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Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Seniors in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Health | 0 comments
No matter your age, your body needs a balance of nutrients each day to function optimally. Micronutrients or minerals and vitamins play a crucial role as we get older. That means you cannot reap the benefits if you don’t get enough. Besides aiding bodily functions, vitamins and minerals prevent and reduce the risk of specific issues such as osteoporosis, bone loss, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
At Advancare, we recommend consuming supplements to boost mineral and vitamin intake if you cannot get enough from your food. Our caregivers provide support to ensure you take your supplements and eat healthy foods to promote general well-being.
Why is it Important for Seniors To Take Vitamins and Minerals?
People of all ages need vitamins and minerals, but older adults need them more. This is partly due to the physical and physiological changes linked to aging. That’s why doctors provide nutrient recommendations for people 70 and above. This is due to the increased requirements of this group.
As one ages, their energy levels decrease due to decreased physical activity. Older people also experience decreased appetite, and others may not have the financial muscle to acquire adequate nutrient-dense foods. Reduced food intake means fewer nutrients.
For this reason, older people may face difficulty getting all the vitamins and minerals their bodies need daily.
Essential Minerals and Vitamins for Seniors
While every person has unique nutritional needs, specific vitamins and minerals are generally crucial for older adults to prioritize. Here are the most important.
- Calcium: When seniors don’t get enough calcium, their bodies are forced to remove calcium from the bones, weakening them.
- Vitamin C: This vitamin protects a senior’s aging immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells to fight and prevent diseases
- Vitamin D: Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease that causes reduced bone mass. Vitamin D helps build and maintain healthy bones and promotes calcium absorption.
- Folate: Folate promotes a proper nervous system functioning in seniors
- Magnesium. Magnesium is a crucial mineral for the body that helps keep the blood pressure regular, the heart rhythm steady, and the bones strong.
- Potassium: Lack of enough potassium causes an older person to experience fatigue, cramps, muscle weakness, vomiting, bone fragility, and high blood sugar.
- Vitamin A: Provitamin A has antioxidant properties that promote normal brain function and heart diseases.
- B Vitamins: Seniors may experience challenges absorbing vitamin B12 due to decreased appetite. Seniors with mild memory challenges can take very high doses of vitamin B to slow down brain shrinkage. Generally, Vitamin B helps address elderly symptoms like stroke, nerve glitches, and memory lapses.
Optimizing Your Diet As You Age
Getting enough of these high-priority nutrients means eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of plant protein, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Try to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get sufficient minerals. You must also talk to your doctor about prescription medications and how they can affect your nutritional needs. Your doctor can also write down some minerals your body often lacks and recommend supplements to boost them. Overall, it’s essential to get proper nutrients as you age to maintain optimal health.
Need Help With Your Diet
Whether you’re looking for a caregiver to plan and prepare meals for you or manage your supplement and medication intake, Advancare has the right professionals to get the job done. Contact us today for more information.
