How Can Older Canadians Eat More Protein on a Tight Budget?

Why Protein is Important for Older Adults

Frequently people think of seniors as not needing as many nutrients as they adopt more sedentary lifestyles, however, this is far from true. James McKendry, Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Healthy Aging, University of British Columbia  recently published an article on the importance of seniors getting sufficient protein in their diets.  Why is getting enough protein so important for seniors? How on earth can seniors afford enough protein on tight budgets? This post attempts to answer these questions and give suggestions to help you and your friends live happier, healthier, and longer lives.

As people get older, even simple tasks like getting out of bed or using the toilet can become harder. This is because muscles get smaller and weaker as we age - a condition called sarcopenia.

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What Is Protein, and Why Do We Need It?

6 Ways Sweet Potatoes Can Improve Your Life

Growing Sweet Potatoes Can Make You Healthy Wealthy and Wise!

Updated: Jun 9, 2024

( Removed the word yam, after learning that yams and sweet potatoes are not related at all!)

Sweet potatoes are one of my favourite vegetables. Perhaps,like me, you grew up mistakenly calling this member of the Morning Glory family a yam.

 One of the easiest ways to prepare sweet potatoes is to simply wash them well and bake them in foil.

Baked Sweet Potato in Foil

However, in my area, sweet potatoes tend to be quite a bit pricier than regular potatoes, so it is a treat I rarely get.

The other day I noticed a sweet potato I had purchased had grown some sprouts. 

Sprouted Sweet Potato

Rather than tossing it out, I went to the internet to find out if there might still be some use for this sweet potato.

What I discovered was quite surprising! I'm glad I didn't toss my sprouted sweet potato out!

This post has a bit about what I discovered about sweet potatoes and six ways growing sweet potatoes can improve your life.

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6 Ways Sweet Potatoes Can Help Improve the Lives of Canadian Seniors and Their Families

Beautiful Bananas - Green, Yellow, Brown Offer Differing Benefits

Which Bananas Suit Your Body Best?

The other day I was a bit disappointed at the grocery store when they only had bright green bananas - not even a tiny spot of yellow on them!

Then I was led to read how bananas are healthy for people in any hue in the continuum of banana ripeness.

So which ripeness would be best for you?

It depends.

Cartoon Banana Conga Line in Varying Shades of Ripeness Created with Copilot Ai

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Which Bananas Are Healthiest for Your Body?

Each person's body has different needs, so it's important to know which banana ripeness is best for your body. As we age our bodies change and so do our nutritional needs. According to the research done by Copilot Ai here are the benefits of eating bananas in varying degrees of ripeness. However, you will definitely want to double-check the validity of this information, because Copilot Ai also believes that I live in another part of the world. 

Here's a summary of the benefits of bananas at different stages of ripeness: 

• Underripe Green Bananas: High in fibre, improve blood sugar control, promote gut health, and may help with weight loss¹. 
• Barely Ripe Light Green to Yellow  Bananas: High in fibre, low in carbs, and promotes blood sugar control. 
• Ripe Yellow Bananas with Brown Spots: Maximum micronutrients like potassium and vitamin B6, and antioxidants¹. 
• Very Ripe Bananas with More Brown Spots: Easier to digest, good for solo eating or inclusion in healthy foods¹. 
• Overripe Brown Bananas: Natural sweetness, can replace fats in baking, and full of antioxidants². The darkening of the banana skin from yellow to brown indicates a rise in antioxidant levels due to the breakdown of chlorophyll pigment⁷. These antioxidants are beneficial in preventing or delaying cell damage, which can lower the risk of diseases and improve the immune system.

When comparing overripe bananas to other antioxidant-rich foods, it's important to consider the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value, which measures the antioxidant capacity of foods. Foods like sumac bran, cloves, and certain berries like blueberries and strawberries have been identified as having higher ORAC values¹. While overripe bananas are a good source of antioxidants, there are other foods with higher antioxidant densities.

It's beneficial to include a variety of these foods in your diet to maximize the potential health benefits.

Each stage offers unique health benefits, so you can choose based on your nutritional needs and taste preferences. For more detailed information, you can refer to the sources provided. 

Sources: 

• Source 1: Conversation 2 with Bing, 4/9/2024 (1) The ripeness of a banana could affect your health - MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/the-ripeness-of-a-banana-could-affect-your-health/ar-AA1j0plt. (2) An overripe banana is VERY good for health; here's why - India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/health/story/an-overripe-banana-is-very-good-for-health-here-s-why-1203760-2018-04-03. (3) 25 Foods High In Antioxidants, Ranked By Actual Measurements. https://superfoodly.com/foods-high-in-antioxidants/. (4) Bananas: 11 Evidence-Based Health Benefits. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas. (5) 14 Healthy Foods High in Antioxidants. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-antioxidants. (6) Best Antioxidant-Rich Foods - EatingWell. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/2051586/best-antioxidant-rich-foods/. (7) Why Are Overripe Bananas Good For You? - nutritionspurely.com. https://nutritionspurely.com/why-are-overripe-bananas-good-for-you/. (8) Life | Free Full-Text | Potential Health Benefits of Banana Phenolic .... https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/2/332. 
• Source: Conversation 1 with Bing, 4/9/2024 (1) Banana Ripeness Stages: Health Benefits and Tips - Greatist. https://greatist.com/health/banana-stages-benefits. (2) Ripe And Unripe Bananas Have Different Health Benefits ... - ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/nutritionists-explain-how-ripe-and-unripe-bananas-have-different-health-benefits. (3) Banana Ripeness: When To Eat Them for Maximum Nutrition. https://www.myfitfoods.com/Fit-Tips/banana-ripeness-when-to-eat-maximum-nutrition. (4) All About Bananas: Calories, Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. https://aminoco.com/blogs/nutrition/banana-calories-nutrition-facts-benefits/

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

This post was proofread with the free version of Grammarly

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Easy Healthy Freezer Treats

Crowd Pleasers From the Freezer 

As you age, you start to become more health conscious and realize the real wealth is health! Here are a few easy things that you can make in your freezer that are fairly easy on the budget and can help keep you and your friends cool.

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Easy Healthy Slushies , Milkshakes, and Popsicles

Savvy Canadian Seniors Take Virtual Outings!

Savvy Canadian Seniors Protect Their Health and Sanity with Virtual Outings

Science shows the importance of socializing for our health, it also shows us the importance of staying away from large gatherings where we might be exposed to germs- especially during cold and flu season.

This post will be updated regularly with links to free and paid virtual outings, classes, and events you might like to take on your own or with family and friends.

Note: Posts on this blog have referral links that can help our authors eat when you shop through them. Want to join in the writing fun? Pop a note in the comments below.

Virtual Online Outings and Classes List

Virtual Outings

• Art Gallery of Ontario Seniors Social Art Creation Free
• Trent University Offers Weekly Online Tours. Free
• StoryTent Saturdays- Family Friendly Story Telling for the Whole Family - Free

  

  Free StoryTelling Online Event -via zoom

  
  
• See your Virtual outing Here - leave a note in the comments below

Virtual Classes

• Ryerson University Continuing Education offers free introductory classes
• Discipleship: The Road Rarely Taken - ongoing Free from Harvest Ministries

Virtual Events

• See your Virtual Event Here -leave a note in the comments below

Attention Frugal Bloggers

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About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su 

This post was proofread by the free version of Grammarly

Find out more about Grammarly Here on Sister Su's Writing Tips Blog

Canadian Seniors Playing Games Really Benefit!

Canadian Seniors Playing Games Reap Benefits!

Playing games has been shown to help seniors maintain and even regain cognitive function. This post has a review of some websites and apps that you might choose to use to improve your brainpower and even pay you PayPal Cash or Gift Cards! Note: You do not need to be a senior to benefit from these tips.

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Quick Rewards Pays You to Play Games and More!

Quick Rewards pays members in Canada and USA for playing games, doing surveys, watching videos, completing offers and shopping online. Find out about Quick Rewards HERE.

Games Many Canadian Seniors Enjoy

Canadian Seniors Facing Dementia Diagnosis Seek Resources

Canadian Seniors Facing Alzheimer Diagnosis Face Great Hurdles

Updated April 6th 2026

Canadian seniors facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer's often face incredibly large hurdles. According to the most recent data available, more than 402,000 seniors are living with dementia in Canada. About two-thirds of Canadian seniors living with dementia are women. Each year, approximately 76,000 new cases of dementia are diagnosed in Canada. This post offers a few links to resources that may be helpful.

Heads up: There are shysters preying on the families of loved ones who have dementia flogging a Super Patch.Check out this post about the Super Patch and share it everywhere.

Finding support and resources is a vital step for Canadian families navigating an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

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Books About Dementia

• Mike & Me
• Dementia Behaviors - Caregivers Survival Guide: Simple, Proven Methods to Control and Defuse the Situation Before it Blows up!
• The Practical Dementia Caregiver Guide: A Doctor’s View on How to Overcome Behavioral Challenges, Enhance Communication, and Access Support While Ensuring Self-Care. Daily Blueprint for Busy Families

Canadian Resources for Battling Dementia Diagnoses 

Canadian Seniors Save Big at Rexall Drug Stores!

Canadian Seniors Save on Vitamins and More at Rexall Drugstore with BeWell Rewards and More! 

There are many ways that Canadian seniors and their families can save at Rexall Drugs. Rexall offers an "Advantage Fifty-Five Plus" Day each Tuesday plus there are lots more ways Canadians can save money on their purchases at Rexall Drugs.

One of the most fun ways that seniors and their whole family can save on their purchases at Rexall is by accumulating BeWell Rewards points. The BeWell Rewards program is a little like the PC Optimum Rewards program with a few interesting tweaks that I really love. 

This unsponsored post has a list of ways Canadian seniors and their families can save on their purchases at Rexall Drugs as well as an example of one of the great freebie hauls I was recently blessed with at a Rexall Drug store using $20 of BeWell Rewards points. 

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6 Ways Canadian Seniors Save at Rexall

Canadian Seniors Health Alert- Increase Your Ventilation!

Canadian Seniors Staying Indoors Implored to Increase Ventilation! 

Whether you are a Canadian senior who has just returned home from a snowbird destination, or you are a Canadian senior who has been on a staycation, there is some important news that you may wish to peruse posted by Health Canada on the importance of increasing your ventilation to avoid contamination. 

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Click Here Find Out About the uHoo Air Quality System

Health Canada Advises Canadians to Increase Ventilation Carefully! 

Longevity Broadcast Offers Surprising Takeaways

 Dr. Stephen Gundry Reveals Keys to Longevity!

I just had the opportunity to watch a presentation by Dr. Steven Gundry on WNED where he presented the essential tips to help people live longer healthier lives. Dr. Gundry shared how he had applied his research into what helps people live longer healthier happier lives to his own life as well as his daughter and her husband and thousands of other happy clients.

I was extremely surprised at some of his findings, perhaps you will be surprised as well.

 See also [Research Reveals Why Some Diet Foods May Increase Diabetes Problems!]

Sleep Perchance to Dream? Nine Tips to Help You Sleep Easily

 Sleep Troubles? Try These 9 Tips!

Having problems sleeping? There are many reasons people can have problems getting enough sleep. Here are a few tips that may help you, but if your sleeping problems are persistent, be sure to get at least one medical opinion.

Do you have some tips that have helped you sleep? Please drop a note in the comments below. Is the study of sleep your passion? Great! Perhaps you would be interested in writing a post or two. Let us know in the comments below.

Save Your Eyes! Save Time and Money Too!

 Eye Strain Problems Can Increase with Age - Protect Your Eyes With These Tips!

Whether you are reading or writing online, it can take a real toll on your eyes. Offline reading can be damaging to our eyes too, so what can you do if you are a sage who enjoys perusing page after page? 

Here are a few tips you can use that may also help decrease the amount of time you use in the books you peruse!

Uterine, Bladder, Kidney Ultrasound Taking Tips!

 Holding Water Tips for Nether Region Ultrasound Procedures

Facing an ultrasound that requires you to drink a litre of water? Becoming apprehensive as the date looms closer and closer? Here's a bit of bad poetry as well as a few tips that may help you get through that procedure valiantly. If you have more tips to share, please pop a note in the comments down there.

Ultasound Equipment Image by falco from Pixabay