Nutrient Deficiencies in Older Adults

No matter what diet you’re on, your body needs nutrients for effective fat burning action. Some of the nutrient biggies includecalcium, magnesium, Vitamin C, and the B vitamins—but essentially, all your vitamins and minerals have got to be “in place” for healthy weight loss . Unfortunately, older adults tend to reduce their food intake as they age, and this is a formula for micronutrient deficiency which also leads to medical problems. A 2009 study published in Journal of the American Dietetic Association, examined how well different (ethnic) groups met the recommended daily allowances through food and supplements. They found that many middle-aged and older Americans are not getting adequatenutrition . What is interesting about this study is that over half of the population studied took supplements, and supplement users were more likely to be older Caucasian and college-educated women. Calcium and vitamin C supplements were the most commonly taken supplements. The study also found that potassium intake was very much below the RDA whether supplements were taken or not.

So what’s the point in all of this? All of the results of the JADA study indicate that older adults need to be more aware of the nutritional content of their diets. While supplements have a place in our daily routine, it is imperative to get the majority of your nutrition from a healthy and well balanced diet for several reasons. Naturally, the body absorbs most nutrients better when received from a natural source (folic acid is an exception) and also—nature provides us with far more nutrients than just vitamins and minerals, don’t forget the importance of antioxidants and fiber which protect us from disease! And like we said in the beginning, your diets will go much better if you’re getting lots ofgood nutrition from your diet, regardless of what diet plan you’re using to get in shape. So, the take home message here is: eat your high fiber and multi-colored fruits and veggies, along with a multitude of whole grains and good quality protein for good nutrition and lower calories. Your body will thank you.