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| Nutrition Information |
Nutrition has a lot to do with aging. Problems with
nutrition as people age increase as chronic diseases and impaired organ
function damage digestive functions, along with the processing of nutrients.
Food may not be absorbed, metabolized, or excreted properly, and the nutrients
in the food won't be absorbed. It is estimated that 80% of senior citizens have
a chronic disease. Nutrition can prevent chronic disease and help people
recuperate from it.
One factor misunderstood in nutrition is that caloric
demands change as we age. We have a higher percentage of body fat, and less
lean muscle. The decreased activity that often accompanies aging decreases the
calories burned. You have to figure out how to keep up the nutrition while
decreasing the calories. To do this, you choose foods that are heavy in
nutrients. Protein, for instance, is necessary at all ages, even though it may
change because of restrictions.
It's pretty east to reduce the overall fat intake as
we age, and getting no more than 30% of our daily caloric intake is fat.
Carbohydrates should, ideally, be about 60% of the calories we consume, with
most of those being complex. We also become more tolerant to glucose as we age,
and we need to eat fewer refined carbohydrates to ease the stress on our
systems. We also need more dietary fiber and plenty of water to maintain the
good bowel function. Fiber also helps to keep inflammation down in the
intestines. Dietary fiber comes from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seeds,
nuts, and legumes.
One of the most essential considerations is the intake
of water. Enough water will help your kidneys function better. Recommendations
are for 5 to 8 glasses a day. Often as people age they don't realize they're
thirsty. They become dehydrated. You should drink before you begin to feel
thirsty. Elderly people should have plenty of fluid included in their diets.
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| Nutrition Information |
Also with age people lose their sense of taste and
smell. Often, the only thing an elderly person can taste salt and sugar, and
they don't want food they can't taste. Also, as people age, they may lose their
vision and have impaired cooking. You may not know how to read the prices on
food or nutrition labels. You may even forget how to cook, or be afraid to.
While these may not be complete losses, they can affect your ability to
maintain a healthy diet.
As we age, we also have a change in our needs for
electrolytes, potassium, and sodium. These can be affected by the drugs we take
for heart problems and other chronic diseases. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored
in the body, but older people often have a deficit in this. You may get a
vitamin D deficiency since you don't take as many dairy products, or get
vitamin A toxicity. So, maintain a wide selection of items in your diet,
especially of foods with a lot of calcium in them.
More information about what is whole foods and nutritional information here
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