Seniors 65 and over are at an increased risk for poor nutrition. An adequate, balanced diet is undoubtedly the best way to ensure proper nourishment. Much scientific evidence suggests, however, that complementing the diet with a daily multivitamin-and-mineral supplement is a sensible precaution to help avoid nutritional deficiencies that are common in older adults.
- With age, there is a reduction in lean body mass which reduces the body's energy requirements.
- Older adults eat less total food.
- Appetite may be decreased due to reduced taste and smell sensitivity.
- Drug side effects can reduce appetite and reduce absorption and metabolism of vitamins and minerals.
- Some nutrient requirements increase with age, especially calcium, vitamin E, vitamin D, riboflavins, folate, vitamin B12 and protein.
Nutritional inadequacies can lead to loss of muscle protein and deficiencies of various vitamins, which in turn can lead to:
- Reduced bone density leading to weak, brittle bones and painful disabling fractures
- Nervous system dysfunction
- Delayed wound healing
- Difficulty in completing normal activities of daily living
- Weakness and Lethargy
Iron needs of older adults are sufficiently lower, so a supplement should be chosen that has very little or no iron. Excess iron increases the risk of developing cancer and heart disease. Obviously, if there is any doubt about nutritional issues, a physician should be consulted. If any medication is currently being taken, the physician may need to make an individual dietary assessment to determine what supplements can be used. Many drugs interact with dietary supplements and some supplements can prevent them from working. Other supplements can intensify drug effects to dangerous levels. Physicians and pharmacists will be able to provide information as to these interactions.
Senior Nutrition Safety Tips
As you age, your sense of taste and smell may not work as well. You may not always be able to tell if foods have spoiled. Dating foods in your refrigerator may prevent consuming foods which are no longer fresh. If in doubt, throw it out.
Seniors should be very careful to thoroughly cook certain kinds of foods in order to prevent disease. For example, be sure to fully cook eggs, pork, fish, shellfish, poultry, and hot dogs.
It may be advisable to discuss with a doctor or a registered dietitian what, if any, foods should be avoided. These might include raw sprouts, some deli meats, and foods that are not pasteurized (heated enough to destroy disease-causing organisms), including some milk products.
|
