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NUTRITIONAL NEEDS FOR SENIORS

Proactive Preventative Nutrition for Seniors

As people age, their bodies naturally begin to break down and need more vitamins, minerals, and supplements than ever before. There’s nothing that can be done about that, but seniors can begin to start changing their diets before they reach this point. By adding just a few things to a diet, seniors can avoid losing muscle mass, lessen joint pain, and lower their risk of some diseases.

 

As We Get Older Our Body’s Needs Change

Seniors will slowly begin to realize that their bodies simply aren’t able to function as well as they used to. They may need more sleep, less physical exertion, and different types of foods than they needed before. Seniors actually need fewer calories, but more nutrient-rich meals. It’s important to look at things like carb intake, cholesterol, and a person’s medical and family history in order to determine what dietary changes they may need to make.

 

Nutrition and an Aging Mind

Aging doesn’t just take its toll on the body; it also affects the mind. Many seniors fear seeing the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia—even worse, some fail to see these signs until others point them out. Eating foods that will help the brain function can assist in preventing both of these illnesses. The brain requires certain nutrients to function, and as a person ages, those needs to change a bit. Cold water fish, nuts, and dark-skinned vegetables and fruits are all things the elderly need in their diet.

Senior Citizens, Malnutrition, and Vitamin Deficiencies

As a person gets older, the body isn’t able to make certain vitamins and minerals like it used to. B-12, Vitamin D, and calcium are just a few things seniors need to start eating more of because the body’s natural production slows down. It also needs more of these things, especially calcium. Increasing the number of foods with antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and good cholesterol can also help prevent malnutrition in seniors.

Copyrighted 2017 Parentgiving, Inc
2017/11/15 Meeting the Nutritional Needs for Seniors parentgiving.com
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