Over 65? Avoid These Foods
By Sara Butler
There's all kinds of information out there about the types of foods you should eat, but what about the foods you should avoid if you're over a certain age? People over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of foodborne illness and some foods are more likely to make you sick than others. Here are a few of the foods you need to be careful eating or avoid altogether if you're over 65.
Why Is Foodborne Illness a Big Deal?
Chances are you've not been lucky enough to reach age 65 without getting food poisoning a time or two, so why the concern after age 65? Well, when you're over 65 your immune system isn't working as well as it used to. As a result, food poisoning turns from something that's annoying and uncomfortable into something that can lead to life-threatening complications.
Foods to Be Careful With
As stated, some foods are more likely than others to carry the bugs that can cause food poisoning. These are foods you must limit or eliminate for your health and wellness, including:
- Soft cheeses - Any type of mold-ripened soft cheeses such as blue cheese, Roquefort, Camembert, and brie should be avoided, as well as unpasteurized soft cheese. The moisture in these cheeses are a great environment for the bacteria that can cause foodborne illness to thrive. If the cheese is cooked, however, chances are you're fine to eat it.
- Runny or raw eggs - Your Rocky training days are behind you, so leave the runny or raw eggs behind too. Your eggs must be cooked thoroughly until the yolks and whites are solid.
- Lunch meat - Cold meats such as chorizo, prosciutto, pepperoni, and salami are simply fermented and cured, so they're not actually cooked. That makes them a risk for carrying parasites. If you want to eat these meats, freeze them first or cook them.
- Raw or undercooked poultry and meat - Beware the barbecues! Undercooked or raw meats can carry E. coli and salmonella, which can make you really sick. Make sure all meat is cooked to temperature before you eat it to help you stay healthy.
- Sushi - Raw seafood can also be a dangerous thing unless you make sure the fish has been frozen first. Sometimes the fish used for sushi contains parasites that can make you sick, but freezing kills these parasites and makes the fish safe to eat. Always check if you have a hankering for sushi!
If you have questions about how to stay healthy over 65, the chiropractors at The Joint are a great resource!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sandy Springs, Ga.