One benefit of moving your loved one into memory care in Marco Island, FL, is that they enjoy improved mental health. Older adults are not exempted from the tendency to develop mental health conditions. In fact, research suggests that about 15% of older adults suffer from mental health issues such as eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Various foods, from fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and blueberries to protein like fish and eggs, provide essential nutrients which can improve physical, mental, psychological, and overall well-being. Thus, to improve your mental health, it is essential to prioritize healthy nutrition and diet. Here are two ways our memory care in Marco Island, FL, can help.
Improving Diet
Proper nutrition is essential at any age. However, older adults unable to meet their nutritional needs are at a high risk of medical health conditions and life-threatening diseases. Fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, pecans, peppers, tomatoes, blueberries, broccoli, etc., have high amounts of antioxidants, which plays a crucial role in lowering rates of depression. These antioxidants also help prevent age-related brain cell damage and combat inflammation associated with mental health issues and mood disorders.
Likewise, proteinous meals such as chickpeas, tofu, fish, meat, and eggs have been linked to the production of Tryptophan, which in turn aids the release of the “happy hormone,” serotonin.
The importance of healthy fats in maintaining a balanced diet and improving mental health conditions cannot be overemphasized. These healthy fats, such as fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and oils (olive/avocado/walnut), are often rich in Omega 3 and have been found to help lower inflammation and improve brain health, which may, in turn, lower depression.
In essence, your loved one’s diet significantly affects their mental health. Ensuring each meal contains protein, fiber from fruits and vegetables, and good fats can tremendously improve their physical and mental health.
Improving Gut Health
Have you ever had a gut feeling about something or felt butterflies in your tummy? The fact is that your gut and brain communicate with each other through a bi-directional link, so whenever you experience gut disruptions such as food intolerances, flatulence, or bloating, it affects your brain and the way you feel. Thus, it is essential to prioritize your gut health and resolve any related issues as they may contribute to your mental state of mind.
Also, a large percentage of the happiness hormone, serotonin, is produced in the gut. Good gut microbes feed on starches from vegetables, beans, seeds, fruits, and pre-biotic foods, including bananas, yogurt, apples, chicory, and artichoke. On the other hand, regularly eating refined carbohydrates and sugar can increase the number of harmful gut bacteria and yeasts in the body system.
In essence, by improving your gut health, that is, eating a variety of seasonal and organic foods, you can improve your mental health and feelings of happiness.
Healthy Aging at Our Retirement Community
If healthy and delicious meals are important to you, you have come to the right place. Asides from the health care and personal care services you enjoy after moving into our retirement community, you can also be rest assured of an improvement in your nutrition intake. Our chefs use fresh ingredients to prepare gourmet meals rich in essential nutrients to aid healthy aging. Kindly contact us today to learn more about our community.
