Giving your body the right nutrients as you age is essential to maintaining your weight and your health. Your nutritional needs now are different than when you were in your twenties. No longer can you eat a juicy hamburger, salty fries, and drink a chocolate milkshake every other day. Instead, you need to eat the way your body processes food. Keeping a few changes in mind will help you understand why that hamburger no longer meets your body’s needs and what you can do to eat better. Retirement is about enjoying life. Eating healthy will increase your overall wellness and improve your golden years. 4 Age-Related Changes that Affect How Your Body Processes Food
  1. Your Metabolism Slows Down: You may have noticed that you have gained a little weight. It is possible that you are experiencing a slower metabolism where your body is not burning the calories as it did years ago. To stay at a healthy weight, you need to eat less. Also, you need to eat more nutrient-rich foods. Exercise will help you not only keep the pounds from creeping in but will also help you stay healthy, resulting in fewer trips to your doctor.
  2. Your Digestive System Changes: Along with a slowing metabolism, your digestive system may change. Your body produces less of the fluids needed to digest food in your stomach. It also means your body may have trouble efficiently absorbing essential nutrients like vitamins B6 and B12 or folic acid.
  3. Your Appetite Can Change: If you take one or more medications, you may find that you have lost your appetite or your stomach is upset. When you do not feel like eating, your health can suffer because of poor nutrition. It is important that you pay attention to what you are eating and getting the nutrients you need.
  4. Your Emotional Health Can Be Affected: It is not uncommon for seniors to get depressed or be lonely. Often this results in a lack of appetite. Sometimes it can be the opposite, and you or someone you know eats more foods than needed and gains additional pounds.
Tips to Enhance Your Nutritional Health
  • Choose healthy fats such as those found in seeds, nuts, fatty fish, and vegetable oils.
  • Drink more water and eat foods high in water content to stay hydrated.
  • Pick whole grains high in fiber like brown rice and whole grain cereals.
  • Eat some roughage such as raw fruits and vegetables to prevent constipation.
  • Power up with protein-rich foods like beans, eggs, chicken, fish, and lean meats.
At Wesley Enhanced Living, we care for the unique nutritional needs of our residents. Come and tour our Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in and around the Philadelphia region to see the high quality of care we provide. One of our Sales Managers will be happy to show you around, educate you on our services and discuss your requirements. Wesley Enhanced Living provides high quality, personalized care for you and your loved ones. Please visit our CCRCs to know more or click here to request more information today.