Whether we want to admit it or not, as we grow older, our bodies need a little extra help in the nutrition department. As we age, we lose our ability to absorb certain nutrients that are necessary for the maintenance of our overall health.
Just as our vision deteriorates and hearing fades, certain other body functions, including the digestive system, also operate much less efficiently. The stomach and intestines have a decreased ability to absorb, break down, and distribute nutrients such as fats, sugars, carbs, vitamins, minerals, etc. This can contribute to many health issues and medical conditions, and cause decline in your overall general health and wellness. Many, if not most, chronic medical conditions are rooted in nutritional deficiencies.
"Recommended Daily Allowance" charts are meant for the general population of adults from about 18-50 years of age. Older people need more than the average daily requirements due to a decrease in absorption of nutrients. On top of that, many medications have a negative impact on the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food and supplements. Additionally, many seniors experience a lack of appetite, or desire to eat. This can come from decreased activity, loss of loved ones, lack of money, and many other sources. Many seniors just don't bother to take care of themselves anymore.
Poor eating habits and lack of interest in food is an indication that a senior is likely not receiving an adequate diet. It is important for seniors to take nutritional supplements, to make up for the lack of important nutrients in their daily diet.
Good nutrition for seniors means making sure that adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals are being consumed. They should be getting more than the recommended daily amount that is listed on vitamin bottles. Choosing nutritional supplements designed for seniors will help to ensure adequate amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and iron are being absorbed.
Older people often have decreased stomach acid, which will reduce the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients, especially Vitamin B12 and folic acid. While it may not sound serious, lack of these nutrients can reduce alertness and speed up memory loss, as well as cause numbness in the extremities.
If in doubt, ask your physician to explain the medications you are taking, and how it can affect the absorption of nutrients in your body. It's also a good idea to attempt to determine what extra vitamins and minerals would be of most benefit, to give your body the best chance of maintaining optimal health.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Exercise: Good or Bad for you?
Attention! American Baby-Boomers:
As a generation weaned on Jack LaLanne, (I saw him on TV just recently, he's STILL awesome!), shaped by exercise videos by celebrities, and gym memberships--we're now learning that too much of a good thing can have its consequences!
For us "Middle-aged, fast approaching old" people, also known as the boomer generation, it appears there is a downside to all that activity. As doctors encourage us to exercise three to five times a week, many in our ranks continue to participate in sports, long past our prime.
In the process, we're loading orthopaedists offices and operating rooms, needing hip and knee replacements, ligament and cartilage repairs, and treatment for arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and back injuries. In medical circles, there is a name for it: Boomeritis.
Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile, a Philadelphia orthopaedic surgeon, coined and trademarked the term, boomeritis. "Boomers are the first generation that grew up exercising, and the first that expects, indeed demands, that they be able to exercise into their 70's," says Dr. DiNubile. "But evolution doesn't work that quick. Physically, you can't necessarily do at 50, what you did at 25. We've worn out the warranty on some body parts. That's why so many boomers are breaking down. It ought to be called Generation Ouch."
In 2003, National Ambulatory Medical care conducted a survey. According to their statistics, the number 1 reason for doctor's office visits was due to the common cold. The #2 reason, was sports related injuries, with a very high percentage being people born between 1946-1964. The Consumer Product Safety Commission examined emergency room visits, and discovered that from 1991 until 1998, sports related injuries had risen 33 percent, in the boomer age bracket.
When you reach forty you can’t do anything every day.- - - - Henry “Hank” Aaron
GEEEE! I hate sports, and never exercise, and I have all of those problems, myself--bad back, arthritis, and will be needing a hip replacement one of these days. Do you think it would be even worse if I had done all those things? OR, conversely, would a lot of these people have these problems even if they had never exercised? Gotta Wonder!
BTW, did you used to like to dance? I still like to.....but my body punishes me severely for the next three days! [sigh]
Check out this great video on youtube. I bet you'll remember many of these dance moves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Have a great day!
As a generation weaned on Jack LaLanne, (I saw him on TV just recently, he's STILL awesome!), shaped by exercise videos by celebrities, and gym memberships--we're now learning that too much of a good thing can have its consequences!
For us "Middle-aged, fast approaching old" people, also known as the boomer generation, it appears there is a downside to all that activity. As doctors encourage us to exercise three to five times a week, many in our ranks continue to participate in sports, long past our prime.
In the process, we're loading orthopaedists offices and operating rooms, needing hip and knee replacements, ligament and cartilage repairs, and treatment for arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and back injuries. In medical circles, there is a name for it: Boomeritis.
Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile, a Philadelphia orthopaedic surgeon, coined and trademarked the term, boomeritis. "Boomers are the first generation that grew up exercising, and the first that expects, indeed demands, that they be able to exercise into their 70's," says Dr. DiNubile. "But evolution doesn't work that quick. Physically, you can't necessarily do at 50, what you did at 25. We've worn out the warranty on some body parts. That's why so many boomers are breaking down. It ought to be called Generation Ouch."
In 2003, National Ambulatory Medical care conducted a survey. According to their statistics, the number 1 reason for doctor's office visits was due to the common cold. The #2 reason, was sports related injuries, with a very high percentage being people born between 1946-1964. The Consumer Product Safety Commission examined emergency room visits, and discovered that from 1991 until 1998, sports related injuries had risen 33 percent, in the boomer age bracket.
When you reach forty you can’t do anything every day.- - - - Henry “Hank” Aaron
GEEEE! I hate sports, and never exercise, and I have all of those problems, myself--bad back, arthritis, and will be needing a hip replacement one of these days. Do you think it would be even worse if I had done all those things? OR, conversely, would a lot of these people have these problems even if they had never exercised? Gotta Wonder!
BTW, did you used to like to dance? I still like to.....but my body punishes me severely for the next three days! [sigh]
Check out this great video on youtube. I bet you'll remember many of these dance moves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Have a great day!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Welcome to the world of "getting old!"
THE GOLDEN YEARS? Yeah, right!
I'm really tired of this "getting old" stuff.
I long for before.......before gravity took it's toll with the wrinkles and sags. Before everything hurt all the time. Before I was too tired to do anything fun. Before...before...before!
We are starting this blog for numerous reasons. #1 To rant about the problems of being 50-something, and getting old fast. #2 To share ideas on issues of health, chronic pain, etc.
#3 Have a little fun while we're at it.
Stay tuned--we hope to post at least 3-4 times per week. Hopefully you will find our posts to be interesting and informative, and you'll get a little laugh once in awhile.
Have a GREAT weekend!
Kat
A little laugh to start your weekend!
SENIORS UNDER ATTACK:THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY! We Must Stop This Immediately !
Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper . Groceries are heavier . And, everything is farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!
And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?
I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection well, REALLY NOW - even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!
Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.
Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 10 or 12 dress as 18 or 20? Do they think no one notices? The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much!
Just who do these people think they're fooling? I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!
All I can do is pass along this warning:WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!
PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has happened to my computer's fonts - they are smaller than they once were.
I'm really tired of this "getting old" stuff.
I long for before.......before gravity took it's toll with the wrinkles and sags. Before everything hurt all the time. Before I was too tired to do anything fun. Before...before...before!
We are starting this blog for numerous reasons. #1 To rant about the problems of being 50-something, and getting old fast. #2 To share ideas on issues of health, chronic pain, etc.
#3 Have a little fun while we're at it.
Stay tuned--we hope to post at least 3-4 times per week. Hopefully you will find our posts to be interesting and informative, and you'll get a little laugh once in awhile.
Have a GREAT weekend!
Kat
A little laugh to start your weekend!
SENIORS UNDER ATTACK:THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY! We Must Stop This Immediately !
Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper . Groceries are heavier . And, everything is farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!
And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?
I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection well, REALLY NOW - even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!
Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.
Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 10 or 12 dress as 18 or 20? Do they think no one notices? The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much!
Just who do these people think they're fooling? I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!
All I can do is pass along this warning:WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!
PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has happened to my computer's fonts - they are smaller than they once were.
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