Healthy Foods Seniors Should Avoid

Maintaining a healthy diet is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for senior citizens as they age. We often hear about the foods that seniors should be eating, but there are also a lot of foods for seniors to avoid, and not all of them are junk food. Below, we’ve compiled a list of healthy foods that senior should avoid.

Soft Cheese

Soft cheeses, such as Brie and blue cheese, are usually sold unpasteurized at the store which means that soft cheeses could contain unsafe bacteria. While that isn’t a huge threat for younger people, older people that have poor immune systems or sensitive stomachs could have a hard time fighting off bacteria. If you need some cheese here and there stick with hard cheeses such as cheddar.

Raw Eggs

Many sources say that we should eat raw eggs in moderation and other sources are against it.  However, senior citizens should absolutely avoid eating raw eggs. Similar to the soft cheeses mentioned above, raw eggs often carry bacteria called salmonella, which can have pretty serious health risks for senior citizens.

 “Low” Fat Foods

We’ve typically believe that low-fat foods are better for us, but eating just low fat foods might mean we cut all healthy fats out of our diet.  Items such as yogurt and milk are often better for us when they are full-fat. Plus, foods like nuts, fish, and olive oil are high in healthy fats that are good for the heart.

Oysters, Mussels, and Clams

As you age, it is important to avoid uncooked seafood such as mussels, clams, and oysters. If a senior citizen eats a bad oyster, they will not be able to recover as quickly as a younger person would. Seniors might experience severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration which can lead to serious health conditions.

Looking for more advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a senior citizen? Check out BEK Medical’s blog.