Health & Wellbeing – Nutrition
Eat yourself healthy in retirement It’s not unreasonable to assume that once you retire, you will be able to spend more time ‘wining and dining’ with your friends and family.
W
hile there is nothing wrong with enjoying the good things in life, you should remember that a balanced diet is key to a healthy and long life.
can support you when you have a chronic health issue. Ms Freeman says it’s a great way to be involved in managing the treatment of your health.
Food and nutrition are an important part of looking after yourself as you age. An old body will never function well off poor nutrients and vitamins.
As you get older and frailer, you start to lose a lot of muscle, which can impact you in terms of mobility and strength. Protein intake needs to be increased compared to what a normal adult would need to eat.
A bigger problem as you age can be reduced taste and smell, a decreased appetite, or the loss of skills to make yourself food. Jane Freeman, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Spokesperson for Dietitians Australia, says that healthy eating when you are older can really help with reducing the likelihood of developing or exacerbating chronic health conditions. “Good nutrition is important as you age and ageing obviously brings body changes with it. These can be health issues or high risk of heart disease, diabetes or things like arthritis and osteoporosis,” says Ms Freeman. “A diet has to be quite nutrientdense, meaning the food you eat you need to aim to really pack it full of healthy food nutrients, particularly protein. “Really focusing on the quality of the food that you are putting on the plate more so than the quantity.” When reaching your 50s or 60s, more key health problems start to present and health becomes a bigger issue for older people. Tuning in your diet to support good health can be really beneficial and
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Your Retirement Living – 8th edition
The more mobile and healthy you are, the longer you can remain living an active and independent life. For more information about help in the home, see the Home Care Guide starting on 80D. Fueling your body with the right food can assist in ‘eating yourself healthy’. A good diet can reduce the likelihood of you developing chronic
illnesses, keep your muscles and bones strong, and nurture your mental health.
Tips for keeping healthy in retirement ◆ Eat a well-balanced diet ◆ Make sure you reach your five vegetables and two fruits a day, plus eat whole grains and lean meat. Gravitating towards a balanced diet is the best way to get the nutrients and vitamins you need to fuel a healthy body. Vegetables, fruit and whole grains are good fibre for your body that assists in moving cholesterol out of the body and promotes happy bowel health.
