7 foods you should eat if you’re over 50

Though you may eat the same foods you’ve always eaten since you were a kid, the fact is your nutritional needs change throughout your life. “In youth, it’s all about growth and maintaining a body that can procreate,” says nutrition and fitness expert Pamela Peeke, M.D., author of The New York Times bestseller The Hunger Fix. “After the age of 50, the goal is to prevent disease by maintaining an optimally healthy and active mind and body.” That means what we eat as we age matters. “As we get older, metabolism slows and the body’s ability to break down and use its fuel sources becomes less efficient,” says Dr. Peeke. In addition, certain vitamins become more important to help protect against diseases and health issues.

Read on to find which foods you should be eating to keep your body strong and mind sharp over time.