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Food Groups for Elderly

The basic food groups remain same for all ages after the age of 2 years, the emphasis shifts on nutrients in the foods. I have added two pseudo groups: Fluids and Supplements to the 2005 Food Pyramids to make a point about food intake requirements for the elderly.

Grains 6 ounce per day

Do list

Eat whole grain products. They are high in fiber, helps with digestive tract, and also contains Phytonutrients (anti oxidants).

Avoid list

Products made with refined flour (All Purpose flour, cake flour, pastry flour, Maida).

White rice.

Preferred List

Whole grain Naan made with yeast

Whole grain slicing bread fortified with Calcium and vitamin D.

Vegetables: 2 to 3 cups per day

Do list

Eat dark green and other colorful vegetables. Vegetables have fiber for digestive tract and many of the anti-oxidants. Raw vegetables are good source of digestive enzymes for the elderly. Follow dark green vegetables with Red and yellow vegetables. Examples

Dark green: Spinach

Red: Tomatoes

Yellow: Butternut squash (Indian Kaddu)

Avoid list

Intake of white potatoes should be reduced.

Preferred List

Salad with raw spinach, tomatoes, and cauliflower. Spinach has Leutein for age related macular degeneration, and enzyme for digestive tract. Tomatoes have Lycopene to help with prostates, cauliflower has Choline for brains.

Red Ripe Tomatoes (Lycopene for prostates) Elderly should eat about 2 Tablespoons of Tomato sauce, or 2 slices of fresh tomatoes per day.

Fruits: 1½ to 2cups per day

Do list

Fruits are a good source of fiber, and many anti oxidants. Emphasize on blue or purple fruits such as Blueberries, Blackberries, Plums. 

Avoid list

Avoid fruit juices as they have little or no fiber. Now a days, you can have orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamin D. This may be helpful for lactose sensitive persons.

Preferred List

Blueberries (for Brain cells)

Avocado. They have fats. Your fat intake allowance should be reduced by the amount of fat in the Avocado.  Good for heart, digestive tract, and central nerves

Papaya (Enzyme for digestive tract)

Banana and Guava (Potassium for blood pressure)

Dairy: 3 cups per day

Do list

Consume low fat or no fat dairy products fortified with Vitamin D per day.

Avoid list

Whole milk or whole milk products

Preferred List

Dahi or Yogurt with live culture: 1 cup per day. The live culture helps with digestive tract. Most of the commercial Yogurt does not have Vitamin D, check the label. If you make Dahi at home, always use low fat milk milk fortified with vitamin D.

Low fat Vitamin D fortified milk

Meats and dried beans 5 ounce to 5½ ounce equivalent of meat

Avoid list

Red meats such as Lamb, Mutton, Beef, Pork

Do list

Dried beans

They also have fiber for digestive track and Calcium for bones. Examples are Chickpeas, Red Kidney beans, Moong beans, Black Matpe (Urad)

Nuts

Nuts have fats. Your fat intake allowance should be reduced by the amount of fat in the nuts. Good for heart and brain cells, help with elastin and collagen in skin.

Almonds (Highest in Vitamin E, prevents infection, heart disease)

Walnuts (Highest in Omega 3 fatty acids)

Seeds

Seeds have fats. Your fat intake allowance should be reduced by the amount of fat in the seeds. Good for heart and brain cells, help with elastin and collagen in skin.

Flax seeds top this list for their omega 3 and fiber. Flax seeds may be sprinkled over a bowl of cereal, added in Atta to Make Roti. Other are Pumpkin seeds

Preferred List

One hardboiled egg per day (Choline for brain foods, B Vitamins regeneration of liver tissues)

Chickpeas (Cholay)

Flaxseeds: 1 Tablespoon per day

Walnuts

Almonds

Fats and Oils About 2 Tablespoon per day

Avoid list

Saturated Ghee, Butter, Lard

Transfats: Vanaspati, Dalda, Hard margarine.

Do list

Eat products high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are good for eyesight, heart, brain, and digestive tract.

Preferred List

Canola oil followed by soybean oil. Canola oils has the best Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio, even better than the extra virgin olive oil.

Fluids: 8 Cups per day

Fluids are not stated as a separate group by USDA. Fluid intake should be about eight cups (8oz each) per day. It should include following.

Coffee or tea 2 to 3 cups per day. (Liver)

Milk (fortified with Vitamin D) or Yogurt: 2 to 3 cups per day (Bones)

Red wine: One 4oz glass per day is optional.

Vitamin D and Calcium Supplement

600 mg of Calcium and 600 IU of Vitamin D, twice a day

Omega 3 (DHA, EPA 240 mg each) or Fish Oil