It’s True! A Good Diet Gives You a Better Brain!

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brain health and senior nutrition - orange county senior home careThe remarkable results of a recent AARP study are in: people who maintain a healthy diet plan are twice as apt to consider their mental acuity to be very good or excellent in comparison to people who rarely eat well. In particular, a diet high in fish, vegetables and fruits equated to higher brain health.

The participants’ answers match the recommendations of AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health, which also add the requirement to reduce intake of salt, fatty foods, and excessive alcohol that have been demonstrated to have a negative effect on brain health. Per Sarah Lock, senior vice president for policy and executive director of GCBH, “Many of us have gotten used to the idea of heart-healthy foods, but now we know that those same foods can make a big difference in our brain health, as well.”

So, why aren’t more elderly people following these simple recommendations? The explanations for poor senior nutrition stated include:

  • Eating healthy is too expensive.
  • It’s difficult to follow a healthy diet.
  • Stores selling healthy foods are too far away.
  • They won’t enjoy the taste.
  • They do not believe it will make an improvement in their health.

That said, a full ninety percent of participants stated they would make a plan to eat better if they thought it might reduce their threat of heart problems, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

The daily guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ChooseMyPlate initiative include the following for older adults:

  • 1 ½ – 2 cups of fruits
  • 2 – 3 cups of vegetables
  • 3 cups of dairy
  • 5 – 6 ounces of protein
  • 5 – 7 ounces of grain

Eating numerous different sorts of these food types on a regular basis is key. It’s also beneficial to create a plan which will help overcome objections to healthy eating, and to engage the help of a reliable family member, friend, or professional caregiver to help stick to the routine.

CareWorks Health Services can help make good senior nutrition easy for aging adults, by shopping for groceries and making sure that the fridge and kitchen pantry are well stocked with suitable food choices, planning and preparing nutritionally beneficial meals, and more! We can also provide cheerful companionship during mealtimes to alleviate the loneliness which could contribute to unhealthy eating, together with encouragement to make suitable food choices. Contact us our Orange County senior home care team at (949) 859-4700 for details.