Balanced nutrition in old age is more important than ever. Energy needs are falling, but nutritional needs are rising. In general, due to the physical and lifestyle changes that usually accompany aging, calorie requirements are lower. However, a balanced diet is extremely important.

Being overweight in the elderly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. Losing weight can be quite a challenge. If you have gained weight over the years, try to lose weight slowly, gradually.

How to maintain a healthy weight for an elderly person

Balanced nutrition is based on a daily calorie requirement of an elderly person, and it is about 2,000 calories. Drink at least 2 liters of water every day. Be careful with high sodium content in food.

An active lifestyle improves appetite
Take a walk every day or do other outdoor activities. You can ask your doctor which exercises are suitable for your level of mobility.

Vitamins and minerals
A balanced diet for the elderly should be organized in such a way as to provide sufficient vitamins and minerals.

Include liver, dairy products and fish in your diet. These are products with a high retinol content.

Vitamin B12 supports the health of the brain and nervous system. The most common symptoms of deficiency include fatigue, dizziness or loss of balance, as well as decreased mental performance.

Vitamin D – affects the immune system, hormones, bones and brain. Moderate sunlight and appropriate supplements are recommended. It should be remembered that vitamin D is not contained in food in large quantities.

Carotenoids, vitamins C and E – have antioxidant properties. They are important for maintaining tissue health. They can be found in orange, yellow and dark green vegetables. Sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, spinach, beets and cabbage are good sources. You can find vitamin E in nuts, seeds, peanut butter and wheat germ. Various fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C.

Calcium
Calcium is needed to regulate heart rate and maintain bone mass. You’ll find it in dairy products, boiled vegetables, and calcium-fortified foods.

Iron
Iron deficiency can lead to decreased energy levels, dizziness and problems with concentration. There is a feeling of fatigue and lethargy. Iron deficiency is known as anemia. You will find iron in red meat, shellfish, oysters, offal, beans, lentils and cooked dark green vegetables.

Zinc, potassium and magnesium
The best sources of zinc are meat, oysters, shellfish, pumpkin seeds, beans, peas and lentils.

Potassium lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of kidney stones. In addition, it also strengthens your bones. It is found in fruits and vegetables such as bananas, plums and potatoes.

Magnesium – plays a key role in 300 physiological functions. Supports the work of the heart, immune system and strong bones. It is found in grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Cholesterol reduction does not require a drastic change in lifestyle or highly intense exercises. A few exercises will be enough, but it is important to do them systematically.

Research data

It is known that only proper nutrition in combination with physical activity effectively reduces cholesterol levels. This was proved by an experiment conducted on 400 participants who, after measuring the level of cholesterol in the blood, were divided into four groups: the first did not change their lifestyle, the second began to exercise intensively, the third switched to a low-fat diet, and the fourth supplemented the diet with physical activity.

When their cholesterol levels were checked a year later, it turned out that only in the fourth group its decrease was significant.

How Exercise Lowers Cholesterol

Physical exercises favorably change the ratio between bad LDL cholesterol and good HDL cholesterol – they reduce the level of bad and at the same time increase the level of good. In addition, regular exercise reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with hypertension, improves the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Oxygen transport to tissues and blood flow through organs increases.

In addition, physical activity regulates sugar and insulin levels, improves blood clotting. Regular exercise, in addition to direct effects on the circulatory and respiratory systems, also improves well-being, because during exercise the body produces endorphins – hormones of happiness.

So any kind of activity will be useful – cycling, brisk walking, running, swimming or dancing. It is important to introduce activity gradually. If the body is not used to stress, start with a quick walk. At first, it is enough 2 or 3 times a week for at least half an hour in a row, and after a month, move on to other types of exercises.

Already after 3 months of systematic physical exercise, the HDL level increases by an average of about 7 percent. It is enough to follow the principle recommended by doctors: you should actively spend time at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. The intensity of the exercises performed should be such that your pulse is about 130 beats per minute.

So my advice is pretty simple: start a cholesterol reduction program with 30 minutes a day for 3-5 days a week. Let it be just brisk walking to begin with, but in the future you will still have to load yourself more noticeably – connect running, swimming, or cycling.

After the first month, gradually increase the training time to 50 minutes a day.

Wait at least an hour after eating to start the exercises, and finish them 30 minutes before eating. Do not limit yourself to drinking only mineral water – choose a balanced diet.

Essential amino acids or indispensable amino acids are organic substances that cannot be synthesized by the human body independently, they must come to us together with food or supplements. They take an active part in all metabolic processes, so without them, the normal functioning of our body is impossible. In addition, amino acids are the main building material for all tissues, including muscle.

All amino acids (including essential ones) are a structural component of proteins, so their main sources are high-protein products. 

A list indispensable amino acids

There are different opinions about essential amino acids. Some sources say that there are eight of them, others insist that there are nine. Why are there such disagreements and how many of them are there really?

The fact is that there are only eight of them, and the ninth amino acid – histidine — is indispensable only for the child’s body, and in adults it is perfectly synthesized independently.

Arginine is also indispensable for children, but synthesized in the adult body.

Therefore, the answer to the question “how many essential amino acids are there for an adult?” is obvious: there are eight of them.

So, there are 8 essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize itself:

valin;
isoleucine;
leucine;
lysine;
methionine;
threonine;
tryptophan;
phenylalanine.

Where are the essential amino acids contained

The myth of the presence of indispensable amino acids only in animal food is precisely a myth actively promoted by food corporations and owners of the meat processing industry.

On the Internet, you can find enough information about which plant products contain all eight amino acids.

First of all, legumes are rich in essential amino acids — peas, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, etc. However, peanuts are extremely undesirable for consumption. In order to protect the plant and fruits from being eaten by pests during cultivation, peanuts are crossed with petunia genes, and such peanuts are extremely harmful to the liver. However, even if the peanuts are not modified, under the wrong storage conditions, a very dangerous mold forms on it, which leads to cancer. Peanuts also acidify our body, which is extremely harmful.

Nuts, seeds and cereals are rich in amino acids. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin and sesame seeds will be especially useful. And among the cereals — oats and unpolished rice. Among nuts, almonds, cashews and walnuts contain the most amino acids.

Thus, a complete list of indispensable amino acids can be obtained even if all animal products are excluded from the diet.

A healthy snack is the best way to satisfy evening hunger and provide the body with the necessary elements that will help the body to restore strength better during the night. Is it possible to eat cottage cheese before going to bed?
This late snack has its own benefits that you need to know about.

A healthy snack before going to bed is a good habit, but it is easy to spoil it. A piece of cheese and a handful of nuts is a healthy and nutritious snack, a whole package of cheese crackers is not. Eating before going to bed can serve several purposes, both good and not so good. Some people find it easier to fall asleep on a full stomach. But the key to a successful late healthy snack is to make it simple and clean.

The protein is your friend

A diet with sufficient protein content is one of the best ways to keep your body healthy and strong. As you know, protein consists of amino acids, which are usually called the building blocks of our body — they can be combined, broken down and recombined in an almost infinite variety of configurations, depending on how your body needs to use them.

Amino acids are used not only for building muscle mass, but also for the growth of bones, cartilage, hair, nails and skin. Protein is used to create enzymes that digest food, carry oxygen through the bloodstream and help regulate hormones, as well as build and repair tissues.

Another advantage of protein, especially useful at night, is that it takes longer to digest than carbohydrates. This means that you will feel full for longer than if you ended your day with a donut or chips.

Myths about late snacks

Snacking before bed have gained a bad reputation because some people believe that your body does not burn calories while sleeping. This is not true. Your metabolism may slow down a bit during sleep, but your body is still working on tissue repair, and your metabolic functions, such as breathing and blood circulation, are certainly still working.

Another popular is that everything you eat at a certain time of the day inevitably turns into fat. In fact, you gain weight if the total number of calories you consume exceeds the number of calories you burn. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. Of course, the ratio of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in your diet also matters, but it is not so important what time of day you eat.

Someone thinks that it is good not to have a snack before going to bed, because the more you move after eating, the more calories you burn. But this is not quite true. Your subcutaneous fat is not lost and is not gained every hour. These changes occur over days, weeks, and even months. And this is the main difficulty in losing weight: success requires thinking for the long term, while too many people want quick results.

Why cottage cheese is a great choice

Choosing cottage cheese as a health snack before going to bed makes sense for a number of reasons: from protein and nutrients to creaminess and fresh taste. So, researchers from the University of Florida found that people who eat at least 30 grams of protein for 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime have a better metabolism, muscle quality and overall health than people who did not do it.

Moreover, the study participants who ate cottage cheese before going to bed received all these benefits, but did not gain weight. Another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition used regular food, rather than just protein powders or other supplements, which makes it more relevant for real life.

In addition, cottage cheese practically does not require cooking, it is well stored in the refrigerator and is even sold in containers for one serving or with already added fruits. It is also relatively inexpensive, and you can choose the percentage of fat content that you like and fits better into your macros.

Cottage cheese is always easy

There are many different ways to enjoy cottage cheese, regardless of whether you prefer it cold or hot, salty or sweet. The easiest way is to take a spoon and just start eating. Add a little salt or pepper to emphasize its natural creamy taste. Any fruits and berries are well combined with cottage cheese. A little sweetness will give it honey and maple syrup. You can also add a little cinnamon to enhance the taste.