Healthy Food Habits for Older People

Many of the elderly population's nutrition problems are the result of a lifetime of poor eating habits that do not register as a negative until middle age or beyond. Excessive caloric intake may be worked off in youthful, energetic years, but if the caloric intake remains the same while activity levels decrease with age, weight gain will be inevitable. Decreased activity accelerates protein loss and fat accumulation. This is such a common pattern that many people feel that gaining weight comes automatically with passing years.

Consider even a small gain of five pounds a year. In six years it has become 30 pounds and now you may have reached a stage of obesity. The passive acceptance of such a gain may be a source of depression and physical problems. A change in the diet can bring new energy and a general improvement in health. Bringing your weight back down can result in feeling years younger with increased vigor.

To begin a new dietary pattern, the older person may possibly have to 2liminate former ideas about his nutritional needs. For example, he may not feel he needs milk anymore, because milk has long been associated with youth and growth.

Teeth problems, or poor-fitting dentures, may result in a haphazard choice of foods.

Meats, fruits and vegetables that are difficult to chew are avoided, and sugary, high carbohydrate foods are substituted because they are easy to chew.

As age advances and these practices are followed, many metabolic and absorption abnormalities may develop. Fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea can be manifested as undernutrition develops.

One of the most important nutritional factors in the diet of older people is the amount of calcium.

Osteoporosis, a bone deterioration, in people over 65 is fairly common, occurring six times more frequently in women than men. There are many contributing factors to osteoporosis other than dietary calcium insufficiency. These include endocrine imbalances, inadequate protein synthesis and mechanical skeletal stresses- and strain.

A high calcium diet that contains low fat, or skim milk and dairy products helps restore the bone mass. Exercise, on a daily basis, is important. Inactivity contributes to bone loss.

Sometimes in older people, the stomach begins to secrete less hydrochloric acid and subsequently iron is not properly absorbed. Iron-deficiency anemia may develop.

Gall bladder dysfunction may cause an intolerance to fats, and a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency can occur.

The typical "tea and toast" meal of the elderly will produce these deficiences. Older people, to maintain health, need all of the nutrients required by young people. The one thing they need less is calories.

A diet of meat, fish, fowl, breads, cereals, fruit, vegetable, milk and dairy products is necessary at every age.