No matter what your age, foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat are not the best choices for your health. And a simple carb like soda, which is high in sugar and calories, doesn’t deliver when it comes to important vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Consuming too many empty calorie foods like soda increases the chances that you will gain weight — especially as we age, our metabolism naturally slow down, and it becomes increasingly difficult to burn fat and calories.
The National Institutes of Health recommends focusing on nutrient-dense foods across all food groups as we age — and cutting “back on foods and beverages that are high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.”
Foods that are included in this category include refined carbs like soda, potato chips, and cookies.
Even though it’s a sacrifice to eliminate or cut back on carbs that (let’s be honest) taste pretty great, the good news is that making a few changes doesn’t mean you’ll be left hungry.
“By making some swaps to get rid of excess sugar, you'll automatically be eating fewer calories, and more of a low carb diet, without having to follow a specific diet plan,” reports Live Strong. “Another bonus of eating more whole foods, and especially fruits and vegetables, is that they provide more vitamins, minerals, fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants that can keep you healthy as you age.”
A few good food swaps that you can make so that you miss unrefined carbs just a little less include raw veggies with hummus, air-popped popcorn, baked kale chips, Greek yogurt with a scoop of raw honey for sweetness, edamame, and even antioxidant-rich dark chocolate as a treat.