Page 41 - Seniors Today - Oct 2019

Include fruits in your diet, cut into small pieces if biting is an issue

chewing is an issue) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (vanaspati)
•Limit the portion of mithai and sweets Foods which claim to be “diet”, which are
•See to it that water intake is enough, at least 8 actually fried or contain artificial sweeteners
to 10 glasses. like aspartame.
•In case of fasting, include dishes made from Fried foods or snacks can be consumed during
grains like rajgira/kuttu and avoid fried dishes. the day. Late evening snacking should be
•Opt for buttermilk/unsweetened lassi instead avoided, as this can hamper digestion.
of sugary drinks or fruit juices. Kinds of snacks and sweets to avoid for some
•Limit intake of fried and spicy foods. special health conditions:
•The foods to avoid strictly: Unless and until Diabetic: Deep fried foods, mithai containing
there is any comorbidity disease condition sugar, jaggery, honey, foods high in refined
like diabetes, renal disease or cardiac disorder, wheat flour (maida)
everything in moderation is ok. However, if one Hypertension: Packaged or preserved foods
suffers from diabetes or cardiac issues, it’s better Arthritis: Preserved foods
to avoid sweets and fried foods completely. As it’s festive time, more than be too stressed
A simple change in the preparation of the with the ‘No’s in the diet, concentrate on more
recipes can help to keep up with any dietary healthy things that one can eat. And be stress-
restrictions, and also the mood of the elderly in free, that is the key to happiness!
the family. For example, traditional sweets like
kheer etc can be made by adding a sweetener
like stevia instead of sugar for elderly diabetics.
And baked foods can be preferred instead of
fried foods.

Foods to be strictly avoided:
Packaged foods, as they are high in preserva-
tives, palm oil (which can have adverse effect on
the lipid profile), simple sugars in the form of
glucose syrup.
Bakery products which contain refined flour

SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 4
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