Superfoods for Seniors
If you’re a senior citizen, your body requires additional nutrients than when you were younger, due to different metabolic needs.
There are essential superfoods foods that can help seniors feel better and fight diseases at the same time.
These superfoods are easy to incorporate into daily meals and snacks for seniors:
1. Apples. They’re easy to find in any grocery store, and they’re one of the top superfoods for senior citizens.
- Apples have fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. They’re also a good source of potassium
and can help you feel full longer. In addition, apples can help prevent heart disease and
several types of cancers. - If you’re getting ready to eat an apple, avoid peeling off the skin. The skin of an apple
has high levels of antioxidants.
2. Butternut squash. This squash is a superfood because of its high level of beta carotene.
Beta carotene is essential for healthy eyes and helps prevent heart disease. Senior citizens can also benefit from eating butternut squash because it has fiber and vitamin C.
3. Fava beans. These beans are superfoods for senior citizens because of fibre and vitamins.
Fava beans are linked to better memory and higher energy levels. They contain large
amounts of L-dopa, which is also known as L-dopamine, and this amino acid may reduce
the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are considered to be a legume. A study, titled
“Legume consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in U.S. men and women:
NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study” found that eating more legumes reduced
the risk of heart disease.
4. Quinoa. This grain has essential amino acids along with other vitamins. It’s a superfood
because of the high amount of nutrients it provides.
Quinoa is a good source of protein for senior citizens. In addition, it can help people with
diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and reducing blood pressure. The grain can also
help you feel full for a longer period of time, so you’re less likely to eat junk food.
A study, titled “Evaluation of indigenous grains from the Peruvian Andean region for
antidiabetes and antihypertension potential using in vitro methods,” found that quinoa
can help fight diabetes and hypertension. The grain has an antioxidant called quercetin
that is involved in the process of fighting these diseases.
5. Kale. This common vegetable is a superfood because of its high vitamin K levels and other nutrients.
Kale has a high level of antioxidants that are important for senior citizens. These
antioxidants fight cellular damage and keep cells healthy. They can also prevent diseases
such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Kale also has calcium and fiber, and these nutrients are essential for healthy bodies.
6. Broccoli. This superfood has fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants. It’s considered to be a
nutrient-dense food that provides many health benefits.
A study, titled “Broccoli sprouts: An exceptionally rich source of inducers of enzymes
that protect against chemical carcinogens,” found that this vegetable can help prevent and
fight tumours.
You shouldn’t eat your broccoli alone, or you’ll be missing important health benefits. A
study titled “Enhancing sulforaphane absorption and excretion in healthy men through
the combined consumption of fresh broccoli sprouts and a glucoraphanin-rich powder,”
found that eating broccoli with spicy food helps fight cancer.
Researchers recommend that you add spices, mustard, horseradish or other items to your broccoli to increase its cancer-fighting properties.
When considering a healthy eating regimen, getting superfoods for seniors should be a top goal in reducing the risks of common health conditions.
Superfoods can help prevent disease and provide important nutrients. Take advantage of these superfoods to help you stay happy, healthy and energetic well into your senior years.
