistant to many illnesses. As you choose foods that you want to incorporate into your diet, think about the nutritional value they bring to your life. It’s important to treat yourself sometimes, but you want to make sure that your diet is generally good so you take care of your health needs. The stronger your immune system is, the easier it will be for you to stay healthy and accomplish all your goals.
Eating a healthy diet brings a lot of benefits to your life and can help you to feel more comfortable from day to day. Even making small changes to your diet, like adding in more vegetables can help you to feel better and improve your health. Your health is your most important resource, so do what you can to take care of it.
Check out this article on how to help an aging parent in need!
Why You Should Keep an Eye on Aging Parents
Your parents probably did a lot to ensure your health and safety when you were a child. As they grow older, the roles reverse. You should start to look out for their health and safety more as they become more fragile.
Health Concerns
The most obvious concern for aging people is their health. As the human body ages, organs and other parts of the body tend to not work as well as they used to. Some common health concerns in the elderly include heart disease, dehydration, and bone or joint problems. Even if your parents haven’t had a history of health problems, make sure to be on the lookout for these and other common health problems in elderly people. Encourage your parents to make exercise, even as simple as walking or biking, a regular part of their daily routine to keep their bodies moving and healthy.
Protect Them Financially
Just because your parents are older doesn’t mean that their finances are secured for life. The elderly are more likely to be victims of identity theft. Hackers and scammers tend to target the elderly because they have more secure income from retirement funds and social security. Additionally, elderly people tend to be more trusting and can fall for scammers’ tricks. Talk to your aging parents about suspicious calls or offers and about not giving out their personal information.
Mental Health Concerns
When you get older, your body isn’t able to do a lot of the same things you could do when you were younger. While this is normal for all people, it can be very frustrating to not have the same capacity for certain hobbies and activities. Additionally, memory and mental capacity often worsen with age as well. These physical changes paired with the loneliness often associated with old age can lead to serious mental health concerns. Spend time with your aging parents to discover other hobbies and activities they enjoy that they can keep doing at their age. Make sure that they feel fulfilled with what they are able to do in order to help them continue to enjoy life.
Aging parents don’t need to be treated like toddlers, but there are factors in their lives that need to be watched out for. Keeping an eye on aging parents can help ensure that they still have a fulfilling and enjoyable life as they grow older. This is also a great way to show your appreciation and love for them.
Check out these non-medical methods for easing back pain in seniors!
How to Improve Senior Cardiovascular Health With Diet
From the day you are born, it is important to take care of your heart so you can live a long and healthy life. And as you get older the importance of taking care of your heart only increases. When you are in your senior years it is important that you eat a healthy diet that supports your cardiovascular health so you can enjoy your time doing the things you love with the people you care about.
Increase Fiber
Fiber is an important part of your diet for many reasons, but it can have a very positive impact on your heart health in particular. Eating foods that are rich in fiber can help you to improve your digestion and ensure that your heart is getting the nutrients it needs to perform appropriately. You can get fiber by eating whole grain foods and from eating vegetables. You can also increase your fiber intake with supplements if necessary. Getting enough fiber will help you to feel better and be healthier.
Reduce Meat
Eating less meat from day to day can help you to protect your heart. Plant-based diets can reduce cardiovascular health risks as well as diabetes. It is okay to eat meat occasionally and even just cutting down on meat once or twice a week can have a positive impact on your health. You could try implementing a meat free monday into your week to help cut down on the meat you consume.
Eat Healthy Fats
Some people think that they need to avoid all fats in order to maintain their heart health, and that isn’t necessarily true. In fact, certain kinds of fat can actually improve your heart’s health when you eat them in moderation. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish for example can have a positive impact on your cardiovascular system. So while you may want to cut down on some fats, you don’t want to avoid fat all together. It is also important to pay attention to low or no fat foods, since in many cases they make up for the lack of fat with an increase of sugar and other unhealthy elements.
Taking care of your heart health doesn’t have to be a hugely complicated thing. In fact, you can help control your heart’s health with a little additional care and thought about the things you eat. Eating a heart healthy diet can improve your health in important and impactful ways over the course of your life.
Check out these healthy foods that are easy for seniors to eat!
Non-Medicinal Methods for Easing Back Pain in Seniors
Back pain is becoming more and more commonplace in more and more people. Lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain—you name it. This problem occurs most often with the seniors in our lives, so here are some things you can do to help your loved ones out.
Applying Heat and Cold
Some might assume that pain relief only can be found by taking heavy medication. This is not the case! While lighter medications that you can buy without a prescription can help, there are also at-home remedies that are wonderful. One of the simplest is the alternating application of hot and cold on the painful area in question. You can use dry heat, like a hot water bottle or a heating pad, or wet heat like a hot bath to ease the pain or stiffness of a certain area. You generally can keep the heat on as long as you like, even an hour or two if necessary. Do what feels comfortable! Cold treatment, on the other hand, should not be done for more than twenty minutes because it restricts circulation. For that, you can use ice packs or ice baths to reduce swelling and numb pain.
Massage Therapy
This one you can do at home, or at a professional location for a fee. If the senior has a trusted loved one who can help them, then by all means they should lay down on a couch and give the home massage a shot. The makeshift masseuse should be sure to listen and respond to the instructions and pain level of the senior. A professional massage, although it may cost you, can work wonders for spinal discomfort. Massage therapy offers multiple other benefits as well. In addition to loosening tight muscles that could be contributing to back pain, it increases blood flow and can help with mental relaxation.
Developing Proper Posture
It’s never too late to improve your posture! With all of the television and computer screens that we consume, it’s very easy to let your posture become lazier and lazier over the years. Even the common design of the chairs that we sit in are shaped to have your hip muscles cave inwards in such a way that it makes you far more likely to develop back pain over the years. Help your seniors practice proper posture according to their doctor or chiropractor’s instructions.
It can be hard to see someone you love grow old and begin to struggle with daily life. These are things you can do to help them in a simple, straightforward way. With time, consistency, and the right chiropractor, they can and will find the pain relief they seek.
Check out this article on healthy foods that are easy for seniors to eat!
Fun Family Activities to Do During a Vacation to Mexico
While an exotic location like Mexico may be the ideal location for couples, the fact of the matter is that it also presents some wonderful opportunities for families as well! No matter how old, your kids will gain valuable perspective and have tons of fun exploring idyllic beaches. Here are some suggestions that you can start with!
Eat Amazing Mexican Food
Honestly, it’s impossible to overstate: Tex-Mex just does not compare to authentic Mexican food! As good as the Americanized version can be, it lacks so much of the freshness and spice that sets a truly Mexican dish apart. There is so much to choose from, as well – from the cold, sweet horchata cinnamon drink, to chilaquiles, to pozole, to the steaming-hot empanadas. There is a vast culinary world to explore that offers equal parts adventure and safety (for the picky younger kids!). The numerous variations on tender, flavorful meat, paired with or wrapped inside freshly fried dough will rarely disappoint. When all else fails, find the tried-and-true street taco in a corn tortilla. When it comes to food, Mexico doesn’t compromise!
Go Surfing
Mexico has miles upon miles of beautiful beaches – especially around the lengthy and gorgeous Yucatan Peninsula. But your selection is going to depend a whole lot on what you’re looking to do! Some of the beaches that are best known for their pearly white sand, shockingly blue ocean water, and flourishing greenery include Cozumel, Playa Azul, Playa de Amor, Cancun… the list goes on and on. Or, if you’re looking to hit the waves and hang ten, the Sayulita and Litibu beaches are pretty beginner friendly, which can make them great options for families with newer surfers. If your kids are already experienced, go to some of the world-class, professional surfing locations; the coast of Oaxaca is well-renowned for that exact reason.
Cultural Experiences and Exploration
Beyond the memories you will make as a family, by far the most valuable thing you can get your kids out of a Mexico vacation is another perspective. You’re visiting another country, after all– with its own history, culture, and language! What an incredible opportunity to teach your children some Spanish words and phrases. You can explore any one of the numerous museums, indigenous sites, or natural wonders in order to learn about the Mexican nation’s history. Older kids would no doubt love to be educated on contemporary issues in Mexican society, as well.
A vacation really is just a wonderful opportunity: an opportunity to grow closer as a family, and to enjoy time together that you have worked hard to earn. Mexico is a relatively cheap and exciting option to create those memories! If you want your kids to gain valuable experience and have tons of fun, this is the option for you.
Check out this article on why you need to create healthy relationships with your teen!
How to Help an Aging Parent in Need
When parents grow older or develop health issues, it’s natural to worry about their wellbeing. You want them to enjoy their golden years in a safe, secure, and supportive environment while also maintaining their independence as long as they can. You can take several proactive steps to assist them.
Move Close to Them
You may worry less about your parents if you move closer to them. Long-distance caregiving is difficult for all involved. You can’t hop on a plane or drive for days every time you feel uneasy about what’s happening with Mom or Dad. Moving closer may be an option for you if you are retired or an empty-nester.
Another option is to persuade your parents to move closer to you. Many seniors are living in large homes that are now too much of a burden to keep clean and maintain. Downsizing to a smaller place near family members might have more appeal than you think.
Provide Financial Help
The world is changing quickly, especially in our digital age, and elderly seniors may have difficulty managing their finances. You may offer to help with online banking or investments or set up automatic bill-paying to relieve them of the worry.
It’s also a good idea to set up a financial power of attorney. This adds another layer of protection for seniors, especially those who may be preoccupied with health problems or experiencing cognitive decline. The elderly are most at risk of identity theft, especially those in a nursing home. You can protect them from scams.
Assist Them with Health Needs
Elderly seniors often need assistance with health needs but may be reluctant to ask. You should keep a close eye on signs they may not be getting the healthcare they need. You may notice your parent’s grooming or hygiene has declined or they may seem lethargic or confused. Changes in diets or forgetting to take medications are also concerning signs.
Often, a parent will be more willing to accept help from someone other than a child. There are many levels of home healthcare assistance available, ranging from companion care to home nursing.
As your parents age, there are many steps you can take to assist them with their daily living. Helping to provide for your parents’ needs can ease their burden and your worries. Moreover, it can give you quality time with your loved ones.
Check out this article on how seniors can prevent major dental issues!
Healthy Foods That Are Easy for Seniors to Eat
We all know the importance of eating healthy as children and young adults: to fuel the body properly for growth and aging into a full-grown adult in the best way possible. But healthy eating is not just for the young, healthy eating is for everyone. There are few things that you can do that are beneficial to your health such as eating a healthy diet, regardless of your age. But with age, it can become difficult to eat certain healthy foods that are tough, hard, or otherwise difficult for the elderly to eat. Here are three healthy foods that are easy for seniors to eat to help them get a balanced diet.
Oatmeal
One of the best healthy foods that is easy for seniors to eat is oatmeal. Oatmeal is wonderful because it is flavorful, filling, and easy to chew, since it is soft and mushy. Oatmeal is wonderful because it is full of fiber and whole grains (assuming you are using high quality, healthy oats) that can support digestive health in the elderly, as well as feeding the good gut bacteria in your body. Dress up your oatmeal with a little bit of sliced fresh fruit, yogurt, and some cinnamon for a truly delicious breakfast.
Soup
Another great healthy food that is easy for seniors to eat is soup. Just like oatmeal, soup is wonderful since it requires very little chewing, and what chewing it does require is occupied by soft veggies and meats in the soup. Soup is full of nutritious ingredients that can make a filling meal. For seniors, try to focus on soups that are very smooth, or involve softer chunks, like potatoes, well-cooked veggies, and small, tender meats and fish. A baked potato soup, or chicken noodle are great soups to start for seniors.
Smoothies
And last on our list today, another healthy food that is easy for seniors to eat is smoothies. Smoothies are wonderful because they can take what would normally be difficult foods for seniors, like hard fruits or veggies, and turn them into a smooth and delicious drink. Smoothies that are full of fresh fruits and veggies are incredibly nutritious and are outrageously delicious. Try giving the senior in your life a homemade smoothie for new foods that are easy to eat.
Eating healthy is one of the most important things that you can do for your long-term health. And this is true even for seniors, even though it may be harder for them to eat. Focus on serving your seniors these easy to eat, nutritious meals.
Check out this article to learn how to spot certain health concerns early on!
3 Great Exercises for Seniors with Limited Mobility
Keeping fit is important for senior citizens. However, as you grow older, it’s not unusual for you to develop conditions that limit your mobility and make some exercises painful or difficult. Don’t give up—there are exercises that can accommodate any mobility limitations you may have.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is great for seniors with limited mobility because it involves slow movements. In doing Tai Chi, you stand mostly in one place, while moving the arms, shoulders, heads, legs, and trunk in deliberate, choreographed movements. It stretches your muscles and joints gently.
The benefits of Tai Chi are numerous. It strengthens the core, leading to improved balance and muscle strength. Good balance helps prevent falls. Tai Chi also lowers blood pressure and improves circulation. It may encourage better sleep and mental health. Just a few minutes of Tai Chi each day can make a difference in your health and fitness.
Swimming
Swimming takes the pressure off your joints and allows you to move more freely. The water in a pool provides gentle resistance, which is part of why swimming is gentle on your joints. Movements that are painful on land are easy to do in the water. At the same time, swimming can give you a good workout and keep your muscles and bones strong.
If mobility limitations make traditional swimming difficult, seniors can also benefit from swim-walking and water aerobics. Swim-walking in the shallow end of a pool gives you aerobic benefits and increases your endurance. A water aerobics class is a fun way to work out all parts of your body.
Chair Yoga
If standing, walking, or balance is difficult, you may benefit from chair yoga. This is typically done in a class, but there are several videos available you can follow along with at home. With chair yoga, you do all exercises while safely seated.
Most chair yoga exercises involve stretching the upper body, focusing on muscle strength and flexibility, as well as deep breathing, although there are also some exercises for the lower body. Like traditional yoga, chair yoga improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces depression.
As you grow older, mobility limitations don’t mean you have to give up exercising. You can benefit from any type of fitness that involves moving and stretching your body. Many traditional forms of exercise can also be easily adapted to suit your needs.
Check out this article on how seniors can prevent major dental issues!
How Seniors Can Prevent Major Dental Issues
As you age, it can be increasingly difficult to take care of your dental hygiene. Especially since your teeth might lose their strength over time, you might have more and more dental issues as you or your loved ones grow older. Here are a few ways seniors can prevent major dental hygiene issues.
Take Care of Your Oral Hygiene
First off, Millenium Dental says you should have a foundation of good oral hygiene habits. It is important to brush your teeth for a few minutes at least twice a day. It is also important that you floss your teeth daily since food residue can get stuck in between teeth, causing cavities or infections. If you struggle with cavities, using an electric toothbrush or waterpik flosser, which can greatly improve your oral hygiene. Drinking fluoridated water and using fluoride toothpaste can also strengthen your teeth and decrease your oral health issues.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Another great way to prevent major dental issues is to get into the habit of eating a healthy diet. There are certain foods that can strengthen your teeth, and there are certain foods that can cause issues such as cavities and infections. For example, Maccaro Pediatric Dentistry says fibrous fruits and vegetables are great for your teeth. Starchy foods and sugary foods, on the other hand, can cause your teeth to be more susceptible to cavities. Even acidic foods such as oranges or lemons can wear down your teeth over time if eaten very often. By having a balanced diet and tracking what you eat, you can reduce the risk of oral health issues.
Visit the Dentist
Finally, Alexandria Art of Dentistry says it is very important that you and your aging loved ones visit the dentist regularly. Especially since your teeth get more sensitive and worn down as you age, your biannual visits to the dentist become even more important. In these visits, you’ll likely have a routine cleaning and flossing, as well as have some tests done that can detect cavities or infections. If you end up having some issues with your oral hygiene, your dentist will be able to give you the best advice on how to resolve and treat those issues.
As you’re trying to figure out how you can help your loved ones to maintain their oral health, remember the suggestions that have been discussed in this article. Taking the different lifestyle steps to prevent major dental issues can help simplify some of the health issues that happen as you age. Remember to implement these different steps to promote the best dental health possible for yourself and your loved ones.
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Nutrients Every Senior Needs to Be Healthy
Seniors need to be conscientious of their health. While there are many things that need to be considered, diet and nutrition should be a priority. In order to stay healthy, there are certain nutrients seniors need to make sure are included in their diet.
Calcium and Vitamin D
With age, bones and muscles begin to weaken. Calcium is a key nutrient that can help with bone and muscle strength. As you’re probably aware, calcium is found in most dairy products, but it is family found in milk. However, other sources of calcium include seeds, nuts, lentils, beans, and fish. Choosing from these foods can help provide more variety. In addition to calcium, it’s important to include vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential because it helps your body absorb calcium. It can also be beneficial for improving mood. You can get vitamin D from the sun, but there are also foods, such as milk or juice, that are fortified with vitamin D. Taking a vitamin D supplement is also an option.
Fiber
Fiber can do many wonders for the body. One of the top benefits for seniors is fiber’s ability to lower cholesterol. This can help decrease risk of heart attacks and other related issues. Getting enough fiber in your diet can reduce your chances of developing hemorrhoids and dealing with the symptoms that go with them. Fiber is found in most fruits, vegetables, and grains. Basically, any food that takes a lot of chewing has a good amount of fiber. Specifically, you can make sure to include beans, berries, whole grains, potatoes, etc.
Vitamin B12
Like many other vitamins and nutrients, vitamin B12 has a wide range of benefits. You can see improvements in brain function, muscle and bone strength, mood, and even better hair, nails, and skin. However, vitamin B12 is especially important in red blood cell formation. It helps red blood cells to form properly so they can deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Keeping up with vitamin B12 is beneficial to seniors because having a well-functioning circulatory system can benefit many other systems in the body.
There are many essential vitamins and nutrients. It’s important for seniors to try and include all of these essential nutrients in order to keep up their health. If it is a challenge to maintain every nutrient, an effort should be made to at least include these nutrients.
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