Gone are the days when old age was synonymous with inactivity. More and more seniors are active, with a lot of quality of life and well-being. For this, they adopt habits that allow healthy aging.
Thus, they can enjoy the rest feeling ready to do the activities they like and feel good. But how to reach old age with health and disposition? This post discusses what it is, how to age well, and how eggs can help in this mission. Continue reading and check it out!
What Is Healthy Aging?
Healthy aging happens when a person reaches an advanced age with an active body and mind. That is when the elderly have good physical and emotional health, allowing them to live fully, with well-being and minimum dependence on third parties for day-to-day tasks.
In the past, people didn’t think much about this issue. However, today, due to the increase in life expectancy, they are increasingly concerned about having a healthy old age. After all, living longer is not enough. This life needs to have quality. But what does it mean?
It means that more and more, there is a search for a healthier way of living, which allows a functional old age. Older people no longer want to watch television while crocheting for their days.
They want to travel, have relationships, practice physical activities, and enjoy all the good things that life can offer without the concerns that adult life entails, such as raising children and acquiring possessions. After all, they’ve been through it.
Why Is Healthy Aging So Important?
The quest for well-being and quality of life should not be limited to youth. Over the years, our bodies and mind are no longer the same and need care. The better we age, the fewer problems we have.
Prevent Disease
Illnesses keep the elderly unable to live a whole and active life. For this reason, when we lead a healthy life, we also age this way and prevent illnesses that harm our daily lives.
Be In The Mood
Disposition is something that can disappear with the arrival of old age. However, this happens more often in people who are not active, and it can trigger emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, aging with health and disposition is very important.
Keep The Good Mood
Good humor is also something that disappears as age increases. The idea of the grumpy older man comes from there. The good news is that maintaining healthy habits makes it possible to remain at peace with life, light and enjoy family and friends.
How Important Is Good Nutrition For Healthy Aging?
A good diet is essential from pregnancy to old age. When the baby is born, breast milk offers all the nutrients necessary for it to develop strong and healthy. Over the years, this nutritional need has varied dramatically.
There are two significant challenges in this regard when we get older. The first is maintaining muscle and bone mass, which tend to decline after a certain age. The second is related to appetite. Older people tend to eat less, making it harder to get the necessary nutrients.
Therefore, it is essential to maintain a balanced and personalized diet to avoid muscle and bone mass loss, be more willing, and prevent diseases.
What Are The Essential Nutrients For This?
In a healthy diet, all food groups must be included to obtain all the nutrients and keep the organism functioning well. Next, check out which are the main ones.
Proteins
Proteins perform several bodily functions, such as building and maintaining muscle mass and producing hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and tissues . In this way, the elderly must have a good protein intake to avoid muscle degradation, good immunity, and healing.
They are found in meats of all kinds, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and legumes such as beans, soybeans, and peanuts.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy. They are found in bread, pasta, cereals, potatoes, cassava, and other foods. In a healthy menu, it is essential to prefer full versions.
Fats
Although people fear fats, they know that not all are bad. Some have a protective effect, help prevent cardiovascular disease, and are suitable for the brain. A good example is Omega-3. This type of lipid helps to have healthy aging, being essential in the menu of the elderly.
Vitamins
There are many different vitamins and each with its function in the body. All of them are important, so you must have a diet rich and varied in fruits, greens, and vegetables to ingest these nutrients. Among them, we can mention:
- vitamin A: acts in the protection of vision, skin, and respiratory system;
- vitamin E: is an antioxidant that prevents premature aging;
- Vitamin C: strengthens the immune system.
Minerals
Like vitamins, minerals also play vital roles. Among all existing ones, we can highlight calcium as a primordial substance in maintaining bone mass. In addition, iron is necessary to prevent anemia — a common condition in old age.
How Can The Egg Be An Ally For Healthy Aging?
The egg is considered the second-best food in the world, second only to breast milk. This is because it is very nutritious. We can find proteins of high biological value and easy digestion in them. Considering that some older adults find it more difficult to digest food, eggs are a great source of protein for them.
In the yolk, we find carotenoids, the orange pigments that turn into vitamin A, and choline – a B complex vitamin essential for memory. By the way, it also features Omega-3.
The egg is also a source of vitamin D, which is essential for fixing calcium in the bones and strengthening the immune system. If you are concerned about cholesterol, you can rest easy. Today, it is known that the egg itself contains a substance that neutralizes cholesterol called lecithin. That way, you can eat eggs every day, and food becomes a great ally in healthy aging.
Also Read: How Many Eggs A Week Can We Eat
