Old age is one of the sweet but challenging periods that will come to everyone one day, and therefore choosing a diet for elderly digestion is very important. Do you know the easily digestible foods? These foods are better to include in the diet of the elderly. Doctors recommend using healthy foods, fruits and vegetables and replacing them with unhealthy, fatty and salty foods to have a healthy and capable life in old age.
As age increases, the use of healthy foods is more and more important. In this article from humanhealthmag, we want to discuss specifically the nutrition of the elderly and the foods that can be useful and easily digestible for these loved ones. If you also have an elderly person in your home who is responsible for maintaining and caring for him, we suggest that you read this article so that you can prepare suitable, useful and vitamin-rich foods for your elderly person.
Why Should the Elderly Eat Fast-Digesting Food?
Following a diet for elderly digestion is very important. As we age, many body parts lose their proper function and efficiency and cannot perform their activities as before. As a result, the foods that elderly people eat should be different from previous periods of their lives. For this reason, consuming foods such high protein soft foods for elderly can be very beneficial for elderly people. In fact, you eat food that provides you with the energy you need for your daily activities and your body does not lack for the activities you have planned for yourself. But your body also needs energy and fuel to digest the food you have eaten.
Now consider this situation for an elderly person. First, the elderly do not do much activity, so they need to use light foods. Second, heavy and slow-digesting foods such as high-calorie and fried foods require additional energy to digest. As we mentioned, the body’s organs also do not function as before. As a result, the body will have difficulty digesting heavy foods. The body needs to conserve its energy so that it can use it for elderly activities, and this energy should not be spent on digesting the heavy foods that the person eats.
Therefore, one of the cares of the elderly is to pay attention to the foods that these loved ones eat. Because using light, easily digestible and healthy foods can make the body’s digestive system function and the person will enjoy physical health and mental vitality for many years. Not only the elderly, but all people are less exposed to diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, blood sugar, osteoporosis and heart disease when they use healthy and light foods. These points are more important in old age, especially the elderly, and require more attention.
Introducing the Diet for Elderly Digestion
Among the diet for elderly digestion, we can mention foods that have less fiber. These foods are much easier to digest than other foods. Fresh fruits and legumes are slow-digesting foods because they are high in fiber. The body is unable to digest some parts of the fruit and buries it through the large intestine. Usually, foods that contain fiber cause bloating and intestinal swelling when digested, which is an unpleasant thing for the elderly. For example, using healthy smoothies for elderly can be beneficial for the elderly.
But note that the presence of high fiber in fruits does not mean that the elderly should avoid eating them. It is enough to change the way and method of consuming them. When fruits are cooked, they lose a lot of their fiber and are easily digested. Fruit compote can be a better option for the elderly to get the vitamins found in fruits. You can make fruits like bananas, apples, apricots, and pears into compotes and cooked ones so that your senior can easily eat them.
All vegetables are like fruits. The body needs the vitamins in them a lot, but even fresh ones can be a bit difficult for the elderly. It is better to make vegetables cooked and canned so that the elderly can eat them. Vegetables like zucchini, spinach, green beans and peas, potatoes, and tomatoes are among the useful and essential vegetables for the elderly, which are better to include in the diet of these loved ones in cooked form.
Healthy Meal Planning for Elderly Digestion
For diet for elderly digestion, you can use red meat, chicken, fish, shrimp and turkey. These foods are often well digested, provided that they are cooked properly. Instead of frying these foods, it is better to replace them with boiled, steamed and grilled methods. When you fry food, because you add more oil to the food, it makes it heavier and slower to digest. You can also use peanut butter and eggs to provide the body with protein. Of course, you must observe the amount of protein intake for elderly per day. Foods made from unrefined white flour and without bran can also be a good source of easily digestible grains.
White toast, cakes made from white flour, fancy bread without bran can be good and accessible options for the elderly. So when it is said to use wholemeal bread in your diet, we mean people who do not need easily digestible foods. Oatmeal and barley bread are slow-digesting breads because they contain a lot of bran and cause bloating. But how can the elderly meet their calcium needs? Most dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, are slow to digest, and many people have a little trouble with this type of food. But this problem can be solved.
You can use lactose-free varieties so that your elderly person can get calcium from dairy foods and not have difficulty digesting it. Use foods that have the right amount of fat and salt in the elderly’s diet. The elderly person should drink more water and fluids throughout the day and be careful to consume all foods so that the elderly’s body does not face vitamin deficiencies. Fruit juice can be a good option for vitamin intake, but only if it is not pulpy and industrial. Using dried fruit is also not recommended because of its high sugar and fiber content.
How to Prepare Easily Digestible Foods for the Elderly
Given that the digestive system of the elderly is more sensitive, choosing the right method for cooking food and following a diet for elderly digestion is very important. These methods are recommended as the best methods for preparing easily digestible foods for the elderly because they preserve the nutrients and soft texture of the food. We will examine several suitable methods for preparing easily digestible foods and provide important points related to each of these methods:
- Steaming: Steaming is one of the best methods for preparing vegetables and proteins. This method helps preserve vitamins and nutrients and also keeps the texture of the food soft.
- Baking in the oven: Baking food in the oven is one of the healthy methods of preparing food that allows you to make delicious dishes without using fatty oils. This method preserves the taste of the food well. To cook food in the oven, set the oven temperature between 180 and 200 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the food cooks slowly and its texture becomes soft. You can bake chicken, fish and vegetables in the oven.
- Mashing and pureeing: Mashing and pureeing is very suitable for seniors who have difficulty swallowing or sensitive teeth. By making purees, they are able to get nutrients with ease. Potatoes, carrots and squash are good options for making purees. To improve the texture of the puree, you can use a little water or milk (compatible plant milks). You can also use a blender to make a smooth and uniform puree.
Diet for Elderly Digestion Tips (to Improve Digestion)
In addition to following the diet for elderly digestion, seniors should chew their food well. This helps digest food better and more nutrients are absorbed by the body. Eating small, frequent meals can also increase appetite and put less strain on the digestive system. Seniors can eat five to six small meals a day instead of three large meals. It is also recommended that seniors drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration and constipation. In addition, water-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables can help hydrate the body. Drinking water daily is very important to prevent dehydration in seniors.
Note that high-fat and fried foods can make digestion difficult and worsen digestive symptoms. Instead, use healthy cooking methods such as steaming and grilling. Regular physical activity can also help improve bowel movements and digestion. Walking, swimming, and yoga are examples of physical activities that are suitable for seniors. Stress can also have a negative effect on digestion. As a result, using stress management techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation can help improve digestive conditions.
Concluding Remarks
In this article, we talked about diet for elderly digestion. In general, easily digestible foods for the elderly can be beneficial in improving digestion, preventing digestive problems, and promoting the overall health of the elderly. By choosing the right diet and following the tips for elderly nutrition, you can help maintain their health and quality of life in old age. If you have an idea for preparing easily digestible foods for the elderly, share it in the comments section.
Also, consulting a doctor or nutritionist is a vital step in choosing a suitable diet for the elderly. These people can design a suitable diet plan that includes easily digestible and nutritious foods, considering their medical conditions and individual needs. Therefore, before changing their diet, it is essential to consult a doctor or nutritionist to choose easily digestible foods for the elderly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Easy-to-Digest Foods?
These foods have a soft texture and mild flavor and include soft fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
How Can you Prepare Easy-to-Digest Foods?
Cooking methods such as steaming, baking, mashing, pureeing, and making smoothies are all methods that help with easy digestion.
Is a Slow-Digesting Diet Suitable for all Seniors?
Some seniors may have conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or food allergies that require a special diet.