Senior Nutrition: Food to Boost Mood

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Nutrition plays a vital role in overall senior health and wellbeing, affecting both physical and mental health. Seniors sometimes report low moods or symptoms of mild depression but are hesitant to treat these symptoms with medication. If your senior loved one has been feeling a little down or simply needs a pick-me-up, you may be surprised to realize there are a number of foods that can boost his or her mood naturally. 

 

Fish

Oily fish and seafood, such as salmon, tuna, and mussels, offer important omega-3 fatty acids that aren’t naturally produced by the body. In addition to many other health benefits, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish boost the brain’s dopamine and serotonin levels, elevating mood. Fish is also rich in selenium, an antioxidant shown to help with depression in certain populations, including the elderly. 

A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support and information when it comes to getting proper nutrition. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust homecare experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives.

 

Green Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants and amino acids, which have been shown to increase focus and mental clarity. For seniors on low-caffeine diets, it’s important to remember that green tea does contain natural caffeine.

 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate has a boosting effect on brain endorphins, causing the body to release “feel-good” chemicals after a person eats a fairly small amount of dark chocolate. Additionally, dark chocolate also has heart-healthy properties. 

 

Whole Grains

Whole-grain foods, such as breads, rice, and oatmeal, contain amino acids shown to boost the body’s production of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin boosts mood and relaxation, while melatonin encourages healthy sleep. 

Making sure your loved one eats healthy meals can sometimes be a challenge. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Frederick, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

 

Beans & Legumes

Beans and legumes are a low-fat source of protein and are also quite high in folic acid and selenium. Both of these nutrients have been proven effective at boosting mood and alleviating symptoms of depression in aging adults. 

 

Nuts

Nuts offer a host of benefits, from heart health to mood elevation. Packing both omega-3 fatty acids and selenium, nuts have been shown to fight oxidative stressors in the brain often associated with mild to moderate depression in seniors. 

 

Green Leafy Vegetables

Greens such as spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce all contain high levels of vitamin C and folic acid, which increase energy levels and often boost mood. A trained professional caregiver can be an ideal resource when you’re trying to help your loved one lead a healthier lifestyle. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Frederick families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call today.