Archive for category Nutrition
Healthy Nutrition for Older People
Posted by in Nutrition on June 29, 2011
A healthy eating plan can never be outgrown. No matter at what stage of life you may be in, healthy nutrition is vitally important. However, as far as older adults are concerned, while the basic principles of a balanced diet are the same as at any other age, but individual nutritional requirements usually do need to be modified.
Your overall future health will be affected according to the choices of food you make, whether you are 45 or 75, are homebound or active. Healthy food choices along with lifestyle changes can reduce the chances of getting certain aging related diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease. Healthy nutrition also aids in the treatment as well as recuperation from illness.
While including healthy nutrition in your diet may not turn the clock back, it is known to make people feel more energetic and healthy longer. Consuming a nutritionally healthy diet involves eating a wide variety of healthy foods every day. After all, food is the source of energy, vitamins, protein, fiber, minerals and fluids you require in order to be healthy.
What are the Factors that Suggest High Risk of Poor Nutrition?
There are various factors that can be indicative of higher risk of inadequate nutrition. In case you experience 3 or more of the factors given below, you need to consult a registered dietician or a physician:
* Prolonged poor health
* Poor dental health
* Unexpected loss or gain in weight
* Inadequate eating habits
* Taking medicines
* Economic inadequacy
* Inadequate social contacts and loneliness
* Being unable to take care of yourself
Facts about Nutrition for Older People
The same types of nutrients are required by older people as are needed by younger people, except that the amounts are different. As one gets older, one requires fewer calories compared to when one is younger. The reason being, that with the decrease of muscle mass and a reduction of physical activity, there is less energy required for the basic processes of the body. Nevertheless, contrary to general misconception, the basic requirements of nutrients do not decrease as well with aging. As a matter of fact, older people require increased amounts of certain nutrients. The challenging aspect is to create a plan for eating that provides lots of nutrients without too much calories. Of course, calorie requirements are dependent not only on age, but also on the activity level.
A nutritional eating plan can be achieved by selecting foods that are high in fiber and low in fat such as cereals and breads made with whole grains, vegetables and fruits, along with healthy fats and oils. Plus, of course, adequate amounts of protein foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, meat, and beans. Also, while foods that are high in calories, fat, and sugar can be indulged in occasionally, it is best to limit their consumption. Read the rest of this entry »
Why is Nutrition Important
Posted by in Nutrition on June 29, 2011
Nutrition is the power source that enables the body to function properly and keeps it healthy. The supply of nutrition furnished to the body via intake of various food items enables it to carry out all the body functions appropriately, enabling it to protect itself from invasion of viruses, bacteria and toxins. From the food consumed, the body absorbs the simple but essential minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water into the bloodstream. After absorption, the nutrients are broken down and transported to all the cells in the body. Each cell has a specific role to perform in the body. For the body to remain healthy, all these cells need to perform their allotted duties correctly. The type of nourishment provided to the body determines the type of performance of the cell. Opulent nutritional supply not only sustains body health, but also reduces the body’s susceptibility to disease and premature death. We realize nutrition is important, however, let us glean why is nutrition important.
Importance of Nutrition
According to science and human medicine, nutrition is defined as ‘the science or practice of consuming and utilizing foods’. Nutritional science studies reveal that the body by a process called catabolism breaks down the food ingested. The broken down material is used to produce new cells and repair the damaged cells and tissues by a process called anabolism. The body’s dependence on nutrition for sustenance has been present in all stages of life. From the time the sperm fertilized the ova, then through the entire fetal development for nine months in the uterus, to birth, the next growth years to death, the body depends on nutrition. Ironically, the death of the human body sometimes even serves as nutrition for other organisms. All living things rely on combustion of food for energy and sustenance.
Once we comprehend what is nutrition, then the answer to why it is important will begin to appear vividly. Nutrients are sources of nourishment available in various food items in the form of ingredients, such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, water, vitamins and minerals. Nutrients are classified as macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the ones that are required in large quantities by the body, whereas, micronutrients are those nutrients that are needed in small quantities.
Macronutrients: The different macronutrients are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber and water. Of which fiber and water unlike the other three macronutrients. Protein is important for the growth of the body, repair of damaged body tissues and maintenance of immune system. Low protein levels can spearhead decreased infection resistance and slower recovery process from illness. Proteins are required in greater amounts during an illness for the healing and repair of tissues. Fats and carbohydrates are major energy sources of the body and their requirement amount depends on the size, age and level of physical activity of the person. Fiber consists of carbohydrates to a great extent, however, its absorption by the body is limited, thus its sugar and starch does not enter the bloodstream. Fluid and water intake keeps the body hydrated. Dehydration leads to diarrhea, vomiting and other health problems. Read more on proteins and carbohydrates. Read the rest of this entry »