Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Nutrition For The Elderly




Healthy eating and nutrition for the elderly is



greatly impacted by several factors, one of them



being a change in body composition. During the



later years in life, the body will lose bone and



muscle and gain fat because the hormones aren't



very active anymore.





There are many factors which hinder an elderly



person's health. The information below will help



you to lead a healthy life - no matter how old you



may be.





Water



Water in the body decreases with age, so many older



folks will become dehydrated very easily. Sometimes



they won't feel thirsty, while other times it's



too much work to pour a glass a water. With this



in mind, it's recommended that they drink at least



1 ounce of water for every 2.2 pounds of weight.





Protein



At this stage in life, protein is very important.



Protein is needed to support a healthy immune



system and prevent the wasting of muscle. Since



energy needs are less, older folks should eat high



quality protein such as eggs, lean meats, poulty,



and fish.





Carbs and fiber



Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for



the entire body. You can find carbs in bread,



cereals, pasta, and other grain products. A diet



that's high in fiber and water will help to



prevent constipation as well.





Fat



Fat intake for the elderly should be limited, not



eliminated. You can limit fat by choosing lean meats,



low fat dairy products, and food preperation



methods that don't include frying.





Iron



For the elderly, iron deficiency can be seen with



those who aren't eating much. Good sources for



iron include lean red meats or breakfast cereals.





Zinc



Zinc intake is normally with the elderly, and to



make matters worse, it's not absorbed very well



either. Meat, poultry, and fish should be a part



of your diet to help you meet the requirements for



zinc.





Calcium



Calcium is one ingredient that most elderly folks



simply aren't getting enough of. Most believe



that milk upsets their stomach, and therefore they



will avoid it. They should be getting around 1,500



mg of calcium a day, and nonfat powdered milk can



be used in recipes as a substitute for milk. Other



foods such as yogurt, low fat cheese, and broccoli



can also help you meet the requirements for calcium.





Vitamin B12



In order to absorb the benefits of B12, the intrinsic



facotr must be produced by the stomach. Most elderly



people suffer from a deficiency in B12 because they



have a condition known as atrophic gastritis. This



condition causes inflammation of the stomach,



bacterial overgrowth, and the intrinsic factor.



Without the intrinsic factor, this vitamin can be



absorbed.





Each one of the above nutrients are needed to keep



an aged body in good health. Elderly individuals



should try to stay active and strive for a well



balanced diet. Even though the aged body isn't the



same as it used to be, proper care and the right



nutrients can help the elderly enjoy a healthy and


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