7 Essential Dietary Adjustments for Aging Adults

Your metabolism naturally begins to decline as you age. Research has illustrated that a person's metabolism begins to slowly decrease once they enter their 60s. As a result of this gradual drop, your body does not require as many calories as it did when you were younger.

When watching your diet, it's important to consider these metabolic changes. However, make sure that you're still getting enough nutrients from your daily meals. Striking the right balance between managing weight and optimizing nutritional intake is important.

Protein offers a wide range of benefits, from preventing muscle loss to promoting a healthier blood sugar balance. As you age, these benefits become even more vital to your well-being. In addition to the physical perks of protein, this key nutrient also boosts your energy levels, helping you feel more vibrant and upbeat every day.

Recommended sources of high-quality protein for seniors include lean meats (beef, lamb, veal, and pork), poultry (chicken and turkey), seafood, eggs, and dairy products (milk, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese). Experts recommend that seniors aim for a daily protein intake of 1.2 to 2 grams.

Be mindful of how much water you drink every day as you get older. It's common for older adults to drink less water than they need. Although it's normal for appetite and thirst to diminish with age, this doesn't mean that you should deprive yourself of the water your body still needs.

If increasing your daily fluid intake feels like a chore, there are several ways to make it easier. Apps are available to keep track of how much water you drink each day. This will help you become more aware of your hydration needs. Additionally, try to keep a glass of water near you throughout the day and eat foods with high water content, such as melons, strawberries, peaches, oranges, broccoli, peppers, and celery.

One of the biggest health risks that older adults face is a higher susceptibility to osteoporosis. As your bones become weaker and more brittle, your body may struggle to replace bone tissue effectively, resulting in osteoporosis. Key symptoms of this bone disease include back pain, a stooped posture, bones that break easily, and a loss of height over time.

To maintain bone health, it's crucial to make exercise a priority. Light strength training, brisk walking, and racket sports like tennis or pickleball are fun and effective ways to keep your bones strong. It's also important to make sure that you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D through your diet to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium and vitamin D can be found in a wide variety of foods. Good sources of calcium include yogurt, milk, cheese, almonds, sardines, chia seeds, beans, lentils, and spinach. Foods that are rich in vitamin D include salmon, tuna, herring, oranges, egg yolks, and mushrooms.

Adults aged 70 and up should aim for a daily vitamin D intake of 600 international units (IU) and a calcium intake of 1200 milligrams per day. To enhance your absorption of these nutrients, it's important to ensure that you get them directly from food as well as from natural sources like sunlight.

While it's preferable that you get your nutrients from food, some situations might require you to take supplements as well. For example, if you have any dietary restrictions or a medical condition that prevents you from absorbing nutrients properly, you may benefit from supplementation.

It's important to talk to your doctor about supplements to ensure that you follow safe practices. In addition, be sure not to exceed the recommended limit or take less than the suggested dose. Side effects of calcium and vitamin D supplements are rare, but they may cause bloating, gas, and constipation.

Nutrients that improve cognitive function should also be incorporated into your diet. The three main brain-boosting nutrients include antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins. Increasing your intake of these key substances can help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's while enhancing memory and critical thinking.

Be sure to include these nutrients in your daily meals to maintain healthy levels. Foods that are rich in omega-3s include salmon, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, tuna, sardines, kidney beans, and anchovies.

You can also get your daily dose of antioxidants through legumes, beans, whole grains, lean meat, poultry, and dairy. Good sources of vitamin B include eggs, yogurt, beef, fish, legumes, and leafy greens.

Popular dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets, play a key role in promoting healthy brain function. Following these diets can lead to a number of cognitive benefits, such as reduced inflammation, decreased oxidative stress, and a lower risk of dementia.

Numerous foods belong to both the Mediterranean and MIND diets. Both of these dietary patterns are high in plant-based foods, low in animal products, and include seafood at least twice a week. Examples of food groups that are included in each diet are vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, and healthy fats like olive oil and olives.

If you're new to the Mediterranean or MIND diet, designing a meal plan that works for you can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, the flexible nature of both diets makes it easy to diversify your meals and find options that you enjoy. The key is to ensure that you achieve a healthy balance of nutrients.

Tasty but healthy meals that you can try include lamb chops with hummus and roasted tomatoes, chicken with quinoa, Greek salad with shrimp, creamy lemon salmon, and chicken souvlaki pitas.

As you age, managing your blood sugar levels becomes increasingly vital. To maintain healthy levels, the first place you should look is your diet. A well-balanced combination of protein and carbohydrates can help keep your blood sugar in check. Proteins slow down the sugars from carbs and gradually release them into the bloodstream.

It's also important to ensure that you plan your meals in advance. This will prevent you from making last-minute, impulsive decisions that aren't the healthiest choices.

Optimizing your cardiovascular health is crucial as you enter old age. Foods that play an important role in promoting heart health include omega-3-rich foods like salmon and tuna, lean meats like pork tenderloin and turkey, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Striking a balance of macronutrients is also necessary to support cardiovascular health. Make sure to boost your intake of key macronutrients like carbohydrates, fat, and protein.

Older adults are more likely to have an underlying medical condition that can affect their dietary needs. If you've been diagnosed with hypertension or a similar condition, it's important to adjust your diet accordingly. Be sure to avoid highly sweetened beverages like lemonade or soda, sugary foods like maple syrup and candy, alcohol, and saturated fats if you have high blood pressure.

Gastrointestinal issues are also common among seniors. Try to steer clear of inflammatory foods like citrus fruits, fried foods, beans, artificial sugar, and spicy foods if you have a gastrointestinal condition.

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in promoting healthy blood and nerve cells and supporting bone health. Meanwhile, iron is essential to preventing anemia and strengthening the immune system. Zinc is another key nutrient that assists in wound healing and protein synthesis.

Signs of a zinc or B12 deficiency include weakness, loss of appetite, hair loss, a reduced sense of taste, and weight loss. Warning signs of an iron deficiency include fatigue, chills, chest pain, weakness, dizziness, and cold hands or feet.

If you're deficient in zinc, iron, or vitamin B12, there are plenty of foods you can incorporate into your diet. Examples include oysters, crab, legumes, pork, lobster, spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, peas, clams, and sardines.

If you have an underlying medical condition or a restricted diet that prevents you from getting these nutrients through food, be sure to talk to your doctor about supplementation.

A fiber-rich diet plays a crucial role in facilitating digestion and minimizing the risk of heart disease. Fiber may also help to reduce cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. By incorporating enough fiber into your diet, you can enjoy more regular bowel movements and enhanced overall health.

• Healthy tip: Avocados, strawberries, apples, bananas, oats, carrots, beans, peas, lentils, and broccoli are good sources of fiber.

Consuming healthy fats can have a positive impact on overall health. They have been shown to reduce blood pressure and support gut health. More specifically, they help maintain the lining of the gut, which is vital to gastrointestinal health.

• Healthy tip: walnuts, flaxseeds, olives, avocados, peanuts, dark chocolate, and yogurt are among foods that contain beneficial fats.

Maintaining healthy sodium levels in the body is crucial for boosting cardiovascular health and managing blood pressure. Following a low-sodium diet is also vital for decreasing the risk of kidney disease and lowering the risk of certain cancers, especially stomach cancer.

To reduce your sodium intake, try to substitute salt for garlic or spices when cooking. Additionally, do your best to opt for fresh foods over salty, processed foods as much as you can.

It's important to understand the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs are digested quickly and spike blood sugar, while complex carbs are digested more slowly and offer more nutritional value. Try to opt for foods with complex carbs over simple carbs, such as oats, whole grains, beans, brown rice, carrots, and quinoa.

Antioxidants may help protect you from certain diseases, such as heart disease and some cancers. They can also reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's. Foods that are rich in antioxidants include legumes, beans, whole grains, lean meat, poultry, and dairy.

Generally, it's best to eat your meals earlier in the day to allow your body adequate time to digest. It's also best to allow at least 12 hours between breakfast and dinner to optimize metabolism as much as possible. Finally, be sure to have a lighter meal at dinnertime to ensure that you fully digest it before heading to bed.