Top 5 Super Veggies Seniors Should Eat
Eating fruits and vegetables is important at every age. For seniors, though, it’s even more crucial. As we age, our bodies need more nutrients, like the ones we get from vegetables, to maintain optimal health.
Think of veggies as senior superfoods. Regularly consuming them can help improve brain functionality, promote weight management, enhance metabolism regulation, extend life spans, and reduce the risk of certain diseases, including high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer. Plus, the fiber in vegetables aids in digestion and helps maintain a healthy gut, which is particularly important for seniors. They really do sound like a superfood, don’t they?
Essential Vegetables for Senior Health
After seeing all of those amazing benefits, do you have the urge to add more vegetables to your plate? Keep in mind, you don’t get all these nutrients from just one super veggie alone, so try to help the senior under your care get a good mix of as many as possible, such as some of the below, recommended by the National Council on Aging.
1. Kale
Kale is packed with essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, just one cup of freshly chopped kale has more than 200% of your recommended amount of vitamin A, over 130% of vitamin C, and nearly 700% of your daily vitamin K recommendations. Additionally, kale is an excellent source of calcium, folate, and iron.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy this green veggie. Add it to your smoothie, munch on kale chips, or saute it.
2. Carrots
Carrots are a game-changing food for older adults. They are rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene, and potassium. Carrots have many amazing health benefits, including promoting healthier vision, lowering cancer risks, supporting immunity, balancing blood sugar, and supporting heart health. One study found that eating carrots two to four times per week reduces a person’s risk of colorectal cancer by 17%.
Carrots are a versatile veggie that can be enjoyed in salads, stews, soups, roasts, and even cake!
3. Spinach
Just like Popeye, eating spinach can make you stronger! That’s because it’s one of the most nutrient-dense veggies and is brimming with vitamin C, magnesium, folate, zinc, protein, and lutein, which protects your eyes.
Consuming spinach regularly has been linked to lower blood pressure, improved brain and gut health, and a reduced risk of autoimmune and Alzheimer’s diseases.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate, magnesium, and other essential nutrients. One cup of raw broccoli provides 135% of your daily recommended vitamin C and 116% of your daily recommended vitamin K.
Full of green goodness, broccoli may help reduce your risk of cancer and inflammation.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, you’ll be excited to hear that sweet potatoes are incredibly beneficial for seniors. Sweet potatoes contain high levels of fiber, protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, carotene, vitamin A, and potassium.
Visiting Angels of Southwest OKC Helps Seniors Eat Healthy
Do you want to consume more of these super veggies but need a hand in the kitchen? Visiting Angels of Southwest Oklahoma City’s in-home care services could be the right fit for you. Our caregivers can help you with meal planning and preparation and provide reliable transportation to the grocery store.
Contact us today at (405) 703-7676 for more information. We proudly serve the residents of Southwest Oklahoma City, Moore, Norman, Mustang, Union City, Blanchard, Tuttle, and Newcastle.