Healthy eating has become the fashion for many 21st-century men and women. Choosing healthy eating programs for seniors is vital to aging bodies. Seniors need foods that will boost their immune systems, provide fiber, and increase their energy is a goal so many have committed to reach.
Determining a plan that suits seniors lifestyles is easy since there are currently so many choices available. Depending on their health and what they like to eat, they can begin benefitting from a smart diet.
10 Healthy Diets
Here are 10 of the best-known healthy lifestyle approaches that are making the rounds today. Remember that some of the diets listed below may not be suitable to your senior loved one’s health. Also, some diets may not help you lose the amount of weight you want. Always check with your doctor to see if you are healthy enough to start. Or, your doctor may recommend another weight loss program.
Paleo Diet – This diet concentrates on foods that the average caveman would have eaten. The Paleo Diet was developed by Loren Cordain, Ph.D., promotes the idea that real and whole foods produce remarkably good health benefits.
Cordain says eating only grass-fed animals’ meat, fish and seafood, eggs (free-range, pastured, or omega-3 enriched), vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats and oils will assist your body in getting to its healthy weight, strengthen your immune system, and much more.
The plan is simple to implement, and information galore exists on the internet.
Whole 30 – The Whole 30 eating plan requires its users to omit dairy, grains, and sugar from their daily diets for 30 days.
The result is a pretty thorough cleansing of the inflammation caused by the three food categories you eliminate. And many people lose up to ten pounds over the 30 days.
Purchasing and preparing the foods that are allowed is not a struggle.
Ketogenic Diet – The Ketogenic Diet is a high-fat, minimal-carbohydrate diet that sounds very much like the Atkins Diet which made its debut in 1972.
Studies have shown this eating plan can help its users lose weight and improve their overall health. The foods consumed put your body into a state called “ketosis.” In short, this state results in your body becoming more efficient at burning fat.
Of the several diets that induce ketosis, naturally, the Ketogenic Diet creators say the standard ketogenic diet (SKD) is the best researched and most recommended.
Atkins Diet – As for the Atkins Diet, named after its founder, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, it is still going strong.
The diet focuses on protein and fat, along with mineral and vitamin supplements. Atkins also recommended drinking eight ounces of water, eight times a day.
Nutritionists have advised dieters to choose healthy fats, and others have warned that this eating lifestyle is not sustainable for most individuals. Muscle cramps, diarrhea, and weakness have occurred as a result of following this dietary plan.
Detox and Juicing Diets – Detox and juicing are still all the rage. The fasting, frequently followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, water, fruit, and juices, should only be adhered to for one or two days before nutritional insufficiency takes place.
Juicing can be hard on the body, and this might not be the best choice for some seniors. However, the benefits of juicing cannot be overemphasized.
Mediterranean Diet – According to the Mayo Clinic, not only is the Mediterranean Diet delicious but it also offers heart healthiness, lowered chances of cancer, and decreased incidences of Alzheimer’s.
The combination of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, olive oil, and a bit of red wine makes this eating plan a favorite.
Probiotics – An emphasis on healthy guts is becoming quite popular among the fit crowd. That fitness comes from balancing healthy bacteria which, in turn, wards off a multitude of health issues.
It is probiotics that can help create that healthy balance, such as kefir, yogurt, and foods that are fermented.
Clean Eating – Many food-lovers have taken to calling their eating lifestyles, “Clean Eating.” Simply put, that means avoiding processed foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, fried foods, and more.
While this may seem an optimal way to eat, the problem is that it can be overdone, especially by “extreme dieters” who might discontinue healthy fats and other essential nutrients altogether.
Pre-Prepped Foods – Pre-Prepped Foods are in their heyday right now. Online companies are preparing and mailing ingredients, said to be nutritious, to customers who use the ingredients to make dinners.
In most cases, even the portions have been measured to ensure the meals are made up of healthy-sized portions.
Even better, some of these companies also offer gluten-free and vegetarian options. Most are low in sodium, as well.
Bowl Meals – Bowl Meals is a practice that has been around since 2015. The idea is to use a normal-sized salad bowl and make your meals in a way that changes a plate to a bowl.
Ingredients should include nutrient-rich, whole foods, and small portions. But remember, it’s what you put in the bowl and in what proportions that make for a healthy meal.
10 Top Healthy Eating Programs for Seniors - Conclusion
Not all diets are right for all seniors. Before starting a diet for you or your senior loved one, consult with your doctor to make sure it is safe. Also remember that without some movement and exercise, most diets will fail.
One thing’s for sure; diets no longer have to be a punishment. Isn’t it always better to love that nutritious thing you’re eating than to dwell on what you have to take away from yourself?
Maybe the word “diet” should be changed to “leading a healthy life.”
