If you’re on little or no medication, you may be wondering what foods you should try to eat less of. The answer to that probably isn’t as surprising — and by the way, these foods (and drinks) are on the list for people who are on medication, too.
“You’ll definitely want to try to drink less alcohol,” Hormachea said. “As we age, our body’s ability to digest alcohol can change dramatically. Liver function declines, leading to a slower metabolism of alcohol.”
This can result in alcohol staying in the system for longer, she added, with a more pronounced and prolonged effect. “Decreased production of enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism (like ADH and ALDH) can put older adults at a higher risk of alcohol-related toxicity. Many medications used by older adults are also contraindicated for alcohol consumption.”
You should also work to limit your consumption of processed foods, such as fast food, ready-made meals, packaged snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, Emerick said. “These products are manufactured from chemically altered ingredients derived from foods and supplemented with additives to improve taste, texture, appearance, and shelf life, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods,” she said. “Research indicates a direct link between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, obesity, poor sleep quality, and overall mortality.”
Moreover, Emerick added, UPFs often replace more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds in diets, leading to lower consumption of beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. “As it is typical for appetite to diminish with age, every mouthful becomes increasingly important,” she said.
While the advice to limit alcohol and UPFs is pretty standard, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about what foods any medications you’re taking may interact with. They’ll have the most information on this topic, and may also have suggestions for how to meet nutritional needs while steering clear of certain nutrient-dense foods like grapefruit or spinach. In the meantime, you should probably skip that second glass of wine tonight!
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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