Food is essential in our lives. Eating is both a means of survival and a vital component of our culture. From wedding cakes to birthday cakes, stunning holiday spreads with family, to casual lunches with friends, people frequently commemorate big life events with good food and good company. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a delicious meal?
It is important to note that your food patterns may change as you become advanced in age. Perhaps you’re on a specific diet because of surgery or ailments. Furthermore, as life patterns change, it may become more difficult to buy and cook regular meals.
Here are eight types of food our loved ones should avoid and why:
High Sodium
Food high in sodium should be avoided by those advancing in age, as it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. Instead, they should opt for low sodium options or try cooking their own meals, this allows them to regulate the amount of sodium they consume.
Processed Items
Processed items are high on the list of foods to avoid, this includes perennial favorites such as sausages, pepperoni, canned meats as they contain high volumes of sodium, sugar, and fat. These foods are full of artificial enhancers, which aim to improve the taste of the food but provide little to no nutritional value, and are usually dense in calories. These can lead to issues such as heart attacks, obesity, and high blood pressure. These foods also cause us to feel full faster but often leaves us wanting for more. Our loved ones should change their diet to whole foods such as chicken breast or seafood and vegetables.
Raw
Another type of food to be avoided is raw foods such as sushi or shellfish, which are not either uncooked or often not properly cooked. Although these foods contain vitamins and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, they might also contain parasites or bacteria which can potentially cause food poisoning, leading to septic shock or infections. As we age, our immune system loses the strength that it once had, hence our loved ones are more susceptible to falling sick when consuming such raw food.
Sugary Drinks
Sugary or sweet drinks should also be avoided as much as possible, as they can lead to an increase in blood sugar and other health problems like diabetes. A can of coke contains almost 40 grams of sugar, which is almost 10 teaspoons of sugar, in just one drink. Our loved ones should opt for drinks that contain little to no sugar, such as green tea or water.
Alcohol
Alcohol should also be avoided as much as possible as the body reacts differently as it ages. It can cause blood pressure to increase and potentially cause severe side effects when consumed while undergoing prescription medication treatment. However, an occasional glass or two should be fine if consumed in moderation.
Unpasteurized Milk or Juices
Although milk is a good high-calorie food to help gain weight and avoid malnutrition, adults advancing in years should take note that unpasteurized milk or juices usually have high bacteria levels and are not suitable for those in an older age category. The different bacteria in the juice or milk pose a serious health threat to elderly people as their immune systems are weaker than younger people.
