Eating healthy food and keeping a balanced diet is important at any age, but as you get older, the body goes through several changes, which means certain nutrients become increasingly important to your overall wellness.
“Different decades bring with them their own set of challenges for your body,” says Kim Pearson, nutritionist and weight loss specialist.
Here’s a breakdown of what each decade entails and how to best fuel your body:
In your 30s
The best diet for women in their 30s requires plenty of vegetables, healthy fats and iron to prevent anaemia.
“Career demands, a busy social life and children all have the potential to sap your energy,” says Pearson.
“As well as getting plenty of sleep, it’s important to have a diet that supports your energy needs. Minimising starchy carbohydrates and sugars whilst basing meals around proteins, healthy fats and plenty of vegetables is a great place to start.
These foods will fill you up and keep you satisfied as well as providing a consistent and sustained release of energy.”
If you’re pregnant or planning for a baby, ensure you take folate, a natural form of folic acid. “A high-quality pregnancy multivitamin with additional DHA and vitamin D is a good place to start,” says Pearson.
For high energy levels:
- Grass-fed or organic red meat
- Leafy green vegetables
- Nuts, seeds
- Pulses
In your 40s
A healthy diet for women in their 40s swaps refined sugars for more sustainable sources of carbohydrates like quinoa, oats or sweet potato.
“Many people find weight starts to creep up in their 40s, so it’s more important than ever to keep an eye on your intake of sugar and refined, starchy carbohydrates,” Pearson advises.
In this decade, you’re more likely to experience issues with high blood pressure, so keep your salt levels in check.
For a dose of antioxidants:
- Colourful fruits and vegetables
- Green tea
In your 50s
The best diet for women in their 50s is one that supports bone health.
“Oestrogen helps protect bones and as our natural levels decline,” says Pearson.
“So it’s more important than ever to provide optimal levels of bone-supportive nutrients. These include calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K and boron.”
Also, ensure you get enough, but not too much, protein to support bone health and muscle repair.
At this age, you may be experiencing gut issues and your digestive system may not be functioning as effectively as in the past.
For good gut health:
- Artichokes
- Green vegetables
- Root vegetables
- Quality probiotic supplement
In your 60s
In your 60s, the body finds it more difficult to absorb vitamins and minerals, and requires fewer calories as activity levels are likely to decrease.
Your immune system becomes weaker in this decade, which means you’ll need to boost your intake of zinc. Good sources include meat, dairy, wholegrain cereals and pulses.
The best diet for women over 60 also needs high levels of vitamin D, which can be found in eggs, oily fish or a good supplement such as cod liver oil.
To stave off cognitive decline:
- Colourful fruits and vegetables
- Red or white wine (Yay!)
This article originated on: womanandhome.com
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any diet, you should speak to your doctor. You must not rely on the information on this website/newsletter as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
