Low-fat milk, almond milk and soymilk offer substantial amounts of calcium, protein and other nutrients good for bone and muscle health, which is extremely important for older adults. If you're looking for a lower-calorie drink, unsweetened almond milk can have as few as 30 calories in eight ounces.
Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.
If you're looking for ways to ensure adequate fluid intake, you can try: Offering drinks more frequently: Water is best, but if the person isn't keen, juice or squash is good too. Remember, cups of tea are nice, but they are a diuretic and can exacerbate problems with dehydration.
Even mild dehydration adversely affects mental performance and increases feelings of tiredness. Mental functions affected include memory, attention, concentration and reaction time. Common complications associated with dehydration also include low blood pressure, weakness, dizziness and increased risk of falls.
Experts generally recommend that older adults consume at least 1.7 liters of fluid per 24 hours. This corresponds to 57.5 fluid ounces, or 7.1 cups. What are the best fluids to prevent dehydration?
You should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Here are some simple tips for making sure you reach your goal and get enough water. Sip on drinks throughout the day. Get a reusable water bottle with a straw and fill it with plain water.
Studies suggest everyone should drink between 56 and 64 ounces of water per day, which works out to between 7 and 8 8-ounce glasses per day. This sounds like a ton of water. Elderly people in particular may be less likely to want to drink large quantities of water so they don't spend their entire day in the bathroom.
Animal-sourced protein is another excellent option, especially for those who need more “complete” proteins. Containing all of the amino acids, protein sourced from meat, eggs, or dairy may be a great way for older adults to get the essential nutrition that they need.
Several studies demonstrated that 1.2-1.5 g/kg/day of milk or whey protein isolate (WPI) with resistance exercise enhanced muscle mass, performance or function in older adults (Table 1).
Foods like bagels, toast, waffles, oatmeal, cereals or English muffins all have whole-grain varieties. Whole grains are also good sources of fiber, which supports senior nutrition in many ways. Look for lean protein. Eggs, yogurt and nuts or seeds are great sources of protein.
One of the top reasons bananas are good for the elderly is because they're rich sources of potassium, an essential nutrient. Potassium is thought to play an important role in regulating blood pressure, and it may be helpful to those diagnosed with hypertension.
Drinking at least three servings of milk or eating dairy foods each day is a good way for seniors, like Doris, to get vitamin D and calcium, and protein. Doris uses milk in her cereal and cooks with it, too.
