It is natural for our Filipinos to be close to our families, especially our grandparents, especially if they have been a big part of our upbringing. For many, they are the people who taught us important lessons in life, cared for us when we were little, and loved us more than our parents.

Other nutritional requirements of grandparents

If you still have grandparents at home, you know that you can not just prepare any food for their health care. Their body's nutritional requirements are different due to old age, lower metabolism, and less movement.

As a person grows older, his need for certain nutrients increases. The number of calories needed decreases, but every calorie an adult consumes must be nutritious to meet the needs of their body. For an elderly person to perform his daily activities, he must have enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and other vitamins in the body.

Ready to suit the health of the elderly

And since Grandparents ’Day is approaching, let’s find out the foods that can and cannot be served at the dinner table for grandparents.

Foods rich in calcium

Calcium is the key to strengthening and strengthening the bones that our grandparents need. In addition, calcium also helps lower blood pressure. According to research, when a person lacks calcium intake, the body reabsorbs bone calcium so it becomes fragile, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Milk and other dairy products, leafy green vegetables, and chickpeas are just some of the foods rich in calcium. You can prepare Filipino food such as fried salmon (canned and with thorns) with spinach, fried chicken with broccoli, stir fry green beans with garlic, or tofu in oyster sauce.

Aside from calcium, the food recipe you are looking for should also contain vitamin D because it is what your bones and whole body need to absorb calcium properly. When the body is deficient in vitamin D, calcium from food is just wasted.

Foods rich in vitamin C.

According to the study, a person's immunity level decreases as he gets older. So one of the important aspects of elderly care of grandparents is having enough vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, it is key to stronger immunity, as well as proper growth, development, and repair of body tissues. Vitamin C is also involved in bone healing and the maintenance of the teeth, bones, and cartilage.

If you are preparing dessert for Grandparents ’Day celebration, it is best to have fruits rich in vitamin C such as orange, pineapple, raw or ripe mangoes, bananas, lanzones, strawberries, and papaya. You can also mix calamansi juice or fresh lemonade as a stimulant.

Foods rich in iron

Another of the functions of vitamin C is that it helps in the absorption of iron. What is iron? This is not the literal iron seen by the naked eye. It is a type of mineral whose main purpose is to deliver oxygen to the blood from the lungs to the rest of the body to produce energy. That is why elderly people who lack iron are prone to fatigue and weakness, which is a disease called anemia.

To prevent grandparents from having anemia, make sure you are iron-rich ready for their day whether it is food delivery or your own homemade. Dishes with leafy green vegetables, peanuts, dates, shrimp, oysters, and chicken, pork, or beef liver are just a few of the options you can choose from.

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids

Older people age 65 and older are the most at risk for heart disease. If your health is not well cared for, your grandparents may need primary care. But to reduce the understandings, just make sure their omega-3 fatty acids intake is enough to make you comfortable in their heart condition.

Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent inflammation of various parts of the body, which is one of the leading causes of various diseases. It is commonly found in fish such as salmon, tulingan, mackerel, sardines, and herring. It is also found in nuts such as chia seeds, walnuts, and flaxseed, as well as fortified foods.

Foods rich in fiber

The human digestive system naturally slows down as it ages. The walls of the gastrointestinal tract become thick and obstructed by bowel movement, which leads to constipation or constipation. This is where the importance of adequate fiber nutrients enters the body of the elderly.

Like some of the ones mentioned above, foods such as legumes, nuts, and seeds are rich in fiber. Among the fruits, there are bananas, apples, strawberries, and oranges.

Make the celebration of Grandparents ’Day meaningful by serving nutritious foods that are sure to please the tastes and body of grandparents.