Why Proper Nutrition is Important for Elderly?

Our senior loved ones are more prone to Malnutrition. Malnutrition in the elderly causes a weakened immune system, and cognitive impairment that reduces their ability to perform any activities. Our seniors must eat nutritious meals daily to reduce the risk of malnutrition.

What increases the risk of Malnutrition?

⇒  As our beloved seniors' age, their body goes through various changes that affect the way nutrients are taken by the body and how the body uses them. Aging also decreases the strength of muscles and bones and limits physical activity which also affects the metabolic rate. Thus, senior loved ones have fewer caloric needs.

⇒  Our senior loved ones often suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, chronic kidney diseases, cancers etc that alter the nutritional requirement for them further as the presence of these diseases often calls for dietary modifications. Chronic diseases often restrict the consumption of food items that are good for health thus reducing the amount of food intake and in this process the risk of malnutrition increases.

⇒  Senior people often suffer from depression, and loneliness due to which they don’t feel the urge to cook. Moreover, Dementia and economic constraints can also increase the risk of malnutrition. Senior people with Dementia often forget to eat and drink, thus they don’t get the desired nutrients to remain healthy. Also, dental problems, swallowing and chewing difficulties due to some neurological disorder, multiple medications, constipation, etc hamper the amount of food intake in seniors.

Now, let us focus on what steps you can take to ensure that your senior loved ones get proper nutrition to remain healthy:-

⇒  As aging decreases the amount of food intake, your senior loved ones should consume the maximum amount of nutrients per serving. Foods such as oats mixed with dry fruits, dal- khichdi with mixed vegetables, and lots of fresh fruits will provide good nutrients to your beloved seniors. If your beloved seniors are availing of senior care services from an elder care service provider in Kolkata, ensure the caregiver is present during your senior loved one's meal time to help your senior loved ones with food.

⇒  Make sure the foods are well cooked and are easy for your senior loved ones to chew and digest. Include a wide variety of food in your senior loved ones' diet (unless they need to follow some restrictions due to some medical reasons) to provide them with a balanced meal.

⇒  Your senior loved ones may have to follow a salt-restricted diet due to high blood pressure or other conditions and they may find the food bland and lose interest in eating. So, you must season their foods well with lime, herbs such as coriander, parsley, and spices such as cumin, coriander, etc to enhance the taste of the food. Protein intake is very much necessary for your loved ones to remain healthy. Ensure your loved ones consume fish, lean meats such as chicken, eggs, pulses, etc to fulfill their protein requirements.

⇒  Constipation is a common problem in seniors. Your senior loved ones should take fiber-rich foods that are good for regular bowel- movements such as brown bread, atta roti, beans, Dalia, etc. If your senior loved ones face problems in consuming insoluble fibers such as leafy vegetables, whole wheat products foods rich in soluble fibers such as apples, carrots, bananas, etc should be consumed.

⇒  Last but not least make sure, your senior ones keep themselves dehydrated by drinking lots of water and healthy fluids such as fruit juices, buttermilk, chicken broth, coconut water, etc. 

This blog focuses on why proper nutrition is necessary for our beloved seniors and what steps you can follow to ensure that your senior loved ones get enough nutrients to remain healthy and fit.