Nutrition for the Elderly is Important!

Posted by admin | Nutrition | Monday 23 August 2010 7:47 am
When declining energy requirements are not matched by decreased caloric intake then total body fat increases. The Atkins diet leaves your body shy on some important nutrients, such as vitamin B, and also is negative for vitamins A, C and D, anti-oxidants that slow the effects of aging and calcium.These are necessary and important nutrients that nobody should go without!Once again the lack of exercise has to enter into the equation also.

Nutritional status may be further compromised by other problems in conjunction with the illness, such as trauma, surgery, infection drug therapy which alter nutrient requirements. This makes recovery even more difficult. Each one of the above nutrients is needed to keep an aged body in good health. Elderly individuals should try to strive for a well balanced diet and stay active. Adequate dietary fiber, as opposed to increased use of laxatives, will maintain regular bowel function and not interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as occurs with laxative use or abuse.

Some of the factors described above, like changes in the digestive system, as well as health concerns like the increased risk of fragile bones, means that nutritional needs change as you age. Periodic review of your diet is always helpful, particularly if you have specific medical conditions. Taste and smell changes, as well as feelings of loneliness and depression, contribute to decreased appetite, while many elderly people may eat less because of chewing difficulties, fatigue, and social reasons. Another statistic for the elderly being the need for more nutrition because of disease or injury.

Some people who’ve been dieting all their lives find it difficult to change from a low fat diet to richer fare. Sudden weight gain from fat is definitely not recommended. After studying 300 older adults from the ages of 65 to 93, Garry has concluded that even the process of aging itself may be retarded through behavioral changes. That may precipitate a change in the dietary lifestyle,” he says. It makes strangers of those we knew best, changes relationships with loved ones in ways that resonates forever. “STOLEN MEMORIES” is the story of how one family coped with its devastating effects, and how others can learn from that experience.

Because of this, they are not getting as much of some nutrients as they need. In our newly designed pyramid, we made the base somewhat narrower to reflect the fact that less food is being taken in but chose foods that are nutrient-dense, that is, contain many more nutrients per gram of food eaten. Foods with little nutrients and more carbs should be minimized and done in moderation. Individuals with difficulty chewing or swallowing or with decreased ability to taste or smell are in need of soft,moist easy to chew foods for many reasons. Topics include the geriatric perspective on: In the elderly,your B vitamins and micronutrients are an absolute for the nutrition,cognitive function and cardiovascular nutrition.

Unintentional weight loss and malnutrition are common problems in the elderly. Taste and smell changes, as well as feelings of loneliness and depression, contribute to decreased appetite, while many elderly people may eat less because of chewing difficulties, fatigue, and social reasons. If bones decrease in density, then osteoporosis (bone loss) develops over time. Bone degeneration is due not only to calcium deficiency but also partly to genetics. These changes can contribute to decreased food intake, unintentional weight loss and malnutrition. Not everyone experiences all these changes.

Some medications will cause a loss of appetite. Consider nutrition supplements, but use them only with a doctor’s approval. She has found that enhancing food flavors will increase the consumption of the foods to which flavors have been added — and the increase in intake is greater for the people who have a greater loss of smell. Calcium loss is a big problem in any person and could become a serious condition,with the added risk of osteoporosis. We can’t forget our B vitamins as they work with protein to be metabolized into the body.

Changes to our bodies require a need for some high quality liquid vitamin nutrition. Liquid vitamins can energize and help balance your body’s system with daily nutritional supplements!

Be Healthy With Correct Nutrition Guide

Posted by admin | Nutrition | Friday 6 August 2010 10:17 am


A healthy diet is beneficial for everybody. It is important to take good care of your body and if you eat well, you will certainly feel the difference. A nutritionally balanced diet can be enjoyable and interesting.

What is Nutrition?

Nutrition is all about eating the right foods to nourish the body and keep it functioning and developing well. Nutrients are the substances found in these foods which your body uses and can be broken down into macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients include fats, proteins, water, carbohydrates and some minerals. Micronutrients are vitamins and some minerals. Your body requires more macronutrients but both are important.

For optimum health and performance, the body needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. It is also important to eat regular meals to provide ongoing fuel and energy.

What Foods Should You Eat?

The most important thing in a healthy diet is balance. A good selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains is good for you. Some examples of nutritionally rich foods include meat, fish, nuts, beans, fresh fruit and leafy vegetables. Wholegrain foods contain more nutrients than their processed counterparts. Wholemeal bread, for instance, is tastier than white bread and is also healthier.

What Happens if Your Diet is Nutritionally Poor?

Eating a healthy, balanced diet reduces the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. A bad diet can also cause lethargy, obesity or spots. A nutritionally balanced diet can help you maintain a normal weight, which helps your overall health.

Not having the time to plan meals or not being able to cook is no excuse for poor nutrition. You can make a batch of food and freeze or refrigerate it or you can have food or ingredients delivered to your door. It can be fun to experiment with cooking and you will get better results if you use fresh ingredients. You will also know exactly what goes into your food as a lot of pre-prepared meals contain high levels of fats, salt or sugar.

Because a good diet ought to be balanced, you can still have treats sometimes. You should not deprive yourself completely of your favorite foods, so the occasional slice of apple pie or bowl of ice cream is fine. You can choose your foods and make substitutions when appropriate. You could perhaps try baking or grilling your food rather than frying it. Eating less saturated fat will keep your blood cholesterol down.

It might be a good idea to take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure you are getting everything your body needs. The simplest way to do this is to get combined supplements and take one a day. Supplements are to be used in addition to a nutritionally balanced diet, not instead of it.

Exercise is as important as nutrition to keep the body healthy. If you are eating healthily, you will find you have plenty of energy for physical exercise, in whatever form you choose.

Your body gets used to a new way of eating within a few weeks so you will find you don’t miss eating junk foods if you used to eat a lot. A nutritionally balanced diet is essential to maintain overall health and keep you looking and feeling your best.

5 Ways To Make Sure You Raise Health Conscious Children

Posted by admin | Nutrition | Thursday 4 March 2010 11:40 am

Making sure that you raise health conscious children is difficult in a world where what constitutes a healthy lifestyle is sometimes in question. It is also challenging when billboards, TV commercials, and peers are all displaying or engaging in unhealthy lifestyle practices. Raising health conscious children is a noble goal. Here is how you can make sure that you achieve it.

Provide Healthy Foods

Children learn to eat at home. If you provide them with fast food, processed food, and food items loaded with processed sugar then that is what they will gravitate towards. On the other hand, if you always provide your children with real foods in their natural state then your children will naturally be more inclined to choose these foods. You want to encourage healthy eating by having nothing but an array of healthy foods available at all times.

Preach The Value Of Sleep

Children need to know the value of sleep. So many adults try to get by on what they know is an insufficient amount of sleep either oblivious to the serious health consequences or apathetic to these potentially life threatening conditions. Make sure that your children get all the sleep that they need and that they know that sleeping is just as important for their health as breathing.

Make Exercise Fun

You want to make exercise fun in the same way that you want to make eating healthy fun. If you make exercise sound like a chore then it will be a chore. If you make it sound fun and if you enjoy it then it will be fun for your children too. Let your children know that there are countless ways to get exercise and they can choose their favourite ways.

Educate Your Children

Do not just enforce healthy lifestyle practices. Explain them. If your children understand the reasoning behind these healthy actions then they will be more likely to continue them even when no one is looking. Teach children what they get out of living a healthy lifestyle and what can happen if they do not live a healthy lifestyle. Tell children the truth of the way things are so that they can internalize the real reasons why being healthy is so important.

Be A Role Model

This is the big one. Children do not just learn from what you say. They learn from what you do. If you say that they should live a healthy lifestyle and then you do not live up to the standards that you set for them then it sends a mixed message.

If you want your children to eat healthy then model healthy eating for them. It is not enough to tell children how to live their lives in a healthy way. You have to show them by living your life that way too.

These are 5 ways to make sure you raise health conscious children. Children can be health conscious in an often unhealthy world. You just have to show them how by being health conscious yourself.

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