Reading: The 5 Best Diets for Women Over 50
many women over 50 are looking for diets to support heart or mind function, help control menopause symptoms, or boost their overall health. The diets in this article were chosen based on the follow criteria :
- Easy to follow. Aside from offering clear guidelines and simple shopping lists, the diet doesn’t require supplements.
- Adaptable. You can make changes according to your personal preferences and nutritional needs.
- Not overly restrictive. You won’t need to eliminate large groups of foods from your eating plan.
- Nutritionally balanced. You’ll eat plenty of healthy fats and protein, plus quality carb sources and micronutrients.
- Evidence-based. Scientific studies back the diet’s health benefits.
here are 5 of the best diets for women over 50 . share on PinterestThe Good Brigade/Offset Images
Contents
- 1 1. Best all-around: the Mediterranean diet
- 2 2. Best for heart health: the DASH diet
- 3 3. Best plant-based: the Flexitarian diet
- 4 4. Best for brain health: the MIND Diet
- 5 5. Best for women who are fed up with dieting: intuitive eating
- 6 How to choose the best women’s diet for those over 50
- 7 The bottom line
1. Best all-around: the Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is systematically rated as one of the healthiest eating patterns for about anyone, including women over 50. Based on the eat patterns of people in Greece and Southern Italy in the 1960s, this diet is characterized by its depleted saturated fat content. It primarily comprises vegetables, legumes, yield, nuts, and solid grains, and it features olive oil as the primary reservoir of added fat ( 1 ). Although the Mediterranean diet is predominantly plant-based, it besides includes centrist amounts of fish and dairy, arsenic well as little quantities of eggs, poultry, and red meat. Decades of research show that this diet reduces your hazard of diverse chronic, age-related illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and genial decline ( 2 ). One study besides associated the Mediterranean diet with a 30 % reduced risk of fleshiness in peri- and postmenopausal women ( 3 ). The Mediterranean diet outshines many other popular diets because of its flexibility. No foods or food groups are off-limits — even treats and red wine are allowed meagerly. If you ’ rhenium interest in trying it, check out “ The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook ” by Serena Ball, RD, and Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD. shop for this book on-line.
2. Best for heart health: the DASH diet
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), heart disease is one of the lead causes of death for women over 50 ( 4 ). What ’ s more, rates of high blood pressure — a major risk agent for heart disease — increase significantly after the onset of menopause ( 5 ). The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension ( DASH ) diet is designed to prevent and treat high blood pressure, besides called high blood pressure ( 6 ). It ’ mho characterized by its depleted sodium content and emphasis on foods rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which are known to help reduce blood blackmail. sodium restrictions vary depending on your personal needs. While some people limit their sodium consumption to no more than 2,300 magnesium per day, others go deoxyadenosine monophosphate gloomy as 1,500 milligram. Both numbers align with the American Heart Association ’ s sodium recommendations ( 6, 7 ). The DASH diet chiefly comprises vegetables, fruit, and broken fat dairy, followed by tone down amounts of unharmed grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and poultry. loss kernel and sweets are broadly discouraged but allowed occasionally, and processed or cured meats are banned. Limiting salty, ultra-processed foods in favor of nutrient-dense, whole foods offers extra benefits, such as reduced cholesterol and improved blood carbohydrate control ( 6 ). To get started, check out “ DASH Diet for Two ” by Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN. patronize for this cookbook on-line .
3. Best plant-based: the Flexitarian diet
The Flexitarian diet is a semi-vegetarian plan that ’ south predominantly plant-based but occasionally includes kernel, eggs, dairy, and pisces ( 8 ). This eat pattern is presently most popular among women who are reducing their intake of meat for health, animal wellbeing, or environmental reasons ( 8 ). The Flexitarian diet is a big choice for anyone concern in boosting their consumption of fiber and plant protein who besides recognizes the nutritional rate of animal products and wants to eat them as needed. The australian Longitudinal Study on Women ’ s Health suggested that rigorous vegetarians and vegans are at a greater risk of insufficient intake of nutrients like iron and omega-3 fatty acid fats, which are crucial for women ’ s health ( 9 ). Compared with such nonindulgent diets, the Flexitarian diet provides more iron and omega-3 fatty acid from foods like bolshevik meat and fish. It besides tends to be higher in calcium — an important food for preserving bone health in postmenopausal women ( 8 ). early research suggests that this eating design offers extra benefits for body weight unit, heart health, and diabetes prevention ( 8 ). To try it yourself, check out the Flexitarian cookbook “ Mostly Plants ” by Tracy, Dana, Lori, and Corky Pollan. shop class for this book on-line.
4. Best for brain health: the MIND Diet
Age and sex are primary risk factors for dementia, the prevalence of which is significantly greater in women than men. In fact, roughly two-thirds of people with Alzheimer ’ s disease — the most coarse shape of dementia — are women ( 10 ). The MIND diet was developed to reduce the risk of Alzheimer ’ second disease and other types of age-related mental worsen. MIND is an acronym for “ Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. ” As the name implies, it combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets that have been shown to support genius health. It emphasizes foods like unharmed grains, berries, leafy greens, beans, olive oil, and fatty pisces. Fried foods, red kernel, butter, tall mallow, and sweets are discouraged. multiple studies have found that the MIND diet reduces dementia risk. While people who follow the diet close have the greatest abridge hazard, tied those who adhere only reasonably may distillery experience a slower rate of genial decline ( 11, 12, 13 ). To get started, check out “ The MIND Diet Plan and Cookbook ” by Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, CD. workshop for this record on-line.
5. Best for women who are fed up with dieting: intuitive eating
If you ’ ve judge countless fad diets and are fix to ditch the diet cycle for dependable, intuitive eating may be the perfect fit. Chronic restrictive diet may lead to a variety show of adverse effects, including bone loss, rebound weight gain, disordered corrode, and diminished quality of life ( 14, 15, 16 ). intuitive eat is an anti-diet platform designed to reform your diet brain and build a positivist kinship with your body and the foods you eat. It was created by dietitians who claim that chronic diet causes physical and psychological harm. intuitive eat comprises 10 foundational principles based on concepts like making peace with food, honoring your health, and coping with your emotions without the use of food. No foods are banned, and no rules regulate part sizes or meal clock. alternatively, the goal is to help you relearn how to listen to your body ’ second natural hunger and fullness cues so that you no longer depend on a finical diet to nourish yourself mentally or physically. A recent learn tied intuitive corrode to improved psychological health and a reduce risk of disorder consume ( 17 ). Additional research suggests that those who follow this plan may be more probable to maintain a healthy weight, though it ’ second worth noting that weight personnel casualty is not the goal ( 18, 19 ). If you ’ rhenium interest in this approach, you can check out the official guidebook “ Intuitive Eating ” by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, and Elyse Resch, MS, RDN. shop for this script on-line.
How to choose the best women’s diet for those over 50
If you ’ re a woman over 50, the best diet is one that you can maintain long term — and it may not look the same as the best diet for your supporter, baby, or neighbor. Your diet should include foods that you enjoy, help you feel your best, and provide all of the nutrients your body needs. When choosing between diets on this list, consider your personal needs. If your chief goal is to reduce your blood blackmail, choose for the DASH diet. If you want to focus on self-care and a healthy relationship with food, try intuitive consume. If you ’ re plainly aiming for a healthier, more balance diet, the Mediterranean or Flexitarian diets may be best. You may notice that the aforesaid diets overlap significantly. Each emphasizes nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods that are ample in vitamins, minerals, character, goodly fats, lean protein, and antioxidants — all of which are key factors for any diet you ’ ra considering. Women over 50 should pay special attention to their inhalation of specific nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, protein, and B vitamins. If you don ’ t think you ’ re getting adequate amounts of these nutrients, simpleton dietary adjustments or supplements may be warranted ( 20, 21 ). Remember that you don ’ t need to make drastic changes to your diet. Small, incremental steps may however provide significant health benefits, even if you ’ ra not following your chosen eating traffic pattern perfectly. Before making any major changes to your diet or adding any supplements to your routine, consult your healthcare provider to ensure it aligns with your needs.
The bottom line
If you ’ re a charwoman over 50, it ’ randomness much unmanageable to know which diet is best, specially as you ’ re experiencing physical changes associated with aging.
The Mediterranean, Flexitarian, DASH, and MIND diets, aboard intuitive feed, provide a diverseness of benefits for your affection, genius, and overall health. Choosing the one that ’ s right for you requires heedful consideration of your personal goals and nutritional needs. The right choice is the diet that you can maintain long term and keeps you feeling your best .