Health Benefits of Food: These Options Will Surprise You!
Over the years, some health benefits of food have gotten a bad rap for their nutritional value. However, you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Here are a few foods with surprising health benefits that can improve senior nutrition:
Health Benefits of Food: The Senior Guide
Wine
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention found that moderate alcohol consumption – two drinks per day for a man and one for a woman – is part of a healthy lifestyle. The CDC study found that moderate drinking, as one of four low-risk lifestyle behaviors, actually decreased mortality by 63 percent compared to those who didn’t consume alcohol.
While binge drinking can have damaging effects on the body, consuming wine regularly may improve senior mental health. According to a study in BMC Medicine, seniors who had between two and seven glasses of wine per week were less likely to suffer from depression.
Red wine has long been touted as beneficial for cardiovascular health. It is a drink packed with antioxidants and its heart-healthy nutrients may reduce bad cholesterol, known as lipoprotein cholesterol, and increase good cholesterol called high-density cholesterol. Red wine may also reduce the risk of heart attack by preventing blood clots.
Mushrooms and the health benefits of food
There are many different types of mushrooms, each with their own beneficial nutrients. Mushrooms can be packed with Vitamin D, which can help boost the immune system. Vitamin D also helps keep the brain functioning well, reduces the risk of developing muscular sclerosis and helps people maintain a healthy body weight. Farmers will often place mushrooms under ultraviolet light before they head to the store to soak up more Vitamin D. Check for products that are infused with the nutrient.
The immune system is supported by mushrooms by promoting the production of antiviral proteins used by cells to repair tissue. They are also full of antioxidants which can aid in removing free radicals – known to damage cells and cause cancer – from the body.
Mushrooms are an important part of senior wellness that are low in calories, but high in essential nutrients.
Eggs
In the past, research has shown that eggs can increase cholesterol and clog arteries. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently declared that consuming eggs will not clog arteries. A study by the USDA found that there was no difference in lipids that clog arteries among those who eat one egg per week and those who eat more than one egg per day.
With around 70 calories per egg, it can provide 10 percent of the daily recommended dose of protein, iron and B vitamins.
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