Eating Healthy and taking care of your body is important throughout your entire life, however, as we age, we really have to ensure that the Food we are putting in is providing not only the optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, but isn’t causing any unnecessary health risks or potential issues down the line.

After speaking with the team at Seniors Helping Seniors of North Phoenix, an in-home senior care agency that specializes on elder care assistance – we came up with some great tips for increasing your health through your diet!

With the growth and boom of the ongoing organic food and healthy dieting trends, it is easier than ever (and cheaper) to find nutritious, organic food to supply your body with.

One of the more important things that can be a direct result of changing up your diet and eating healthier can be the massive reduction in potential trips to the doctor.

Not only will you be spending less time and money at the doctor, but it can also help seniors with staying independent and healthy as they age. As you grow older, our various needs that our bodies require changes, and you’ll need less overall food and more of a variety of certain nutrients and vitamins.

Deciding to eat healthy and taking the proper steps to provide your body with full nutrition can also help your health drastically – especially if you suffer from any health-related illnesses such as diabetes or high-blood pressure.

It can be extremely helpful to take the time to set up an appointment or two with a certified nutritionist, so you know exactly what your specific requirements will be.

In general, here are our best tips for dieting and researching some healthier food options:

1. Keep in mind your view of what is regarded as a healthy plate. Rather than referring to the outdated food pyramid, look at more recent models that showcase these statistics such as MyPlate. Instead of having percentages or portions for each type of food group, it shows you exactly what your plate should look like with your food portions.
2. Ensure you look for important nutrients and know what your body needs. There are some cases where you may need additional supplements to help improve your body’s absorption of specific vitamins/minerals, however, a healthy diet and overall lifestyle should generally include: Lean protein, fruits & veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Some other nutrients to keep in mind are fiber, sodium (which you should minimize), and vitamin D.
3. Skip pre-packaged foods and prepare meals at home from scratch. Many foods that come packaged have a large variety of chemicals and preservatives in them that can be extremely high in sodium and also may contain products that aren’t good for your body.
4. Stay hydrated throughout the day. One of the biggest reasons many individuals overeat is because they mistake thirst for hunger. Often, you do not notice that are you dehydrated until it is too late, and you are already feeling the effects. It’s absolutely vital to drink as much water as possible throughout the day, with some recommendations reaching up to 1 gallon of water or more!