When you turn 50, it’s important to make changes to your diet and lifestyle that will help you get the nutrients you need to get on with your life. As our bodies change over time, so should what you eat.
And while in your 20s you may have had a couple of donuts without a second thought, at a more mature age it can have a big impact on your blood sugar levels and your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Also, if you’ve been diagnosed with any medical conditions that require a change in eating habits, you’ll have to adapt to deal with the symptoms and improve their condition.
Even if your doctor hasn’t advised you to change your diet, it’s wise to make some changes yourself when you turn 50. Here are 10 healthy eating habits to follow at this age.
1. Eat more complex grains.
Replace refined bread and pasta with complex carbohydrates and grains such as brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, and oats.
These hearty grains are good for your heart and provide sustained energy (thanks to fiber) for brain and body function. These grains provide satiety, and fiber also helps maintain regular eating patterns.
2. Enjoy Fish
As you age, you become more susceptible to chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, dementia and others. However, you can reduce inflammation in your body by getting omega-3 fatty acids, the good fats found in fish. Aim to eat fish 2-3 times a week to get the benefits (try these 20-minute fish and seafood dinners). Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds and some other plant sources.
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