We're pretty lucky as a people. Thanks to advancements in medicine and life-saving techniques, people are living longer lives. Unfortunately, the quality of the foods we eat as well as our diets, has declined over the past decade. Many of us know what we should and shouldn't eat, but too often we make poor choices, which can not only speed up the aging process, but cause risks to our health when we get older.

What follows is by no means a guarantee for good health, but rather a guide for better nutrition and better eating habits. As always, if your doctor puts you on a strict diet, please follow it. And if you have specific questions as to how certain foods can affect you or interact with any medications you're currently taking, speak to your physician before making any changes to your diet.

Are Today's Seniors Overfed and Undernourished?

Many of today's seniors eat well enough, but are unfortunately undernourished. This is due to several factors, not the least of which is the aging process itself. The kinds of foods we consume today are often processed and refined and have lost much of their nutritional value. Sadly, this problem affects not only seniors, but also virtually everyone in America today.

Aging reduces metabolism, which also causes people not to get the proper nutrition out of the foods they eat. And certain medications can alter how the body digests food, which can lead to undernourishment.

Along with physical factors that lead to undernourishment goes economic and mental factors. Many seniors experience loneliness, which leads to depression. This can result in disinterest in eating. In addition, some elderly folks are on extremely limited budgets and they consequently either go without food or make poor choices at mealtimes.

What You Can Do to Be Healthier

As mentioned before, check with your doctor before making radical changes to your diet, but here are some guidelines on how to eat better for the sake of your health:

• Try to eat from five of the six major food groups (fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals, dairy, meat, fish, poultry and beans). Getting something from each of these groups will help you get all the nutrients you need to maintain good health.
• Stay away from fatty foods and foods high in cholesterol. As a guide, your fat intake should be less than 30% of your total calorie intake. And your saturated fat intake should be less than 10%.
• Fiber is very important as we age, so increase the amount of fiber you eat during the day. Fruits and veggies are a good source of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals.
• Use salt and other seasonings containing sodium sparingly.
• Water, water, water. Drink at least 8 (8 oz.) glasses a day. Water is vital for helping to transport nutrients, remove waste and regulate body temperature.
• Avoid sugar in drinks as well as foods. Sweets and sugary products might give you a boost of energy, but they're severely lacking in vitamins, proteins and minerals while being high in calories.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption. Moderation is the key unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

There's So Much A Good Diet Can Do

A good diet doesn't just promote a healthy body, but can go a long way to improve your mental health as well as your outlook on life. Eating well-balanced, nutritional meals can give you the energy you need to complete daily tasks, can improve your resistance to diseases, can help you recover from injury, illness or surgery and help to increase your mobility.

While it's true that eating a healthy diet is no guarantee to good health or a longer life, the good benefits that come from eating right just can't be ignored.