Five Great Superfoods For Seniors

A healthy diet is vital to your wellbeing, providing countless benefits for your mental and physical health. While maintaining a healthy diet can be overlooked, the impacts of poor food choices can harm your body. Just a few tweaks to your eating habits can promote wellness. This is especially important for seniors because they are more at risk of developing medical issues. A proper diet can help keep you in better health by boosting your immune system, mental health, and physical health. Add some of the foods below to your diet for a health boost. 

1.  Leafy Green Vegetables

One of the most crucial foods to implement into a healthy diet is leafy green vegetables. Foods such as broccoli, spinach, kale, and arugula are known to improve heart health by reducing heart disease risk and preserving muscle function. These vegetables also have a high fiber content which is beneficial to digestion. Not only will green vegetables provide physical benefits, but you will also be at a reduced risk of developing dementia due to the antioxidants in leafy greens.

2. Fatty Fish

Fish is a lean source of protein and can be another great addition to your diet. Fatty fish options like cod, trout, salmon, and tuna, can help older people build and retain muscle. Proper protein intake is especially important for seniors because advanced age leads to a decrease in the efficiency of protein use. Fish is a key source of vitamin B12, which is vital to nerve function, red blood cell formation, and DNA production.

 3. Beans or Legumes

Both Beans and legumes are high in fiber and protein but low in calories. They can be a great food to manage weight and physical health while providing appropriate protein, iron, potassium, and fiber. They are a suitable alternative to eating meat for daily protein intake.

Berries are nature’s all-in-one superfood and have countless benefits – especially for those over 50. Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are high in fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds that reduce inflammation. On top of this, berries are healthy for your brain and known to improve motor skills and short-term memory and decrease the rate of cognitive decline.

 5. Water

Though not directly food, water is the source of all life and is the most crucial part of maintaining a healthy diet. Proper hydration has countless benefits and is essential for everyone’s health. Seniors must ensure they are adequately hydrated, as aging can reduce your thirst mechanisms and make it easy to overlook your water intake. Dehydration is especially important to watch when the weather is warm, and you produce sweat. Proper hydration will keep organs healthy, improve sleep, and strengthen cognition.

Work With a Home Care Aide to Promote Wellness

A healthy diet becomes more critical to keeping physically and mentally fit as we age. Adding superfoods to your diet can reduce the chance of developing various health complications. Implementing healthy foods into your diet may feel overwhelming, but working with a paid caregiver or CDPAP caregiver can help you stick to your goals. The home care aides at Rockaway Home Care are here to support you in improving your health as a senior. Contact us today to get help and support.