However much we try to hold on to our youth, it passes us quickly. The only solace we have is aging is a natural process and what comes must go. As we age, many of us become victims of several age-related ailments including arthritis, osteoporosis, weak heart, joint pains, weak eye sight and teeth and so on. But none of us like the situation and crave for those days when we could anything and remain healthy and fit.
One of the secrets of aging gracefully lies in the fact that our diet and nutrition must be optimum. We must have nutritionally rich foods which would help us face the vagaries of old age gracefully. What are the benefits of youth? There are several including: a healthier and stronger immune system which makes us resistant to various ailments; a strong digestive system which helps is digest any kind of food; higher level of energy, and more. But with age, these faculties become weaker and the only way we can live our old age happily is to maintain a stricter diet regimen. Here are some tips to remain healthy, even when age is not on your side:
Choose foods which are low in sodium and fat but high in calcium and fiber. The calorie intake should be moderate unless you are grossly overweight.
Make your meals interesting by adding flavors etc., so that you could overcome your lack of appetite with some good food on the table.
Make your menu with foods which are not only good to look at, but easy to digest too.
Making a healthy meal is not very difficult if you can make good choices. Here are some tips which could be of help:
Forego foods like white rice and white bread or foods made with white flour. Instead prefer foods made with whole grains and breads made of whole wheat, brown rice, oats, millet, barley, etc.
Eat some form of raw vegetables and fruits daily. The benefit of raw vegetables is that their nutrition value is not lost by cooking. The roughage provided by such foods can help you with age-related constipation and help in digestion. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes which are all you need as you advance in age.
Cutting carrots and apples in small pieces can help you chew better in case you have problems in chewing harder foods.
You could also make a healthy green salad with shredded or grated vegetables.
The right way to get all the nutrients from your vegetables is to steam them instead of cooking them. Or, you could lightly sauté them also. The vegetable stock, after boiling, can be used to make some soups also.
When it is a matter of having proteins, have the following lean meat, instead of red meat:poultry, eggs, fish, tofu, nuts, beans and peas. The cooking process could begrilling, baking, broiling, poaching or steaming, which not only retains the flavor but the cholesterol content could also be lowered.
Eat adequate calcium as you are aging. Dairy products that are either low in fat or are fat-free are the ones that would be good for you.
Prevention 
