Nutrition for Seniors

Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

Studies show that a good diet in your later years reduces your risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers. As you age, you might need less energy. But you still need just as many of the nutrients in food. To get them

• Choose a variety of healthy foods
• Avoid empty calories, which are foods with lots of calories but few nutrients, such as chips, cookies, soda and alcohol
• Pick foods that are low in cholesterol and fat, especially saturated and trans fats

Saturated fats are usually fats that come from animals. Look for trans fat on the labels of processed foods, margarines and shortenings.

National Institute on Aging

External Resources

Project Open Hand - San-Francisco-based Project Open Hand provides home delivered meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS; congregate lunches and nutrition education to seniors; meal service for homebound and critically ill people under the age of 60.

US FDA / Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - Information with special interest areas such as for kids, teens, seniors and womens health. All types of nutritional issues discussed such as supplements, fish, canned foods, food labeling to mention but a few.

Busby's Total Fitness - Personal training, weight lifting, aerobics classes, martial arts, senior activities, nutrition advice. Certified by IHRSA. Austin.

BodyImage Personal Fitness Center - Private training programs, nutrition, massage, and senior fitness. North Hollywood.

Senior Health - Listings on physicians, nutrition, drug trials and caregiver support for seniors.

SeniorWorld Online - A directory of health, fitness, and nutrition for seniors.

Nutritional Guidelines for Seniors - New food guide pyramid developed by the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

Senior Mag - Nutrition Glossary - Nutritional supplements defined along with recommended usages, requirements/recommendations, and natural sources.

Nutritional Supplements Misuse Among Older Adults - Ohio State University Extension, Senior Series. SS-126-97.

SeniorWorld Online - Health, fitness, and nutrition articles for seniors.

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