Health-boosting nutritional habits are important at any age. Some people have these kinds of habits firmly established in their daily routines. However, others need the help provided by professional nutrition counseling. Nutrition counselors can help you assess the quality of your current diet. They can also make recommendations on how to improve your diet. For seniors, this kind of advice and support comes with a range of important benefits. That’s why highly-rated senior living facilities make sure to include nutrition counseling among their program offerings.
The Top Benefits of Nutrition Education for Seniors
#1: Benefits of Nutrition Counseling – Support for Proper Brain Function
Cognitive decline is a significant concern for older adults. This kind of decline is all too common. However, it’s far from inevitable. You can do a variety of things to support proper brain function as you age. One of the most important things you can do is eat a diet that promotes brain health. A diet of this type includes things such as:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Fish that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Walnuts and other nuts
- Berries
A nutrition counselor can help you pick foods that meet your goals while also appealing to your tastes.
#2: Benefits of Nutrition Education for Seniors – Avoiding and Managing Health Conditions
As you grow older, your risks for serious health issues generally increase. The foods you eat can help lower your exposure to a number of such issues. That includes things such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
A proper diet can also help you manage existing conditions and keep them well-controlled. A nutrition counselor can help you create goals for disease avoidance and management. Counselors can also help you create a custom plan that helps you meet those goals.
#3: Benefits of Nutrition Counseling for Seniors – Mood Improvements
The foods you eat have a significant impact on your everyday mood. A high intake of certain kinds of foods can make your mood worse. A key example here is the processed carbs found in things such as pastries and white bread. Deficiencies of certain nutrients can also have a harmful impact and lead to issues such as depression and anxiety. Nutrients of this type include:
- B vitamins
- Iron
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- Magnesium
Nutrition counselors can assess your diet and look for critical deficiencies. They can also help you correct any deficiencies and restore effective mood support.
#4: Improved Sleep as a Benefit of Senior Nutrition Counseling
For various reasons, sleep difficulties are relatively common among senior adults. In turn, poor sleep can affect your quality of life in numerous ways. Specific common issues include increased risks for depression, cognitive decline, and dementia. They also include higher risks for obesity and heart disease.
Several things can help seniors sleep better. One factor that sometimes gets overlooked is your diet. People with sleep problems tend to have deficiencies of certain kinds of nutrients. A skilled nutrition counselor can evaluate the connection between your diet and the quality of your sleep.
Learn More About the Benefits of Nutrition Counseling for Seniors at Parkway Place
Want to learn more about the many benefits of senior nutrition counseling? Talk to the specialists at Parkway Place. We’ll be happy to explain more about the importance of proper nutrition for seniors. We’re also happy to show you how a nutrition counselor can help you stay healthy and well.
Looking for a senior living facility that provides nutrition counseling? Parkway Place is here for you. We include nutrition support among our many customized programs for seniors. Call us today at 281.305.1846 or fill out our online form for more information on how we can help.