By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Here are a small sampling of recipes suitable for seniors in the cold winter months. The focus is on a meal plan, from appetizer to dessert to drinks, that will be both warming, easy-to-make & store, uses ingredients that will be in season & thus readily available during this time of year, and which possesses the necessary nutrients to help seniors fend off chills, colds, and other winter maladies.
Recipes
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By Anna Hazard
Due to many various reasons ranging from decreasing appetite and the ability to taste with age or trouble chewing and swallowing, seniors are often lacking in proper nutrition, which is particularly detrimental during the winter months where good nourishment is required to help the immune system fight off colds, flu, and other wintry illnesses.
For those whose senior loved ones are living in colder climates, it must also be kept in mind that the winter season may present even further obstacles such as when snow, ice, or other inclement weather prevents trips to the grocery store for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods or makes such supply runs far more dangerous. Here are suggestions for helping your elderly with their nutritional needs during this particular season, including a list of foods that are good for the health all year round, but are but are particularly abundant or helpful during the winter months.
By Anna Hazard
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Part 1 - Arthritis & Inflammation - Foods to Avoid
Part 3 - Arthritis & Inflammation - Other Anti-Inflammatory Foods Introduction
Inflammation within the body is caused when the immune system attacks substances deemed foreign to the body. This is necessary for preventing illnesses, treating injuries, or healing wounds (such as when the lymphatic system uses an increased blood flow to bring white blood cells to an injured area) Chronic inflammation is caused when inflammation persists long term due to the immune system attacking normal healthy body cells. This has been linked to many diseases and ailments such as arthritis, Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, fibromyalgia, celiac disease, and Parkinson's
Factors such as stress, lack of sleep, allergies, smoking, genetics, the environment, and especially diet has been linked to triggering bouts of inflammation and greatly increasing the chance of developing a variation of chronic inflammation. However, some foods are known to reduce the risk of inflammation due to their chemical make-up and the presence of antioxidants, polyphenols, essential fatty acids, and other known anti-inflammatory elements. Anti-inflammatory Foods
By Anna Hazard
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Part 2 - Arthritis & Inflammation - Anti-Inflammatory Food Groups
Part 3 - Arthritis & Inflammation - More Anti-Inflammatory Foods Introduction
Arthritis is the general term for the various conditions that have joint pain & inflammation as symptoms. Arthritis can occur at any age, however the risk of developing most types of arthritis increases the older one gets. While there is no definitive anti-inflammation diet for arthritis yet, studies have indicated that there are several food groups & ingredients that should be avoided due to their inflammatory properties.
High calorie foods (many of which are also inflammatory in other ways) should also be avoided as being overweight puts further strain on the joints which can lead to even further inflammation. Things to Avoid
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay and is a hybrid of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Mediterranean Diet (which reduce the risks of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke but only reduce the risk of dementia when followed strictly).
The MIND Diet was developed by Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center, through funding by the National Institute on Aging.
Keep in mind (not MIND) that diet is one of many different factors-- including genetics, environment, smoking, exercise, stress-- that play into the development of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Proper hydration when it comes to the elderly is always an important consideration due to the many factors that tend to put seniors at greater risk of dehydration. Such elements to keep in mind include...
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
Age 18-50 should not exceed 2,500 mg of calcium per day while Age 51+ should not exceed 2,000 mg per day.
By Anna Hazard View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
Age 18-50 should not exceed 2,500 mg of calcium per day while Age 51+ should not exceed 2,000 mg per day.
By Anna Hazard View the Rest of the Series Introduction
Age 18-50 should not exceed 2,500 mg of calcium per day while Age 51+ should not exceed 2,000 mg per day.
By Anna Hazard Intro While the most nutritionally balanced diet will contain sources of both Heme (found in 40% of the Iron in animal byproducts) and Non-heme (60% of animal-based + 100% of all plant based) Iron, there are many people such as vegans and vegetarians that would prefer to abstain from the available animal-based foods that provide Heme iron. The Daily Recommended Dosage for Iron can be achieved through plant-based Non-heme products alone, but as this type of Iron is less efficiently absorbed & bio-available to the body (7-35% for Heme Iron vs 2-20% for Non-heme) , those who only eat plant-based Iron should increase their daily intake by 1.8x over the norm with an upper level that should not exceed 45mg per day. Also keep in mind that Iron is more readily absorbed into the body when taken in the presence of Vitamin C, upto 6x as much when consumed with non-Heme Iron. Daily Recommended Dosage
View the Rest of the Series For a basic introduction to nutritional Iron as well as the best sources for Heme Iron (animal byproducts) or synthetic Non-heme Iron, please check out the rest of the articles in this series.
Part 1 - Best Sources for Heme Iron Part 3 - Best Sources for Synthetic Non-heme Iron |
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