Nutritional Requirement for Elder People
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 399, Word Count: 541,
A balanced diet is necessary despite of the age. The nutritional requirement of elder people varies as per the age as it varies from one person to the other. Correct lifestyle and good food habits ensure keeping all the ailments at bay and promotes faster recovery. One must have a diet which is balanced, low on calories and yet meets up the energy requirements according to the activity levels in old age. With the exception of vitamin D, there are no precise recommendations for people aged over 65 years.
Energy
Energy requirements however go down with increasing age especially if physical activity is limited. Though this often means eating less, necessity of vitamins, protein and minerals remain largely unchanged. It’s therefore vital that older people choose a nutrient filled diet including foods which comprise of vitamins, proteins and minerals such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products, cereals, bread, fruit and vegetables.
Protein
Protein requirements become a little lower in men, but increase slightly in women after 50 years of age. However, as the requirement for energy decreases, the density of protein must be greater for both women and men i.e. foods which contain more protein such as milk and dairy foods, lean meat, pulses and eggs must be eaten. Protein requirements could also increase in some older people due to illness.
Important Micronutrients
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is necessary for the incorporation of calcium from food and is thus vital for good health of the bone. People who are housebound or live in institutions might be at risk of deficiency of vitamin D as it’s mainly obtained from sunlight. The National Survey and National diet of people aged 65 and over reported low vitamin D intake in some subgroups of elderly people.
It’s advised that everyone over the age 65 must take a vitamin D supplement and also eat diet which contains vitamin D in good proportion such as margarine, oily fish, eggs and fortified breakfast cereals.
Calcium
Nutritional requirement for elder people also requires sufficient intake of calcium to slow age related loss of bone which could eventually result in osteoporosis fracture. Though calcium requirements do not change as you become older, it’s still vital that you meet all the calcium requirements through your diet.
Dairy products and milk are the main providers of dietary calcium and consuming them could help you to meet your calcium requirements. Suggested intake of calcium per day is 700 mg in adults over 50 years old. Bread (especially white bread), canned fish (eaten with the bones), green vegetables, etc. also contain calcium, but usually should be consumed in much greater quantities to provide as much calcium as dairy products.
Iron
Iron is imperative for several functions in the body including formation of red blood cells and transport of oxygen to tissues. Women over 50 years old require less iron as compared to younger women as menstruation has usually ended by this age and they no longer lose iron in menstrual blood ,whereas men over 50 years old require the same amount of iron as the younger men.
Thus, it’s evident from the above points that nutritional requirements for elder people vary from younger ones.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy
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