monicapink
03-16-03, 02:24 PM
Whenever I post an article in any forum ...... I do it because I find the topic to be important and of interest in making me AWARE OF MY DIETARY AND HEALTH NEEDS. I hope you will find this information beneficial in making your health care choices.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR SENIORS
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, seniors need to do what they can to protect themselves from heart disease and cancer, THE TWO LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG INDIVIDUALS 65 YEARS AND OLDER.
Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, professor of nutrition at Tufts University School of Nutrition, Science and Policy, states "nutritional supplements not only help decrease the risk of certain diseases, but they also fill up what's missing in a TYPICAL elderly person's diet.
VITAMIN B12:
The supplement that nutritionists have been promoting most recently is vitamin B12 which in food depends on stomach acid to be absorbed. However, recent studies have shown that 10 to 30 % of people 51 years and older HAVE LOWER AMOUNTS OF STOMACH ACID, and therefore can't absorb much of the vitamin.
BUT IN THE SUPPLEMENT FORM, the vitamin doesn't rely on stomach acid MAKING SUPPLEMENTS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE UP FOR THE LACK. Otherwise, individuals who don't get enough of the vitamin can suffer from ANEMIA, OTHER BLOOD CELL DISORDERS AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS INCLUDING MEMORY LOSS AND CHANGES IN GAIT.
Nutritionists recommend that ALL ADULTS get 2.4 micrograms per day of vitamin B12 which is found mostly in meats. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 51 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHOULD GET MOST OF THE VITAMIN FROM SUPPLEMENTS OR FORTIFIED CEREALS.
FOLATE:
The B vitamin folate reduces levels of homocysteine (a molecule that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke). Dr Blumberg recommends that elderly people take 400 mg per day to supplement the amount of folate they may get from their diet.
FOLATE IS FOUND IN DARK GREEN, YELLOW AND ORANGE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, BEANS, NUTS, SEEDS AND FORTIFIED GRAIN PRODUCTS SUCH AS PASTA AND FLOUR. FOODS WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF FOLATE INCLUDE: SPINACH, ORANGE JUICE AND LENTILS.
VITAMIN E:
Dr. Blumberg states, "Research studies are mounting evidence that VITAMIN E REDUCES THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND OTHER CONDITIONS." But because vitamin E is found in fatty foods such as nuts and oils, most individuals can't get enough to reap the benefits of the vitamin's preventive effects.
While younger people need only 5 milligrams per day, PEOPLE 51 YEARS OR OLDER SHOULD TAKE 10 TO 15 MILLIGRAMS PER DAY (according to the Food and Nutrition Board -- the organization that determines "RDAs").
CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D
Elderly people need to keep their bones strong BY SUPPLEMENTING THEIR DIET WITH CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D. The pair work hand in hand to prevent bones from thinning, which can lead to devastating fractures.
According to Lisa Scott, a clinical nutritionist at UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center, many older people lack enough calcium in their diets because they can't digest dairy foods, the primary source for calcium.
Ms. Scott suggests, " for those who don't eat any dairy products or calcium-fortified orange juice, they should get the full 1200 milligrams from supplements. SUPPLEMENTS MADE FROM CALCIUM CARBONATE OR CITRATE ARE BEST.
With the sun's help, the skin produces the body's main source of vitamin D. But as the skin ages, its ability to produce vitamin D decreases. And at the same time elderly people tend to stay out of the sun, making a deficiency all the more probable. THE FOOD AND NUTRITION BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS 51 YEARS OR OLDER RECEIVE 10 TO 15 MILLIGRAMS OF VITAMIN D EACH DAY. Taking supplements is a good way to meet the daily requirement.
Dr. Blumberg says, "however convenient supplements may be, THEY SHOULDN'T TAKE THE PLACE OF EATING A WELL BALANCED DIET. It's important to RECOGNIZE THAT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT DIETARY SUBSTITUTES. Taking supplements is just another healthy thing you can do for yourself."
I have placed a recipe in the Main Dish Recipe Forum CHICKEN & VEGGIE STIR FRY.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR SENIORS
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, seniors need to do what they can to protect themselves from heart disease and cancer, THE TWO LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG INDIVIDUALS 65 YEARS AND OLDER.
Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, professor of nutrition at Tufts University School of Nutrition, Science and Policy, states "nutritional supplements not only help decrease the risk of certain diseases, but they also fill up what's missing in a TYPICAL elderly person's diet.
VITAMIN B12:
The supplement that nutritionists have been promoting most recently is vitamin B12 which in food depends on stomach acid to be absorbed. However, recent studies have shown that 10 to 30 % of people 51 years and older HAVE LOWER AMOUNTS OF STOMACH ACID, and therefore can't absorb much of the vitamin.
BUT IN THE SUPPLEMENT FORM, the vitamin doesn't rely on stomach acid MAKING SUPPLEMENTS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE UP FOR THE LACK. Otherwise, individuals who don't get enough of the vitamin can suffer from ANEMIA, OTHER BLOOD CELL DISORDERS AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS INCLUDING MEMORY LOSS AND CHANGES IN GAIT.
Nutritionists recommend that ALL ADULTS get 2.4 micrograms per day of vitamin B12 which is found mostly in meats. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 51 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHOULD GET MOST OF THE VITAMIN FROM SUPPLEMENTS OR FORTIFIED CEREALS.
FOLATE:
The B vitamin folate reduces levels of homocysteine (a molecule that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke). Dr Blumberg recommends that elderly people take 400 mg per day to supplement the amount of folate they may get from their diet.
FOLATE IS FOUND IN DARK GREEN, YELLOW AND ORANGE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, BEANS, NUTS, SEEDS AND FORTIFIED GRAIN PRODUCTS SUCH AS PASTA AND FLOUR. FOODS WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF FOLATE INCLUDE: SPINACH, ORANGE JUICE AND LENTILS.
VITAMIN E:
Dr. Blumberg states, "Research studies are mounting evidence that VITAMIN E REDUCES THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND OTHER CONDITIONS." But because vitamin E is found in fatty foods such as nuts and oils, most individuals can't get enough to reap the benefits of the vitamin's preventive effects.
While younger people need only 5 milligrams per day, PEOPLE 51 YEARS OR OLDER SHOULD TAKE 10 TO 15 MILLIGRAMS PER DAY (according to the Food and Nutrition Board -- the organization that determines "RDAs").
CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D
Elderly people need to keep their bones strong BY SUPPLEMENTING THEIR DIET WITH CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D. The pair work hand in hand to prevent bones from thinning, which can lead to devastating fractures.
According to Lisa Scott, a clinical nutritionist at UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center, many older people lack enough calcium in their diets because they can't digest dairy foods, the primary source for calcium.
Ms. Scott suggests, " for those who don't eat any dairy products or calcium-fortified orange juice, they should get the full 1200 milligrams from supplements. SUPPLEMENTS MADE FROM CALCIUM CARBONATE OR CITRATE ARE BEST.
With the sun's help, the skin produces the body's main source of vitamin D. But as the skin ages, its ability to produce vitamin D decreases. And at the same time elderly people tend to stay out of the sun, making a deficiency all the more probable. THE FOOD AND NUTRITION BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS 51 YEARS OR OLDER RECEIVE 10 TO 15 MILLIGRAMS OF VITAMIN D EACH DAY. Taking supplements is a good way to meet the daily requirement.
Dr. Blumberg says, "however convenient supplements may be, THEY SHOULDN'T TAKE THE PLACE OF EATING A WELL BALANCED DIET. It's important to RECOGNIZE THAT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT DIETARY SUBSTITUTES. Taking supplements is just another healthy thing you can do for yourself."
I have placed a recipe in the Main Dish Recipe Forum CHICKEN & VEGGIE STIR FRY.