We all want our grandparents and older parents to live as long as possible, while having an independent and full life. While many factors go into this, diet is perhaps the easiest factor to change to help our loved ones stay healthy into their golden years.
Here are 8 delicious “super foods” that can help improve your loved one’s diet.
Blueberries are not only delicious, but they are also packed with antioxidants. These help to encourage good cell growth and to fight off free radicals. Diets high in antioxidants can help reduce the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease.
Like blueberries, this fruit is full of antioxidants, and one in particular – Lycopene. Lycopene is a nutrient that has been show to help prevent prostate cancer. However, women can also benefit from increased consumption of Lycopene as it also helps the digestive system, which slows down with age.
Green tea is a super food that is especially beneficial for seniors. While caffeine in excess can be dangerous, studies have shown that green tea’s moderate caffeine levels actually have a positive impact on heart health. In addition, recent studies have shown that green tea can also help improve bone strength in older adults.
Wait, alcohol is on the list? Well, only red wine—and only one glass! Drinking one small glass of red wine per day has been shown to offer meaningful health benefits for the heart. Its anti-clotting properties can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In addition, red wine is full of polyphenols that can help reduce the risk of cancer – in fact, red wine has more antioxidants than other “super foods” such as Açaí.
Whether your grandparents like kidney beans, green beans or even baked beans, there are many benefits to adding this to their shopping list. Beans are indeed a “super food” for seniors because of the high levels of of fiber, protein and calcium they contain. Not only do they help to regulate the digestive system, but they also help promote bone and muscle strength.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common ailments affecting all adults. The good news is that dark leafy greens, such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard can help boost iron levels, improving the body’s ability to carry oxygen from the lungs.
Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is important in helping the body’s metabolism. This acid can be found in oily fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. But be careful of overdoing it - while Omega-3 supplements are often sold at the pharmacy, the health benefits of supplementation are unproven.
We have already told you caffeine and alcohol can have positive health effects, so maybe it won’t seem strange to suggest that a delicious pastry can also have a place in a healthy senior’s diet. At least if that pastry has a lot of cinnamon and not a lot of calories… Cinnamon contains a molecule known as cinnamaldehyde which gives the spice its signature taste and odor. Cinnamaldehyde has been shown to reduce cholesterol, fight the onset of dementia, and even help kill bad breath!
As we get older, it is important to remember that eating healthy does not have to mean eating things we don’t like. There are a number of super foods that can help our seniors get the vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants they need to help live a long and tasty life.
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