Healthy eating for older adults Archive

Pro-inflammatory foods include fried foods, sodas, refined carbohydrates, and red meat. Green vegetables, berries, whole grains, and fatty fish are thought to combat the inflammatory process.

Resistant starch causes smaller blood sugar spikes than regular starches, and feeds beneficial gut bacteria. You can increase the resistant starch content of starchy foods by cooking and chilling them, though overall diet quality matters more to blood sugar control than this trick alone.

A 2026 study found that drinking two to three daily cups of caffeinated coffee, or one to two daily cups of caffeinated tea, was linked to better cognitive health and lower risks of dementia.

A review of 17 studies found that for people at high risk of heart disease, cutting down on saturated fats may have lowered their risk of major cardiac events over the next five years, but people at lower risk did not see similar benefits.

Like most vitamins, B₁₂ can't be made by the body and must be gotten from food or supplements. A B₁₂ deficiency -- which might stem from a vegan or vegetarian diet, or problems with absorption due to weight loss surgery or aging -- can seriously harm nerves, mood, thinking, energy, and more.

Most people have heard the nutritional recommendation to eat five servings of fruit per day. But are some fruits better for you than others? Is it okay to eat dried or frozen fruit, or to drink fruit juice? Does it have to be organic?

While protein is essential to help prevent muscle loss as you age, other nutrients matter, too. Carbohydrates, magnesium, iron, omega-3 fats, and vitamin D work together to support muscle function and prevent muscle breakdown. Getting enough water is also essential for muscle performance and function.

A large 2026 study estimated that adding just five minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity might prevent up to 10% of deaths during an eight-year period. Sitting for 30 minutes or less might prevent up to 7% of deaths.

A 2026 study suggested that people who stop taking weight-loss medications rapidly regain weight and lose heart health benefits associated with the drugs.