Nutrition

Health risks are a daily part of human development. Diet and nutrition are fundamental in helping the human body develop properly, thrive, and fight disease. The food we eat is a strong determinant of our overall physical well being. Older people very often fall short of eating the amounts and types of food necessary to meet their essential energy and nutrient needs. Physiological, psychological and economic changes in the later years of life contribute to poor nutrition in the elderly.

Digestive difficulties, oral and dental problems, and medication-related intestinal side-effects can contribute to poor nutrition. Seeking appropriate medical and dental care is crucial if these are the obstacles to good nutrition.

As we age our body composition changes with a decrease in lean tissue mass (as much as 25%) and an increase in body fat. Our metabolic rate slows (it can decline as much as 30% over a lifetime). Our nutritional needs are different. Eating habits need to change.

There is no one diet that is right for everyone. It is important to consult with doctors and nutritionists as you enter the aging process. After age fifty the metabolic rate begins decreasing, but obesity and anorexia statistics in this country show that poor diet is not just an issue of habit and education. Our relationship to food is a deeply psychological relationship. It is reflective of our relationship to ourselves and how we relate to our emotions. Given the increased role diet plays later in life, it is recommended that we seek a deeper understanding of our behavior relating to food. The ways we use food to stop ourselves from feeling undesirable feelings has great implication for later life if one has developed a self-destructive coping mechanism based on food in their early years.

Sharing food and preparing meals together has always been an important aspect of creating community and establishing family bonds. Healthy meal preparation relies on a variety of foods and motivation to prepare them. If one’s community and family bonds are no longer an active part of one’s life, the responsibility for nutrition becomes increasingly a solo task. Many men, for example, find themselves having to learn to cook for the first time in their lives. For many, who associated eating with sharing, eating alone might be experienced as depressing and therefore contributing to less effort in meal preparation. Economic worries in terms of the cost of foods, and access to fresh foods if one’s mobility is limited, also become challenges to a healthy diet. And yet, if one does not receive enough proper nutrition there is a higher risk for a depressed immune system, chronic fatigue, and depression.

While poor nutrition increases cost and incidents of hospitalization, good nutrition promotes vitality and independence. Seeking to become knowledgeable about one’s nutritional needs and finding others with whom to share a meal can be worthwhile goals for those who seek help in aging.