Everyone knows that you can’t eat at age 30 what you ate at age 15 without some sort of consequences. However, many people don’t know that you can’t eat at age 70 what you ate at age 30 without consequences. Elderly over 70 have unique dietary needs. They tend to need fewer calories because they are not as physically active as they once were and their metabolic rates slow down. However, and here’s the important bit, their bodies still require the same or higher levels of nutrients for optimal health.
So what is the solution? Nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods are foods high in nutrients in relation to the calories they contain. For example, low-fat milk is more nutrient-dense than regular milk. Its nutrient content is the same, but it has fewer calories because it has less fat. In other words, nutrient-dense foods are high in nutrients in relation to the calories they contain.
Reducing the overall fat content in the diet while still choosing nutrient-rich foods is the best way for the older adult to reach optimum nutrition and help protect against diseases such as dementia or cognitive decline.
Want to learn more about the detailed nutrient needs for older adults? Click here. At Live Free Home Health Care, servicing Concord New Hampshire and the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire, we not only can provide tasty and nutritious meals that encourage appetite, but can provide complete nutritional counseling as well. Call us today at (603) 217-0149 for further information.