Basic Dietary Guidelines For Today's Seniors

As you age, your nutritional needs are not much different from what they were in your early adult years. You still need to commit to eating healthy foods, following the recommended dietary guidelines of the FDA as illustrated by the food pyramid. Nevertheless, specialists in gerontology recommend that today’s seniors comply with a few basic dietary emendations.

Eat more fiber-rich foods. This translates into choosing whole grains over refined bread and cereals; eating a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits; and choosing healthy cooking preparations, such as steaming, to preserve natural nutrient and fiber content.

Drink 8 glasses of fresh water daily. Without adequate water intake, your body will respond much as a plum does when placed out in the hot sun. It dries up into a prune. In terms of human physiology, this translates into dehydration, a condition having negative consequences on all body systems.

Increase your calcium intake. Aging is hard on your skeletal system, leaving it vulnerable to osteoporosis, a gradual eroding of vital skeletal tissue that leaves bones vulnerable to breaks and bruises. As a preventative measure, choose foods that are rich calcium sources, such as milk, yogurt, and cheeses (particularly milk cheeses). Also, consider taking a daily calcium supplement that is easily digestible.

Maintaining a healthy diet into your 60’s and 70’s and beyond does not require a course in rocket science any more than did it in your earlier years. Following the guidelines of the FDA along with subscribing to the basic emendations above, will go a long way to ensuring that you maintain a healthy and productive life.