Different Nutritional Needs for Seniors

As we age, our nutritional requirements change. It’s just a fact of life. The trick is to know how to adjust accordingly. The reason for these shifts in nutrition is due to the changes that our bodies go through with respect to our digestion and metabolism. The older we get, the more important it is to watch your weight and take good care of your heart.

Exercise is vital for senior health but it’s what you put inside your body as fuel that can have a major impact on your well-being in the long run. When you are less active and your metabolism has slowed, that can put you at risk for weight gain. Something seniors should avoid at all costs for a number of reasons.

Elderly adults are also susceptible to a reduction in the absorption of key nutrients and vitamins as the body works a lot harder to retain both, making a highly nutritious diet all the more crucial.

Portion Size

How much food you put on your plate is just as important as the food itself. Overeating can be detrimental to the health of seniors as it promotes weight gain and obesity. Be sparing about your portions and while you want every meal to fill you up, give your body time to react to the food that has been consumed before going for a second or even third helping.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

A good way to keep your portion sizes under control is to refer to the food group RDA’s for seniors. This will help you prevent weight gain while allowing for the body to get the nutrition it requires in each of the groups.

Vitamin Intake

There are two ways to get the vitamins you really need, the first is through your diet and the other is via additional supplements that are intended to complement your food. Vitamins are the foundation for healthy living in elderly adults and some are more important to take than others on a daily basis. The most crucial of these are vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium.

All of these can be found in your foods, but some seniors may need those daily supplements to help ensure they are getting what the body requires. But some elderly adults aren’t always aware of which vitamins they need or when to take them, so they may need help from a professional home care in Columbus, OH. 

Hydration Is Key

Water is essential to life and it’s a very important component of healthy aging. Seniors need to stay hydrated throughout the day because water is good for flushing out your body’s major systems and helps the organs to continue working properly. When your body is well-hydrated, your health is well-supported. A nice glass of water is also a better, healthier alternative to drinks that are high in sugars and sodium, such as soda and juice.

Be careful about the temperature of the water while you’re at it. Ice cold water can tense up your respiratory system and affect nasal passages. Cool to lukewarm water might be best.