Nutrition for seniors

21 Jun

Posted by admin as Uncategorized

Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.Studies show that a good diet in your later years reduces your risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers. As you age, you might need less energy. But you still need just as many of the nutrients in food. To get them Choose a variety of healthy foods, Avoid empty calories, which are foods with lots of calories but few nutrients, such as chips, cookies, soda and alcohol, Pick foods that are low in cholesterol and fat, especially saturated and trans fats

What aging changes have nutritional significance?

First, older people produce less saliva and often have poor dentures. This causes difficulty with very dry foods. An estimated 30% of seniors lose their ability to make stomach acid, and this interferes with the absorption of some nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folic acid. Deficiencies in these nutrients, as well as vitamin B6, can cause neurological changes such as decline in alertness, loss of memory, and numbness of the extremities. The reduction of the natural movement of food and enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract, known to be associated with aging, often results in digestive difficulties in dealing with certain foods. Also, this reduction in the natural movement of food through the intestines causes food to remain in the intestines for a longer period of time, producing harder stools and resulting in constipation.

Senior Citizens have unique nutritional requirements.

Age-related changes in body composition and metabolism require seniors to keep a sharp eye on food choices. Here we offer a variety of information specifically directed toward seniors. Bulletins — bulletins on nutrition, diet or supplements. Nutritional Guidelines –for senior citizens. Fats — how fats compare. Minerals — our sea inheritance, Calcium — especially important to older women, Salt — potentially the “silent killer” of older persons.

Do Seniors Have Special Nutritional Needs?

Very little is known about how the aging process affects the body’s ability to digest, absorb, and retain nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, little is known about how the nutritional needs of older people differ from those of younger adults. Recommended nutrient intakes for seniors are currently extrapolated from those of younger adults. older people tend to take in less energy, or calories, than younger people. This may be due, in part, to a natural decline in the rate of metabolism as people age. It may also reflect a decrease in physical activity. If the total intake of food decreases, it follows that intakes of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals also decrease. If calorie intake is too low, then intakes of necessary nutrients may also be low.

Senior Nutrition & Creative Meal Sharing:

Numerous benefits of a healthy diet and proper nutrition include: increased mental acuteness; resistance to illness and disease; higher energy levels; a more robust immune system; faster recuperation times, and; better management of chronic health problems. As we age, our relationship to food changes along with our bodies. When we’re younger, we might grab fast food on the run and not think twice about it. In later life, however, eating well can be the key to staying mentally sharp, emotionally balanced and energetic, with a strong immune system and a positive outlook

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