September is Healthy Aging Month…a reminder that practicing good health and fitness habits can help prolong our lives. For seniors, this is especially important because doing such things as eating the right foods may cut the risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other threatening conditions.
Since this also happens to be autumn and harvest time, nature offers a colorful array of delicious fruits and vegetables that are known to preserve good health, and possibly even slow the aging process.
- Dark green leafy vegetables contain anti-oxidants that can stave off or slow macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 and older. Examples are mustard greens, kale and spinach.
- To minimize wrinkles, it’s wise to eat plenty of green vegetables like cucumbers and broccoli. Fruits such as blackberries, pomegranate seeds and guava help preserve collagen in the skin for a more supple appearance. Apples can also help you glow, with their abundant quantities of Vitamin C and assorted B vitamins.
- Black currants contain five times the Vitamin C of oranges, which heightens immunity.
- Blueberries have been proven to prevent memory loss and improve motor function when eaten regularly.
- Mangoes help prevent dental disease.
- Grapes contain anthocyanins, which are good for the heart and circulation. Reservatrol, also found in grapes, is known to help fight cancer.
- Research shows that a diet rich in grapes, apples and blueberries can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
- Carrots and beans keep hair looking shiny and promote hair growth.
Make healthy aging and healthy eating a priority for the seniors in your life. Home Care Assistance can help them choose a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and provide in-home care that focuses on optimum well-being. With such a bounty of good-for-you foods available this fall, eating right will come naturally.