How Food Affects Senior Health

What is the Best Diet for Seniors?

Diet is an important part of life at any age. The balance of enjoying food and eating healthy is a struggle that everyone faces. This culinary conflict is even more important for the senior community as it is more influential in the quality and longevity of life. Depending on any lifestyle factors, or underlying health issues, specific diets can target an individual’s medical needs. In those circumstances, it is important to speak with a doctor or specialized dietician to isolate the individual needs. However, there are some general guidelines that should be adhered to no matter which particular dietary path one chooses. Three mainstream diets align with healthy guidelines and are widely accepted among the senior community. Each of these diets targets some of the commonplace needs faced by seniors. This is not a comprehensive examination of senior diets, but some general guidelines for senior health and an overview of popular diets that follow those guidelines. 

How Diet Affects Senior Health

Healthy eating guidelines for seniors are similar to those of anyone else – with a few specifics that address the aging digestive system. It is advised to avoid foods that contain added sugars and salts. Foods containing added sugars include all the “good” stuff, like cereals, candies, and cakes. Added salts are commonly found in condiments, canned goods, and chips. Avoiding foods with added sugars helps reduce the risk of weight gain and even diabetes. Steering clear of added salts helps prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. Some of the more age-specific guidelines include the need for protein and vitamins. As we age, it is normal for appetites to reduce due to a slowed digestive system. This can make it difficult to hit protein and vitamin goals. Minimizing added sugars and added salts while being conscientious of consuming the required amount of proteins and vitamins combined can produce excellent health benefits. While these recommendations can produce great results, some diets address more specific issues. 

These three diets include the Mediterranean, Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND). 

Mediterranean Diet

Deriving its name from the diets common in the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, this diet includes a multitude of vegetables, nuts, and fruits with a balanced combination of poultry, fish, and oils. While not excluding the health benefits of moderate wine intake with the interspersed desserts containing mainly fruits and nature’s natural candy, honey. 

This diet focuses on a healthy cardiovascular system while also promoting a healthy digestive system thanks to the fiber-rich nature of the diet. The poly-unsaturated fats found in nuts, seafood, and vegetable oils help combat cardiovascular disease. While the fiber found in the high vegetable intake facilitates the appropriate gut bacteria needed for a healthy digestive tract; in turn, reducing the need for antacids. This combination addresses two prevalent issues in senior health. 

DASH – Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension

The DASH Diet incorporates substantial consumption of animal proteins. This includes foods like red meats and eggs, which are uncommon in the Mediterranean diet. This allowance addresses the above-mentioned need for an appropriate amount of protein in senior’s diets. This diet is also typically lower in fats and sodium, which can be beneficial for lowering blood pressure and promoting healthy weight loss. The DASH Diet does not omit the need for vegetables and nuts, it only adds the dietary benefits of a higher healthy protein consumption. 

MIND – Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay

This diet, as its acronym so accurately implies, combines the nutritional value of both the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet, with a focus on preventing dementia and improving senior health. Dementia is a term that encompasses all of the diseases associated with memory loss.and cognitive function decline, including Alzheimer’s. This diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet in almost every way with an emphasis on the vegetables and fruits that are known to fight the progression of dementia. These include vegetables high in pigments, such as dark leafy greens, as well as berries and nuts. The MIND diet does not suggest red meats, butter, and cheese as those are thought to attribute to dementia progression. Similar to the DASH Diet, it does allow for eggs and fish, which are a great source of healthy protein. 

Right for You

When deciding on an appropriate diet for seniors there are so many factors that should be taken into consideration – and there is not one right answer. Collaborate with your physician to consider the following:

1. What are the underlying health issues?
2. What nutritional requirements may be missing from the current diet?
3. What is actually going to get eaten? 

It is important to eat healthy and consume the appropriate amount of nutrients, but it is equally important to enjoy your meal times. Meals can be more enjoyable, making healthy eating easier, with family, friends, or a senior caregiver companion.

How We Can Help 

If you or your loved one needs an in-home senior caregiver to help shop for and prepare healthy foods, look no further than Serving Seniors Care. Our caring staff is highly experienced in all aspects of senior care; including companion care, personal care, household services, respite care, and more. With extensive training at the industry-renowned Kaiser Vallejo Hospital, many senior caregivers on our staff have been trained to provide post-stroke care and brain and spinal injury rehabilitation. Their invaluable experience and specialized training in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy set our senior caregivers apart from other senior care agencies. Whether your loved one is experiencing cognitive decline, needs post-hospitalization care, or simply could benefit from household assistance and companionship, we are here to provide the care that they need. 

If you are searching for a senior care agency based in Daly City or senior care services in the San Francisco Bay area to provide quality senior care for your elder relative, contact Serving Seniors Care today. 

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