Practical and Affordable Ways to Get the Nutrients You Need in Your Senior Years

As you enter your senior years, you want to focus on enjoying the added spare time you have following retirement. Your obligations in terms of work and children have decreased; this is your chance to prioritize your happiness. In order to make the most of it, it’s important to stay healthy.

A lack of attention to self-care is one of the biggest regrets among seniors in a survey reported by Today. Getting the nutrients you need to keep your mind and body functioning at peak capacity will help you stay fit. Need some help getting started. Sierra Leone Life Coach presents some helpful tips and resources below.

Learn to Cut Costs

With retirement comes a sudden reduction in your monthly income. If you realize that you are not eating right simply because you can no longer afford to maintain your dietary habits, there are ways to cut costs elsewhere so that you aren’t cutting yourself short at the grocery store. One idea is to call your utility, cable, and insurance providers and ask if they offer a senior discount. Try using public services, such as public libraries, when you want to rent a movie or read a book. Depending on your status as a veteran, you might also have discounts and benefits available that can take the burden off of your budget.

Embrace Senior-Friendly Cooking

Food provides your body with the energy it needs to function mentally and physically on a day-to-day basis. The right balance of nutrients will allow you to function at maximum capacity. The United States Department of Agriculture provides guidelines on what your daily eating habits should look like. Check out their MyPlate plan to get an idea of how much you should be eating in terms of vegetables, fruits, protein, and grains on a daily basis.

As work and family require less of a time commitment, you can embrace cooking as a hobby. This allows you to make meal preparation a joy instead of a chore; master some senior-friendly recipes and you will be able to savor a new flavor every day. Care.com’s guide to age-friendly dishes offers a variety of options, from a yogurt parfait with nuts and fruit for breakfast to a grilled Alaskan salmon for dinner. It also offers ideas for easy snacks such as high-fiber chips with cheese or guacamole. And while it’s okay to indulge in “guilty pleasures” every once in a while, keep them in the back of the pantry to help you avoid grabbing them whenever you’re in the mood for a snack.

And while we’re on the subject of diet, make sure you’re getting plenty of water throughout the day and with each meal. If you get a little burned out on water, you can switch to something like skim milk or 100 percent fruit juice.

If you’re new to cooking, it can seem a little overwhelming at first — especially if you’re struggling to make something you like! But don’t give up; instead of focusing all of your energy on the goal, it’s important to pay attention to the process. So, stick with it, even after your latest dish fails to impress.

Start Taking a Multivitamin

Even if you pay careful attention to your daily diet, it may not be possible to get the nutrients you need from food and drinks alone. This is especially true for the elderly. In particular, people lack vitamins A and D as well as fiber and magnesium. It’s understandable, but you also need to be cautious about overcompensating with vitamins. Many OTC (over the counter) supplements have far too much of any given vitamin, so be careful.

The Geriatric Dietician says that seniors need to make sure they get enough of the following 7 key nutrients: Vitamin D, calcium, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, fiber, protein, and calories. Also, you can often make up for any dietary lack with a multivitamin. Simply taking one pill a day can supplement your diet and assure you have the energy you need to maintain your best quality of life. There are many products available geared specifically towards seniors.

Natural News explains how to read vitamin labels to make sure you are getting a reputable product. It will give you an understanding of useful terms like the “percent of the daily recommended value” and “amount per serving.”

Embrace Preventative Healthcare

Regular checkups with your doctor give you the information you need to maintain your health, both mentally and physically. For example, if you are feeling depressed (which isn’t uncommon for seniors), then your physician can refer you to a psychiatrist. A checkup will also include a blood test, which can inform you of potential problems like a vitamin D deficiency and allow you to work with your healthcare professional to address them. Since sunshine is a natural source of vitamin D, getting outside more regularly will help you meet your daily requirement of vitamin D. Why not hire a lawn service to spruce up your yard and make it a relaxing space to spend some time in?

Follow these practical tips and you will be able to safeguard your physical and emotional health as you get older. Being proactive will prevent problems before they start and allow you to avoid setbacks. The above tips don’t cost a lot of money and are easy to implement.

Sierra Leone Life Coach is dedicated to helping disadvantaged groups through social and community welfare programs. Visit our website to learn more about how you can support this organization.

by Lucille