Many things, like our genes, viruses, bacteria, and the environment, can affect our health. We can’t change all of these things. But lifestyle factors are very important in both getting sick and staying healthy. The nutritional needs of seniors are different from those of people of other ages, and there are many ways to help slow the progress of degenerative diseases, such as eating well and taking vitamins and supplements.
Vitamins help your body grow and function properly. They each do something different to help the body work well. Minerals are parts of the earth and foods that our bodies need to work properly.
One of the many problems that older people often have is not getting enough vitamins. As people get older, they may face different problems, many of which can be slowed down by getting the right amount of vitamins.
Here are some essential vitamins and minerals for the elderly:
Vitamin C
As people get older, their immune systems weaken, making them more likely to get diseases like the common cold and pneumonia. This vitamin protects the immune system of older people by making more white blood cells, which fight off disease and infection.
It also has important antioxidants that protect white blood cells from damage caused by free radicals. When older people do get sick, vitamin C may help them get better faster.
Iron also helps the body make hemoglobin, which is a protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen. Without enough iron, red blood cells don’t work as well. By eating more vitamin C, the body is better able to absorb iron.
Studies show that vitamin C helps keep the heart healthy, which is especially important for older people. When they get the right amount of vitamin C, it lowers their blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels that are important for healthy blood flow and lowering the amount of bad cholesterol in their bodies.
Vitamin C is very important for lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Vitamin D
Osteoporosis is a long-term disease that affects the bones. It causes the bones to lose mass and lose their structure, which makes them more likely to break, especially in older people.
Vitamin D has a lot to do with making and keeping bones healthy. It helps the body absorb calcium in the gut and keeps the blood levels of calcium and phosphate at the right levels for normal bone mineralization.
Studies have shown that people over 65 have less vitamin D in their bodies. It could be because they don’t spend as much time outside or because it gets harder to turn sunlight into vitamin D as you get older. Direct sunlight is the most common way your body makes vitamin D.
B Vitamins
Seniors have a hard time getting enough vitamin B12 from food alone because they lose their appetite and lose the ability to absorb vitamin B12. Elderly people who don’t get enough B12 may have more depression and other mood problems.
Seniors with mild memory problems might be helped by taking very high doses of vitamin B every day to slow the rate at which their brains shrink. Giving older people the right amount of B vitamins can help with problems like memory loss, nerve problems, stroke, and anemia.
As the building blocks of a healthy body, B vitamins have a direct effect on how much energy you have, how well your brain works, and how your cells use energy. It is very important for keeping your health and well-being in good shape.
Since your body can’t store B vitamins because they dissolve in water, you need to get them every day.
Calcium
Calcium is important for older people to get enough of because it helps keep their bones healthy. The elderly are at risk of calcium deficiency for a number of reasons, including low calcium intake due to a lack of appetite, drug interactions that can make it harder for the body to absorb calcium from food, and osteoporosis, a long-term disease that changes how bones form and how strong they are.
Seniors should get more calcium because it makes sure their muscles, cells, and nerves work well.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation says that women under the age of 50 and men under the age of 70 should each get 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day. Men and women over 50 should take 1,200 mg every day.
The way bones are made changes as a person grows up. Vitamin D and calcium work together to keep bones healthy and reduce the chance of them breaking or breaking in the hip.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is needed for the immune system to work and for reducing inflammation.
Some evidence suggests that older people need more of this vitamin than younger people in order to stay healthy as they age.
Conclusion
As you age, your body makes less of some vitamins and minerals and takes in less of others. To avoid some of the problems that come with getting older, eat a lot of protein-rich foods and take supplements with extra nutrients.
It’s also important to watch your weight, since carrying extra pounds can make you more likely to get sick.
Don’t forget: keep moving! You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, but you should try to exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week, or more if you can. This will help you stay healthy and give you energy throughout the day.
