Why Does My Diet Change with My Age?

Remember when you could eat whatever you wanted without it seeming to disrupt your body? In high school you could eat a whole pizza at 9:00 at night without having to suffer through heartburn, or drink six cans of your favorite soda in a day without worrying about your heart. Now it seems that the wrong diet leaves you feeling bloated, tired or even sick. What’s that about? Well, it’s your age.

While you can be young at heart forever, unfortunately, our bodies change with age. Our skin is thinner and less elastic, we experience muscle loss and even our stomachs produce less acid. These changes to our bodies can have several negative effects and impact what our bodies need to stay healthy:

• Increasingly prone to nutrient deficiencies
• Higher chances of atrophic gastritis, in which chronic inflammation has damaged the cells that produce stomach acid
• A reduced need for calories combined with an additional need for nutrients
• A reduction in the body’s ability to recognize hunger and thirst

Thankfully, you can take action against these negative effects by making a conscious effort to eat a healthy diet. The team at our nutrition store in Eau Claire, WI wants to share a few suggestions on how your diet should change as you age.

Drink more water

As we mentioned, age can reduce your body’s ability to tell when it is thirsty or hungry, which can lead to dehydration, weight loss and malnutrition. To avoid becoming dehydrated, you should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.

Eat more protein

As we age, we tend to lose muscle. In fact, the average adult loses 3 to 8 percent of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. Eating more protein can help slow the rate of muscle loss, increase muscle mass and even help build more muscle.

Take vitamin supplements

We also tend to need fewer calories as we age. Age can also affect our sense of taste and smell, which can lead to loss of appetite. While you may not need to consume as much food as you used to, you actually need more nutrients. Maintaining the right amount of nutrients can be difficult, especially if you don’t feel hungry. A vitamin supplement can help give your body the nutrients it needs.

Eat more fiber

Constipation is a common ailment as we age. Due to medications, the reduction of acid in our stomachs and a decrease in movement, our bodies are just not as good at expelling waste as they used to be. Eating fiber may help relieve constipation. It passes through the gut undigested, helping form stool and promote regular bowel movements.

If you want to stay healthy and boost your energy and activity as you age, a healthy diet is a must. But if you’re not sure where to start, talk to your doctor and visit Mother Nature’s Food, your local nutrition store in Eau Claire, WI. We have everything you need to embrace a healthy diet in this next stage of your life!

Categorised in: Health Tips