Of the millions of elderly people who are admitted to the hospital every year, about one in three is malnourished. It is estimated that there has been a 300 percent increase in healthcare costs because of the diseases caused by malnutrition. It is a growing problem in older Americans that can be attributed to a diet that is rich in unhealthy fats, meat, meat products, processed foods, refined sugars, and fried foods.
What Is Malnutrition?
Simply put, malnutrition means that a person is poorly nourished. A person who consumes insufficient nutrients, when compared to daily nutritional requirements, is considered to be malnourished. To avoid becoming malnourished as you age, use the following tips.
Avoid Salt and Sugar
This can be difficult, but eating a lot of salt and sugar is linked diabetes, poor kidney function, high blood pressure, and cognitive decline. Use sea salt or Himalayan salt in small amounts and use things like agave, organic dates, or stevia as sugar substitutes. Get your sugar from fresh fruits!
Make Smoothies
Some people find it difficult to fulfill the recommended daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, about 70 percent of adults fail to do so. Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of fruits and vegetables in one go. You can create different flavor combinations using fresh fruits and vegetables of your choice. Check out our smoothie section here for recipes.
Get More Vitamin D
The reason you need vitamin D is because your skin’s ability to produce vitamin D lessens with age. Low vitamin D levels can lead to poor bone health. While you can get sufficient vitamin D from being in the sunshine, you don’t want to overdo your time in the sun. You can get vitamin D by eating mushrooms, homemade almond milk, homemade orange juice, steel cut oats, and potatoes.
Drink A Lot Of Fluids
The body’s ability to conserve water decreases with age and you can’t recognize when you are thirsty as well as you used to. This can lead to dehydration, which can result in confusion or drowsiness. Make sure that you drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water every day to stay properly hydrated. For example, if you weight 150 pounds and divide that by two to get 75, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water every day.
