| A healthy meal is a balanced meal. And it is | | | | person should talk to his physician to overcome |
| required in old age as much as it is in any other | | | | this problem. |
| phase of a person's life. For senior citizens eating | | | | 5. Low activity level: with old age physical activity |
| well can be the key to staying mentally sharp, | | | | level starts coming down. Seniors often cut back |
| emotionally balanced and energetic, with a strong | | | | on activity for physical and medical reasons. And |
| immune system and a positive outlook. A healthy | | | | when the body doesn't exercise it doesn't feel |
| diet in old age can: | | | | hungry. |
| 1. Increase mental acuteness | | | | 6. Emotional reasons: loneliness and depression can |
| 2. Increase resistance to illness and disease | | | | also affect a person's appetite and the diet. |
| 3. Lead to higher energy levels | | | | Sometimes seniors don't eat just because they |
| 4. Lead to a more robust immune system | | | | don't want to eat alone. Feeling depressed also |
| 5. Lead to faster recuperation times | | | | leads to loss of appetite and sometimes it leads |
| 6. And better management of chronic health | | | | to overeating. |
| problems. | | | | Senior citizens need to overcome all these |
| Why people don't eat properly in old age | | | | problems to have a healthy and golden old age. |
| 1. Slow metabolism: the metabolism of the human | | | | Some help from the family members and a good |
| body starts slowing down after the age of 40. So | | | | physician can help the senior come out of these |
| eating the same quantities and types of food that | | | | problems. These days even Elder day care |
| a person ate in his young age is not possible. And | | | | companies arrange for services like cooking, |
| even if a person does he/she tends to gain | | | | taking out to meals and provide company. |
| weight. | | | | The healthy diet of old age must have |
| 2. Loss of taste and appetite: with age a person's | | | | 1. Reduced amount of sodium (salt) to help |
| sense of taste diminishes. So the person either | | | | prevent water retention and high blood pressure. |
| chooses to garnish his/her food more or doesn't | | | | 2. Reduced fat intake in order to maintain healthy |
| feel like eating. And the appetite is also lost with | | | | cholesterol levels |
| time because of the slow metabolism. | | | | 3. More amount of calcium and vitamin D for bone |
| 3. Improper digestion: in the process of getting an | | | | health |
| older a lot of changes take place in the digestive | | | | 4. More fiber-rich foods(roughage like fruits, salads |
| system. As a result of which a person produces | | | | etc) to prevent constipation |
| less amount of saliva and digestive acids. This | | | | 5. Reduced intake of sugar and dry foods |
| makes it difficult for the body to digest certain | | | | 6. Must contain the recommended amount of |
| vitamins and minerals. And hence leading to | | | | important vitamins and minerals |
| digestive problems. | | | | 7. Increased water intake |
| 4. Health issues: sometimes medicines and illness | | | | 8. |
| also have a negative affect on the appetite. A | | | | |