Consuming the right nutrients is the most important health factor for senior citizens. Multiple research has shown that low carb diet is a “safe option with some limitations” for senior citizens.
Low in carb diet is a good option for elderly people. It helps them to maintain a healthy lifestyle, stay active and independent.
Proper nutrition is very effective to maintain a healthy body and long life. It’s especially when seniors need them the most: during cold periods.
They should be eating as many low carb vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds that give energy without sugar, and legumes like beans and lentils.
In order to keep going strong after a long absence, seniors must consider their diet choices. Food storage will get heavier if there’s not enough fresh produce.
Proper nutrition can also affect blood pressure levels in people over age 65 who are using medication such as statins, antidepressants, or sleeping pills during stressful times.
They should follow a simple program, such as an affordable diet plan or nutritional supplement program. The low in carbs food will come easier to their body.
The nutrient dense low carb diet also aids senior citizens financially. It helps them to spend less time and money at the doctor. Maintaining a low carb lifestyle is very beneficial if they are suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease.
Low Carb Diet Research, Benefits & Risks For Senior Citizen
Low carb foods help to produce the maximum effect in keeping older adults healthy and active. Scientific research has shown numerous health benefits of low in carbs diet.
But low carb diet may be completely suitable for elderly people. There are some disadvantages of low carb diet over seniors.
The major benefits with risks of low carb diet for senior citizens are as follow
Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Aging Adults with Obesity
3 factors place aging adults with obesity at high risk of cardio metabolic disease. These are the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, intermuscular adipose tissue, and insulin resistance.
Scientific research has shown that a very low carbohydrate diet may promote fat loss from the visceral cavity and skeletal muscle. It is done without compromising lean mass and improves insulin sensitivity in aging adults with obesity.
Diets lower in carbohydrate promotes weight loss. This may be beneficial for older adults with obesity and improve insulin sensitivity and lipid profile.
Depression, Brain Function, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease Effect
A low-carbohydrate diet may boost brain function and memory.
The available results of research projects dealing with the use of the low carb ketogenic diet and ketone bodies in neurodegenerative diseases are fairly promising.
These low carb diets may help to fight Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Studies with human participants have demonstrated a reduction of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease symptoms after application.
However low-carb diet raises certain concerns for elderly people. Senior persons with neurodegenerative diseases may face malnutrition, while food intake reduction is associated with disease symptoms.
There is another drawback. Low carb food may cause depression issues for elderly people.
Effect On Gut Health, Eye Health, Protein Damage & Renal System
High carb foods are full of sugar. These are rapidly digested and absorbed, resulting in a quick and substantial increase in blood glucose concentration. Because of this insulin rises.
Frequent consumption of high carbohydrates can lead to insulin resistance. Due to this blood glucose increases gut permeability.
It affects chronic systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and increases protein damage due to advanced glycation end products. Because of this eye diseases like retinopathy(a retina disease) occurs.
Elderly adults may get rid of these issues if they follow a low carb lifestyle.
But senior people require monitoring when they are starting a low carb meal plan. In elderly patients, the adoption of the low carb diet may worsen the “loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue”.
These diets may change urine color for elderly people. Not only that both insufficient and excess eating of low carb foods can change urine odor.
If the color change or odor change issue arises they must consult with a physician.
Reduces Risk of Coronary Heart Diseases, Diabetes
Every year several people are losing their life due to cardiovascular disease. Due to less immunity power senior citizens, recovery chance from this deadly disease is very low for them.
Several high carb diets are full of sugar and have a high glycemic index(GI). Diets with high levels of carbohydrates, especially refined are high in glycemic index.
These high GI foods may boost hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and also increased risk of mortality.
The problem can be reversed by older adults considering low carb diets in their dishes. Low carb processed food like bread can be helpful for diabetics.
Aside from this one study shows that low carb diet reduces triglyceride levels. The reduced triglyceride levels may lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and protect the heart.
Final Thoughts About Safety of Low Carb Diets for Senior Citizens
Senior citizen’s first priority should be health. A health-conscious senior citizen must follow the correct diet patterns to avoid any health issues.
High carb diets are behind several deadly diseases. Avoiding these unhealthy foods may give older adults extra milage to maintain a prolonged life.
Low carb diet is not fully fortified and completely safe for these elderly people. Although it prevents multiple deadly diseases and chronic diseases.
Also these low in carb diets are budget friendly. So, it will not create any extra burden for their pocket.
Senior citizens need to remember the above-mentioned points when they are adopting low carb lifestyle. They also need regular exercise sessions for cardiovascular and neurological reasons.
Also, this is especially true for seniors that have difficulty maintaining or increasing their weight and other indicators of aging in relation to age. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, these seniors need a balanced intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, essential vitamins in their daily nutrition plans.
