HJNO May/Jun 2023

52 MAY / JUN 2023 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS COLUMN  SENIOR HEALTH AS Dana DeSilva, PhD, RD, and Lt. Dennis Anderson-Villaluz, MBA, RD, LDN, FAND, from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion point out, older adults can decrease their risk of chronic disease by “eating nutrient-dense foods and maintaining an active lifestyle.” 1 But what exactly are “nutrient-dense foods,” and what should older adults be looking for when perusing the shelves at the grocery store? For some, it can be hard Healthy Aging: Nutrition Tips for Older Adults to get started, especially without knowing how foods affect the body or what “smart” choices look like. To gain insight, I asked registered dietician, Dorria S. Amer, MPH, RDN, for a few nutrition tips that older adults can use to stay healthy. Drink plenty of fluids First, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. The signal for thirst lags behind our actual need for hydration, so as Nutrition is important at all stages of life; however, it plays a crucial role in our health as we age. Healthy nutrition throughout the course of one’s life can help prevent chronic disease, such as cancer and heart disease.