The older you get, the faster your health will deteriorate, which is why you need to become extra careful about factors affecting your health. Healthy living habits and the food that you eat and the eating habits that you have, in general, tend to get to the very top of this list. Proper nutrition is incredibly important in every stage of your life but, as you grow older, it becomes more and more important. Here are several important eating tips that seniors should adhere to as much as they can.

1. Variety of foods

The first thing you need to understand is that when it comes to proper nutrition, there’s nothing more important than variety. You need protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as micronutrients, such as iron, potassium, calcium and zinc. These can be found in the majority of foods that you already consume, yet, the source of these nutrients and their nature matter just as much. For instance, your protein needs to come from lean meat, your carbohydrates from whole grain products and your fats from egg yolk, avocado and similar fruits. Leafy greens and vegetables, in general, are your best source of micronutrients and fibers.

2. Properly hydrate

The next important thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that properly hydrating tends to keep you safe and healthy, as well as that it benefits your body, as a whole. Like in the previous section, it’s also important that we talk about the source of these liquids. Instead of soft drinks and alcohols that tend to additionally dehydrate your body, you should turn to clean, fresh water. Instead of coffee, you should look for caffeine-rich alternatives like green and black tea. Another great choice you have is fat-free milk, while those interested in something fruitier in flavor should probably look for 100 percent-juice.

3. Fighting dementia

It’s known that some foods contribute to memory loss, in this way, facilitating the development of dementia with senior citizens. White bread, pasta, processed meat and cheese are major culprits and there are numerous medical experts, all across the globe who link it directly to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, all inflammatory foods contribute to the problem.

On the other hand, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and lean protein (all of which we’ve discussed under the section discussing the benefits of food variety) have the opposite effect on your mind. Don’t get us wrong, dementia is sometimes impossible to prevent, however, with proper nutrition and reliable aged care with a specialized dementia program , it can be made a lot more bearable.

4. Keep your use of table salt to a minimum

While it may not sound as dangerous, you need to understand that high blood pressure is a notorious killer, one that annually causes more deaths than cancer. According to one statistic, in the United States alone, a high blood pressure causes over 1,000 deaths every single day. Other than this, high blood pressure causes heart attacks, strokes, chronic heart failure and kidney disease. The worst of it all is the fact that one of its most common causes is the use of table salt. Sure, eating your food without it may seem flavorless, especially for those who are addicted to extra-salty. Nonetheless, the risk is simply not worth it.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you’re the person in charge of your own health. As you could see from the listed-above, a proper eating plan can affect both your mind and body. Other than this, it can also help you keep a healthy body weight, thus putting less pressure on your joints, even giving you more self-confidence. The benefits are simply too numerous to ignore.