Senior Solutions: How Going Vegan Can Help Your Health in Later Life

Today's entry is a special contribution from freelance health and food writer Jessica Walter...

Senior Solutions: How Going Vegan Can Help Your Health in Later Life

Looking after your health is one of the biggest concerns seniors have to deal with, and is one of the biggest causes of financial stress in the age group. It’s never too late to reassess your lifestyle and see how you can change things to be healthier. Making the switch to a vegan diet is one of the best ways to do this. Veganism brings many health benefits for people of all ages, but can specifically benefit seniors.

The Top Health Benefits

Many common health problems are caused by a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices; so think about what healthy changes you can make to improve your health as a senior. By going vegan, you’re helping to cut out these issues at the source - and also avoid having to manage them with costly synthetic medicines.

· Heart and blood - going vegan is a great way to reduce your cholesterol, and with it, your risk of heart disease. Vegan diets help to manage many medical conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

· Weight loss - your body needs less calories as it ages, so it can be easy to pile on the pounds. Vegan diets are naturally less calorific, so can help smooth this transition. Obesity is linked to all kinds of problems, from joint complaints to cancer, so this is a really positive effect of veganism.

· Digestion -  a vegan diet is high in fibre, which helps aid regular digestion and bowel processes. Gas and heartburn are caused by fatty and acidic foods, which are not present in a vegan diet.

· Optic health - brightly colored vegetables and fruits contain lots of vital minerals and nutrients which help many bodily functions, including your eyesight.


Preparing to Go Vegan

It’s important to give a little thought to your new vegan diet and make sure that it will work for you. While your calorie requirement does decrease, your requirements for certain nutrients and vitamins actually increases as you age - so check out vegan options or supplements to make sure you’re getting enough calcium to look after your bones. Consult your doctor and have some tests run to make sure you’re aware of any existing deficiencies, and research what fruits and vegetables you can eat to make up for these. It might be a little work to begin with but you’ll soon see the benefits - and have one less thing to worry about in your later life.