The Best Foods to Eat For Women 50 Years Old and Beyond

By: Josh Elizetxe

Women’s bodies undergo different changes as time passes by. Apparently, these changes have huge impacts on health and wellness. At the age of 30, every woman’s metabolism begins to decline. The same is true for bone density and hormone levels.  So, imagine your overall health condition in your fifties and sixties.

In totality, it is not only your preference for music and clothes that change as you get older. You must understand that your body is no longer functioning as efficiently as it was when you were 20 or 30. And being much more selective to the food you are eating is a must. Hence, here are the best foods to eat when you are in your fifties.

• Oats

Heart diseases are very common for older people – 45 and above. Women normally have a much higher risk of getting such diseases starting at the age of 55. So, including cholesterol-lowering foods and snacks is a great move.

Now, oats are natural cholesterol-lowering foods. And eating this regularly will not only help you lower your risks of heart diseases, but they can also decrease the risk of dying at an early age. Essentially, oats contain high levels of beta-glucan which is a soluble fiber that decreases cholesterol levels. A cup of this every morning will do the work effectively.

• Apples

Apples are a great choice of fruit too when aiming for a clean and healthy diet. They are rich in fibers that are great for keeping your heart healthy. Also, eating more apples every day can largely decrease the risks of immobility as you age.

Alongside these benefits, apples have a lot of antioxidants that fight free radicals which are usually the causes of immunity decline. 

• Berries

For your brain improvements, berries are the greatest option to choose along with the other dark-colored berries. They contain phytochemicals that increase the blood flow to the brain and reduce inflammation. As a result, these fruits can help you improve your brain functions and decrease the risk of having the common short-term memory loss tendencies.

• Walnuts

You may want to resort to nuts as well, instead of munching on crackers and chips for your snacks. Recently, studies show that nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts, reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death by 28%. In addition, they improve brain functionality which is great for women over 50.

Try to have at least one cup of walnuts or peanuts per day. You may include fruits while munching on them.

• Lean Meats & Fish

As you reach the age of 50 and older, you must be very careful in counting your calories. Instead of focusing on calorie-dense foods, switch to foods that are nutrient-dense such as lean meats and fish meats.

These kinds of foods are very rich in protein and fiber that are significantly needed for your body in these age groups.

• Soy Milk

Your hormones may act strangely and differently during this stage in life. As you get older, the menopausal stages and symptoms that you experience are evident. You will want to choose to consume foods that are high in isoflavones since they mimic how estrogen hormones function.

Soy milk, tofu, and miso are the most appropriate choices for your hormonal concerns at this age. However, be mindful of consuming too many soybeans especially when you are a cancer survivor. It is essentially advisable that you consult with your doctor first before consuming such foods.

• Yogurt

Another common concern of every mid-aged woman today is their bone health. During this stage of life, the bone apparently gets thinner making it very susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis. Hence, the need for vitamin D and calcium is much higher.

The green varieties of yogurt are great sources of fiber. As for milk yogurts and non-dairy types, they are quite rich in calcium. And they are the best foods to eat regularly to help and strengthen the bones in totality.

• Broccoli

Today, there are a lot of “green superfoods” to choose from. But, one of the best choices in this line of food is broccoli. You could actually gain a lot of benefits from eating broccoli on a daily basis. A daily serving of this green can help you improve brain functions and health due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory contents. Also, the calcium contents of broccoli are significant and makes it great for your bone health as well.

• Oranges

An orange a day can keep you active and well-functioning even at an older age. Also, the antioxidant that they contain slows the aging process which preserves your younger health states.

Apparently, the benefits of eating oranges are already established. Nevertheless, they are found to be helpful not only in strengthening your immune system but also in decreasing the risk of having physical impairment due to aging.

• Eggs

Eggs are another great food to add to your diet and meal plans. They are high in protein and this helps you maintain a great shape and figure. Also, they contain significant numbers of nutrients which are beneficial to your overall health and wellness especially when you reach 50 and above.

Try to eat one or two eggs per day.

All of the foods listed above are not the surprising and unique kinds. They are the ones you always hear or read about when it comes to having a healthy lifestyle. But, even though there’s not a major “wow-factor” in these foods, they can effectively help you manage your fitness states and health conditions during your mid-ages.