As you age, it becomes more challenging to obtain an adequate amount of food due to poor oral health or difficulty in chewing solid food. Oral surgery, diseases of the throat and mouth or wearing dentures are common factors that often make it harder to chew and swallow a variety of foods to stay healthy. A diet of soft food or food that is easy to chew and swallow can allow you to meet your nutritional needs while still enjoying the pleasure of eating.

Many healthy and delicious plant foods contain the soluble dietary fiber called inulin. Eating foods that use this carbohydrate storage material will add bulk to fecal matter, which aids in mineral absorption through the intestines. The probiotic nature of inulin helps provide an environment for healthy bacteria to continue growing in the intestinal tract. Add these foods to your diet to benefit from their positive effects on digestion.

During pregnancy, women often experience a range of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn, fatigue and constipation. Most often, these issues disappear post-pregnancy. If you are experiencing constipation during pregnancy, there are several treatments you can try to alleviate, or even avoid, the issue.