Nutrition for the elderly is very important. If you as a medical professional are dealing with elderly patients, then it’s time to learn about their nutritional needs.
Do you know that good nutrition can increase a person’s life span?
As you age, with time the body needs less and less food. The caloric requirement of older people comes down and they start eating less.
When this happens, it can lead to malnutrition as less nutrition is getting inside their body.
Even though older people eat less, their nutritional requirements are the same as younger people.
A balanced and nutritious diet is important for the elderly. Having balanced nutrition for the elderly can protect them against many life-threatening diseases.
Let's read more in-depth about the nutritional requirements of the elderly:
Protein:
Protein is the most important nutrition for the elderly. An adequate amount of protein is necessary to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, improving lean muscle mass.
Low protein leads to loss of muscle and osteoporosis.
A diet rich in high-quality protein is highly recommended for elderly patients.
Generally, protein from dairy and animal sources are of higher quality so you can recommend protein from dairy and animal sources to your patients.
Calcium:
When it comes to nutrition for the elderly, calcium is the most important thing you can never miss. A lack of calcium in the body can weaken your joints, wrists and vertebrae.
This can lead to mortality, dysfunction and even loss of independence. A diet rich in calcium is needed to keep the bones strong and support your patient throughout their lives.
So, a diet rich in protein and calcium can strengthen muscles, bones and joints. But we’re missing one of the most important elements.
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is the most important vitamin when it comes to nutrition for the elderly. Being deficient in vitamin D can lead to falls, can raise the risk of heart disease and metabolic disease and fracture.
Tell your patients to eat foods rich in vitamin D to protect their hearts and bones.
Foods rich in vitamin D can help like fatty fish and egg yolks.
Potassium:
A diet rich in potassium is also the most beneficial as it lowers the risk of kidney stones and heart diseases. Potassium also helps in reducing your blood pressure and keeping your patient cool.
Issues like kidney stones, heart diseases and high blood pressure are very common among elderly patients. So, a diet rich in potassium can lower heart rate, and protect the heart and the kidneys.
So, these are the important things you can ask your patients to incorporate in their diet. Remember nutrition for the elderly is very important as with age their bodies get weakened. To supplement the bodily needs with nutrition becomes a necessity.
Most of the nutrition is found in a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats. Supplements are not necessary.
There is a balanced diet for different age groups. But when it comes to diet for the elderly a balanced diet rich in potassium, vitamin D, protein, and calcium is good for their health.
Nutrition and medicine go hand in hand, remind your patients to take their medicines properly.
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