Nutrient Needs As We Age

Article submitted by Dr. Nancy Graves, R.D., L.D. Associate Professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston.

Many of the nutrient needs of the elderly are the same as for younger persons, but some special considerations deserve emphasis. Do to lower activity levels women may only need 1,500 calories per day and men 2,000 calories per day. The number of servings from the food categories very slightly between men and women.

Eating Patterns for Older, Less Active People
	Women, about 1500 calories/day	Men, about 2000 calories/day
Milk, nonfat	2 servings	2 servings
Vegetables	3 servings	4 servings
Fruit	3 servings	5 servings
Bread, cereal, pasta, rice, etc.	6 servings	9 servings
Meat, lean	2 servings (5 oz. total)	2 servings (7 oz. total)
Fat, include mono and polyunsaturated	2 Tablespoons	3 Tablespoons

Because overweight is well recognized as a factor in shortened life span, these seem to be life-sustaining recommendations.

Deficiency can cause PEM, protein energy malnutrition, which may occur in older people and often goes unnoticed. An observer, seeing the wasted muscle, weakness, and sometimes swelling of protein deficiency, may think, "That person looks old," when in fact the observer should recognize the symptoms of PEM. Older people who have been trying to lose weight or have been eating monotonous or bizarre diets are most likely to be affected.

On one side of the energy balance, energy is taken in, on the other side, it is spent. If you are motivated to maintain your good health into the later years, you should plan regular exercise into your days. A major benefit is that with an increased energy output, one can afford to eat more food and be able to obtain more nutrients.

There are many conditions that affect the nutritional status of individuals. A few examples are:

At least one chronic disease
Constipation or incontinence
Confusion due to the change in environment
Poor eyesight or hearing
Ill-fitting or missing dentures
Inability to feed themselves because of arthritis or stroke
Psychological problems, especially depression
Anorexia and loss of interest in eating
Long-established food preferences
Slowed reactions

Individuals also need to be aware of possible food and drug interactions. Some medications will not be as effective if they are consumed with specific food items.

A few tips are to limit total calories ingested to 1500 for women and 2000 for men. Use a minimum of salt in food preparation, increase flavor with vegetables, herbs and spices; plan to eat at least 2 servings of nonfat milk and 4 to 6 ounces of lean meat or meat alternates; consume generous amounts of natural fiber from grains, vegetables, and fruit; drink plenty of water.

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