As we age many of us start to have a daily medication regimen. Whether it’s blood pressure medication, thyroid, a diuretic or bowel regimen it seems like medications keep piling up. Medications are sometimes necessary and you should always follow your physician’s orders. More and more people are seeking non pharmacological interventions and natural remedies. While we take our medications as prescribed daily we need to just as consistently take care of our bodies. I’m talking about the simplest form of self care with nutrient rich foods.
Food can’t “cure” medical problems but the phrase “you are what you eat” certainly has truth to it.
Brittany Wagner, Practice Manager, ElderHealth
Think about days where you have not had more than a sip of water or you’ve ordered take out everyday during your lunch hour. Listen to your body. It naturally tells you that it’s fatigued, bloated, dry, oily among other things. If you’ve ever been sick and made a homemade chicken noodle soup you will know what I’m talking about. A soup chocked full of vegetables and broth provides so much comfort, you actually “feel better” once you’ve eaten it.
There is a color wheel of vegetables and fruits that have natural health benefits:
White: Did you know that Cauliflower, Bananas, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips, and Parsnips can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure? And can aid in cancer prevention, immune boosting, and anti inflammatory?
Red: Tomato, Raspberries, Strawberries, Beets, Cranberries, Cherries, Bell Peppers, and Pomegranates also aid in cancer prevention, heart health and improve vision
Orange: Cantaloupes, Pumpkins, Apricots, Carrots, Oranges, Squash, Mango, and Yams are immune boosting, heart healthy, offer bone health, and help vision.
Green: Broccoli, Spinach, Avocado, Edamame, Kiwi, Seaweed, Tomatillo, and Kale are anti inflammatories, heart healthy, offer bone health, and help vision.
Blue/Purple: Grapes, Eggplant, Cabbage, Blackberries, Blueberries help lower LDL cholesterol, aid in cancer prevention, offer brain health, and help vision.
Nutrient rich foods are nature’s medicine. Practice self care and give your body the nutrients, fluids, and exercise it needs to improve your health.
Learn more about Nutrition for Older Adults from the National Library of Medicine.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained in this article are for informational purposes only. No material in this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
Brittany Wagner, Practice Manager, ElderHealth
I’ve worked in behavioral health, hospice, and palliative medicine for over seven years. In that time I found my passion supporting older adults and their caregivers during that critical time in their lives. At ElderHealth, everything is client-centered and I enjoy having relationships with our patients and their families.
