Most of us can fulfill our daily nutritional needs through our meals but for some older adults, this can become a daily challenge. Due to their senior health issues or mobility restrictions, a certain percentage of older adults do not have access to nutrient-dense meals that are necessary to provide the daily nutrients their bodies need for good health. Here are several vitamins for elderly that can be taken daily to support their overall well-being.
Should Older Adults Take Vitamins
For those of us who believe our bodies are not getting enough vitamins, we choose to take supplements. However, you may not be aware that taking supplements in excess amounts or for an extended period of time might have negative side effects, especially if you are already on prescription medicine. Supplements containing vitamins might also be costly and useless as your pricey supplements may wind up being flushed down the toilet since your kidneys will simply remove any excess nutrients from your system.
Dr. Liz Green, a general practitioner, advises people to always take supplements in accordance with the recommended daily allowance guidelines and to discuss their use with their doctor. Even so, some older adults may still benefit from vitamin supplements, so we asked the specialists to help us identify the most typical deficits to watch out for in the elderly, as well as some tips on how to avoid them.
Vitamin D
Most of the vitamin D in our bodies is produced in response to sunshine on our skin. A few other foods that contain vitamin D are oily fish, yoghurt, eggs, margarine, and fortified breakfast cereals. However, persons over 65 are more likely to not get enough vitamin D, particularly if they do not get much sun by spending some time outdoors every day.
Iron
The creation of red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body, is one of iron’s many crucial functions in the body. Given that it is present in foods like red meat, lentils and beans, eggs, wholegrain goods, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, dried fruit, and fortified cereals, you should be able to acquire all the iron you require from your daily diet.
Calcium
Calcium is a crucial mineral because it promotes healthy blood clotting, controls muscle contractions, including heartbeat, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth. Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, almonds, and fish like sardines where the bones can be eaten.
B Vitamins
The body uses different forms of vitamin B for a variety of purposes, including forming red blood cells, keeping the skin, eyes, and nervous system healthy, and assisting in the breakdown of food into energy. You should be getting what you need if you eat a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains and cereals. Vitamin B12, which is present in beef, fish, salmon, milk, cheese, eggs, and some fortified cereals, becomes more difficult to absorb as we age. Deficient individuals are more likely to experience neurological issues like memory loss and anemia.
