The elders have different needs compare to younger individuals. The elders, with their weakened body systems, become prone to more diseases. Experts think that good diet could help the elders prevent the onset of these diseases. If the elders get enough nutrition, they will be healthy and it is best that they get the optimum nutrition for that stage of their life. However, the experts found out that many elders are actually malnourished which could worsen their weakened body. There are recommended intakes for the elders for them to meet their optimum nutritional status.
The male and the female elders have different calorie needs. The male requires more than the female, but it should be remembered that the elders should have less intake of calories than younger people. Of the calories they take, fifty percent of this should come from carbohydrates and the rest from other sources of calories like fats which should be in less amount compared to how much the elders take in their earlier years. The male and female elders have similar other nutrient needs.
There was a study which showed that many elders are anemic which explains their special requirement in iron. Anemia results to weakness of the body so there could be many incidents of falling which is dangerous due to more damages especially to the bones. Another study shows relationships between anemia and senile dementia and decline in the cognitive skills. A study conducted to British population found out that elders have less intake of vitamin D which is an important nutrient for the elders because vitamin D participates in the metabolism of calcium so that bones could absorb calcium.
Many have reported cases of osteoporosis during the latter years of one’s life and osteoporosis, actually, has become one of the most common diseases of those who are ageing. Ageing brings about weakened bones, so humans need vitamin D most during this stage of their life. Vitamin D functions not only for the bones. It has other roles for our body system so it is essential that we get adequate intake of vitamin D. For the elders, they suggested that they drink milk twice of thrice daily because it is rich in calcium and vitamin D.
The easiest way they could obtain vitamin D is via exposure to sunlight. But, the elders can also take in vitamin D supplements if it becomes too exhausting for them to go outdoors. Protein intake should be at about one and a half gram daily. This intake is safe enough and may help in preventing weakened and reduced mass of muscles. Fishes are good source of protein and may also contain omega 3, a fatty acid chain, DHA and EPA, derivatives of omega 3, which are essential to our health especially that it enhances the function of our cognitive systems.
There should also be plenty of fruits and vegetables intakes because they are high in fiber and have reservatol, an antioxidant, which fights free radicals in the body to help in the renewal of body cells. There is also a study which showed that fruits and vegetables reduces the probability of getting Alzheimer’s disease so even non-adults should have right amounts of fruits and vegetables intakes. Ageing Healthily We really cannot fight ageing and its effects. However, we could help ourselves and our family to ease the pain and difficulty of it.
Diet should be accompanied with appropriate exercises to bring us to healthy status. Simple walking and stretching could help a lot. If the body is too frail, there could be muscular exercises. But what we should keep in mind is that the consequences of what we do during our younger years manifest when we get older, so we have to keep watch to our diet and activities now and we can visualize a healthy us years from now. I would like to write for Health Magazine. The target audience would be everyone who could get hold of the copy of the magazine.
The article may also be published online so more could have access to it. The article was wholesome to read and simple so even high school students could understand the content. The article will contain tables to show diet/ nutritional guides for the elders, statistics of diseases and some pictures. What was written in here consist only of the text that will be on the article.
Reference: Shepard, Alison. (2009). Nutrition through the Life Span. Part 3: adults aged 65 and over. British Journal of Nursing. 18(5): 302-307.