Why is Good Nutritious Diet important for the Elderly

Why is Good Nutritious Diet important for the Elderly

By Priyanka Agarwal | Nutrition Practitioner from Roehampton University,London
Date: February 14, 2019

Maintain a Nutritious Diet for the Elderly to Keep Their Health on Check

People have different nutritional needs for different ages. Starting from birth, teenage, adulthood till the older age, each stage of life requires a different kind of food intake. But the way people consume food during their growing age or the kind of metabolism they have when they are young, it gets progressively worse as they grow old. As you tend to ignore the nutritional factors the elderly people require, they become vulnerable to malnutrition, osteoporosis, muscle loss,and many more such issues.

The requirement of energy per kilogram of the body of an elderly person is lesser as compared to the younger people. Although the nutritional needs are not well expounded for them, there are some essential nutrients they require to keep their body active and revitalised.

The Basic Requirements for An Aged Person

Growing old not only affects an aged person’s body, but it also affects their minds as well often leading to Alzheimer’s or other brain diseases. Other aspects of keeping their diet on the checkare to provide them with foods which have brain rejuvenating factors.

The essential nutritious diet for the elderly includes Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, Fibre, Potassium etc.

Some Basic Food Sources

Vitamin A

leafy vegetables, carrots, squash, eggs are the source of vitamin A which helps to maintain good vision even at older age.

Vitamin B

meat, egg, cereal, and fish are important sources of vitamin B which helps to fight depression, dementia, sclerosis etc. which is very much essential to keep them in a happier state of mind.

Folic Acid

Fruits, nuts, beans, and dairy products are important sources of folate which keeps DNA synthesis and amino acid metabolism on the check.

Vitamin D

Fish like salmon, tuna, and different milk products are the sources of vitamin D which reduces the risk of osteoporosis, fractures, cardiovascular disease, and many more such problems.

Why Do You Need Us?

Although it is possible to maintain a healthy diet on your own sometimes especially for seniors to ward off diseases like high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol; a properly checked and healthy diet is essential to keep the seniors healthy and to maintain their BMI (Body Mass Index).