Know Why Are Whole Grains Healthy for Elderly

“By age 75, about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women of the United States don’t get ANY physical activity. The ratio of women to men over 65 years old is 100 to 76. The ratio of women to men over 85 years old is 100 to 49.”

What is a better time than now to amp up your old parent’s daily consumption of whole grains? Few people swear by whole grains because they genuinely think it will lead to a proper diet, while others believe it will only contribute pounds, rather than wiping away.

The fact of the matter is this grain can be of massive benefit to people of different ages, but particularly senior adults. Eating whole grains has numerous advantages that we will get there in a minute. However, first, you need an essential element to help make your loved one eat better — you.

People who spend a lot of time with the senior, such as caretakers or members of the family, will support the elder to make nutritious options by supporting them and making the same healthy choices. If they see you eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, they are likely to be more motivated to do the same as you are doing.

Without any further delay, these are the top 6 factors your loved senior must keep in their pantry stocked with whole-grain foods.

1. It has a lot of fiber.

Fiber is of particular importance to the elderly, as they have more digestion problems than any other age ranges, particularly constipation. Whole-grain foods also comprise lots of edible fiber. Two slices of dark rye bread, for example, contain 5.8 grams of fiber.

2. It decreases the high cholesterol level.

Whole grains can help prevent bad cholesterol from being consumed by the body, thus reducing triglycerides too.

3. Lower blood pressure decreases.

Eating plenty of these nutrients will help lower blood pressure, leading to a lower risk of heart disease. Whole grains can also reduce insulin levels, as well as lowering blood pressure.

4. It helps in weight management.

Elders needing to lose a few extra pounds can do so by eating more whole grains. A research found that women who ate more whole grains, brown rice, wheat germ, popcorn, and dark bread were 49 percent less likely to gain weight over time than those who chose donuts and white bread.

5. It keeps blood sugar in control.

Glucose levels are less likely to spike by eating more whole grains, reducing the risk of diabetes developing for the elderly.

6. It offers supplementary nutrients.

Whole cereals are also an excellent source of other vitamins and minerals. This includes vitamins, calcium, vitamin C, B, and iron.

All these benefits must give you and your loved one sufficient motivation to add more whole grains to a healthy and better diet.