Healthy Tips for the Over Fifties

By Juliette Crane


There are many changes that occur when your body begins to age. Many times activity levels slow as does the metabolism and bit of rounded belly begins to show. Foods that you once hated now sound appealing because your sense of taste and smell diminish through the years. Your body doesn't process the food as well since stomach acid and saliva production diminishes and vitamins like B6, B12 and folic acid diminish because of reduced absorption. The body slows or ceases production of many enzymes and coenzymes that create needed building blocks or aid in the digestion of food. If this all sounds way to grim, don't worry. There are simple remedies to keep you in the pink and get your body up to optimal operation.

Start your day with a balanced breakfast. Most people learn over the years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but they don't take heed because it is also the busiest time of the day. Don't overload your plate with heavy fatty foods but keep the meal light and healthy. Fresh fruit, oatmeal, toast and a cup of coffee, decaffeinated preferred is a well balanced meal.

For a mid-morning snack, enjoy more fruit perhaps alongside some cheese. If you want to get creative you can create a kebab made of strawberries, cheese and grapes. As you get older, your digestion will thank you if you eat smaller meals more frequently. This not only increases metabolism and helps the absorption of nutrition, it also evens out blood sugar and stops you from getting hungry.

Sensible lunches include salads, wraps and soups. Watch out for creamed soups. Many boomers notice that milk products tend to create a multitude of flatulence. The reason may be simple, the older that people become, the less of the enzyme lactase they create to digest the milk sugar. This sits in the stomach and creates all sorts of distress from gas to diarrhea. Even though you may already realize that milk creates digestive problems, don't forget creamy dressings and creamed soups. These sneaky devils contain hidden milk that creeps up to bite you later. Aged cheese, over 60 days, contains very little lactose due to the bacteria that consumes it when the cheese is made. Cheese is the best route to get the needed calcium if you have lactose intolerance.

As you age, if you begin to show signs of food allergies that you never had before, they may not be food allergies at all. If your body is not able to properly digest certain foods, the symptoms can mimic those of some allergies. For example, gluten intolerance can cause real health problems that can often go undetected unless a physician asks the right questions. Wheat and many grain products contain gluten.

With the best will in the world, it is difficult to give your body all the essential vitamins and minerals that it needs. Therefore, it is a good idea to take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement. You can also supplement with enzymes or coenzymes. CoQ10, in particular, is a coenzyme which diminishes in the body as you age. It has been found to help people on cholesterol lowering drugs, those with early onset Alzheimer's disease and heart damage. Supplementing with CoQ10 can make many people feel substantially better.

Keep your processed sugar intake down as each year passes. When you ingest sweets, make them healthy and in the form of fruit. When you eat right, your body tells you with increased vigor and stamina. Add a bit of exercise, whether it be walking, biking, yoga, swimming or anything else to grease the joints and you find that you feel a lot fitter.

Most of all stay active, positive and enjoy life. Sometimes a change of mind creates a completely new outlook. Focus on healthy eating as a challenge and develop interesting menus and new ways of looking at food. Remember, you are the power generation that changed the face of youth; it's time to change the face of aging.




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