Being aware of what you put in your body by way of food is extremely important when you are attempting to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, not all food is made equal, and some are better than others in terms of nutrition and taste.
Superfoods generally refer to food products that are superior in nutritional values and are rich in beneficial compounds such as antioxidants, fatty acids, or fiber. For the elderly in particular, foods rich in antioxidants are particularly helpful as they help lower the risks of health conditions that are common to aging adults such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and even inflammatory diseases. While improving your immune system, they also help improve your skin by having a protective function against free radicals, making you look younger.
With this in mind, here are our top three superfoods that you should include in your diet to access these benefits!
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are at the top of our list due to their high composition of the active ingredient lycopene. This is because as people age, their bone mineral density tends to decrease. Lycopene has recently been linked to bone health, showing an increased risk of osteoporosis in post-menstrual women when they abstained from lycopene.
On top of this, lycopene has not only been able to contribute to exterminating free radicals that cause cancer in the body, but also lowering the potential risk of heart diseases.
Green Tea
Green tea which is obtained from the camellia sinensis plant is extremely popular across China and Japan. The plant itself exists in two common forms – regular green tea and matcha. While they are generally known for being in a delicious beverage, matcha has also been popularized in many forms of desserts.
The reason that it is on the list is that they include high levels of flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant compounds that contribute to fighting off free radicals as well as regulating cell activity. One flavonoid in particular, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) or catechins, has also been shown to be able to reduce inflammation and prevent certain chronic health conditions.
Blueberries
Studies have shown that blueberries contain the highest amount of antioxidant properties amongst all vegetables and fruits. In particular, the berries exhibit extremely high levels of anthocyanins which give them their distinctive blue color. In addition, not only are they a source of dietary fiber but are also a great source of vitamin C. In fact, one serving of blueberries alone is able to meet 25% of your recommended daily vitamin C intake.
Ensuring that you have nutritious and delicious options at every meal, each and every day can be extremely troublesome and near impossible for some households. This is why our team at Rittenhouse Village At Portage introduced Sensations Dining as part of our exclusive senior living programs offered to residents in our senior living community. You can be confident that you or your loved one is sure to receive a wide variety of spectacular meals on top of having all your other needs met. To find out more, contact us today!
