While eating a balanced diet is important at any age, seniors must be more vigilant about their food choices. Older people’s immune systems are often weakened, making fighting foodborne diseases more difficult. Here are some foods that may interact with medications or exacerbate health issues in seniors.
1. Processed Foods.
Processed foods are popular among seniors since they are simple to prepare. These meals, on the other hand, are heavy in fat, sodium, carbohydrates, and preservatives, which are especially detrimental to seniors who have high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
2. Raw or undercooked eggs, meat and poultry.
Food poisoning can be caused by undercooked meals such eggs, beef, chicken, and sushi, which can lead to sepsis and septic shock. Seniors are more susceptible to infection and sepsis than anyone else.
3. High-sodium foods.
Too much salt can be harmful to older people, especially if they have a history of hypertension. Experiment with various herbs and spices instead of relying on table salt to flavour your food. Always read the nutritional labels to see how much sodium is in the food.
4. Caffeine.
Caffeine can make you feel anxious and cause your heart to beat quicker or irregularly, which hinders many people from getting a good night’s sleep. This could be problematic if you have a heart condition. Caffeine can be present in a wide range of teas, beverages, chocolate, and even drugs like over-the-counter pain relievers.
5. Alcoholic beverages.
For many people, having a drink once in a while is harmless. Alcohol should be avoided if you have a chronic illness like diabetes or take specific medications like antihistamines, painkillers (analgesics), or hypertension (high blood pressure) medications.
6. Unpasteurized milk.
Because of its intact mineral levels and high quantities of healthy fats, unpasteurized milk is typically regarded as a good food, although seniors should avoid it entirely. This is due to the fact that unpasteurized milk produces and harbours bacteria at a higher level than pasteurised milk, which is super-heated to destroy hazardous germs and make the milk safe for human consumption.
While this does not indicate that seniors should avoid milk entirely, it does suggest that they stick to pasteurised whole-milk versions.
7. Soft cheese.
Many companies create soft cheese with unpasteurized products, which is why it often contains more bacteria. If you’re an older adult with a delicate digestive tract or a slow immune system, eating too much bacteria is very risky. As a general rule, a senior should consume only pasteurised dairy products that have been stored at the proper temperature.
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