How is the health of your aging mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or other older loved one? If you’re concerned about the nutrition they are or aren’t getting from the things they eat, you may want to consider the use of organic foods for senior health. Do organic foods really matter? According to recent studies, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
Cancer affects people of all ages. However, some types of cancer can become more common as people age. One reason for this is that, over time, cells get damaged. As people age, damaged cells build up, sometimes resulting in cancer.
It has long been thought that, to some extent, people could reduce their risk of cancer by consuming organic food. Here are some interesting findings that were recently discovered through a study (the results of the study were published in the December 2018 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association):
- Compared to people who infrequently ate organic, there was a 25% less risk of cancer for people who ate large amounts of organic food.
- The risk of postmenopausal breast cancer was lowered by 21%.
- The risk of contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was lowered by 73%.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits, and even a couple of the possible downsides, of consuming organic foods.
The Upside of Eating Organic
Here are some of the positive aspects of preferring organic foods:
- The animals receive better treatment
- Less need for antibiotics
- Less soil pollution
- Less air pollution
- Better nutritional value
- Compared to conventional food, can be more sustainable
- Human health effects are positive
- Avoidance of hormonal treatments and GMO’s (genetically modified organisms)
- Better taste and food quality
- Much of the time, little to no pesticides/chemicals are used
A Few Downsides
Just to be fair, we are also going to look at the possible downsides to preferring organic foods:
- Across producers, quality varies greatly
- Smaller companies may suffer
- Limited shelf life
- Product variety is lower
- Usually costs more
Retirement Age Adults and Organic Food
Keeping in mind that many of today’s retirement age individuals are on limited or fixed incomes, the price tag for organic food may scare some away. Every person will have to weigh, for themselves, whether or not the price of organic food is worth the many benefits.
Especially for those in their golden years, some of the best organic foods include the following:
- Pasta/tomato sauce
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Beef (for those who still eat red meat)
At Spring Mill, Meals Are Made by Chefs from Fresh Ingredients
At Spring Mill, your loved one can enjoy senior living at its finest thanks, in part, to our Sensations Dining program. Three times a day, meals are freshly prepared, nutritious, and delicious. Whenever possible, locally sourced ingredients are used by our expert chefs. The atmosphere in which your loved one will be served rivals that of some of the finest restaurants in Pennsylvania. Does your loved one have special dietary concerns or considerations? No worries. We’ve got it covered. Contact us today for more information.
