3 Super Foods That Houston Seniors Should Be Including In Their Diets
The release of research from long-term studies has highlighted several essential nutrients that many seniors are lacking. Yet this is even more valuable for individuals who either have a history or are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, or heart diseases. Here is a list of 3 “superfoods” which are all loaded with essential nutrients. So make sure you are including these superfoods in your daily diet.
Super Food No. 1: Salmon & Other Fatty Fish
Cold-water fish like mackerel, sardines, tuna, and salmon, have low amounts of saturated fat and calories, yet they are a rich source of protein. More importantly, they have high levels of omega-3, which is a unique form of health-promoting fat. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid known as DHA which optimizes the triglyceride levels which carry fat into your bloodstream, lowering LDL, which is low-density (bad) cholesterol, and improving high HDL (good) cholesterol which helps to combat deposit build-ups in your arteries. There is evidence that links DHA levels that are low to symptoms such as memory loss, along with other symptoms linked to dementia.
Super Food No. 2: Almonds, Walnuts, & Other Nuts
There is scientific evidence which is now significant suggests that consuming 1 ounce daily of specific types of nuts, more notably pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts, and walnuts, might lower the risks associated with heart disease. Even though nuts are a food type that contains high levels of fat, these are cholesterol-free. Just a small handful of almonds or walnuts each day is all that you need to meet your omega-3 dietary needs. It also provides 35% of the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) for Vitamin E. The medical experts state that Vitamin E might protect individuals against Alzheimer’s disease.
Super Food No. 3: Carrots
Many studies and research has discovered that people that consume anti-oxidants and high levels of Vitamin A over a number of years displayed levels that were significantly decreased of Alzheimer’s disease. This was a lot more pronounced among smokers. One of the other studies conducted linked diets that were rich in zinc, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and beta-carotene to lowering the likelihood of losing proficiency in eyesight due to old age. Carrots are one of the top sources of beta-carotene that your body then converts into Vitamin A.
Just a single carrot (7” long) delivers 203% of the RDA for Vitamin A. Broccoli along with a variety of other vegetables also contain high levels of Vitamin A, but you would need to consume close to 9 broccoli spears to obtain the same amount of Vitamin A that you can get from a single carrot. It is important to not overdo it. If you are eating more than 3 carrots daily, it can saturate your body’s abilities to store Vitamin A, over the short-term. This can show up as a slight orange tint to your skin. Many seniors find it difficult to chew hard foods, which is why it is suggested to lightly steam or microwave vegetables, which will soften them. At the same time, this minimizes nutrient loss.
Do not delay, get your loved ones to the store and buy these superfoods today.
Call us or contact Assisting Hands Houston today with any questions you might have! Visit our blog for more exciting articles about senior care in Houston.
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