The life expectancy of Americans in 2018 was 76 years old for men and 81 for women. Compared to those in 1990 which was 47 and 49, respectively, this is a great longevity improvement.
Many factors came into play to make this happen. For one, advances in medicine have made people healthier. Then their socioeconomic improved and they started embracing healthy lifestyles i.e. regular exercise, reduced consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and healthy eating or proper nutrition.
What is proper nutrition
Proper nutrition is eating the right kinds of foods for better health, well-being and enough energy to keep you going.
Healthy eating consists of foods that contain necessary protein, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals your body needs.
It is very crucial among seniors because malnutrition can lead to weight loss, among other things. It can impair the immune system, thus increasing the risks of a host of medical issues that can affect your quality of life.
In 2005, only 1% of healthy and live-alone American seniors are malnourished. Though no current figures are available, it is expected to be higher as more baby boomers have retired since then.
The figures may not be alarming, but it raises the question, “Why would people in the midst of abundance be malnourished?”
Here’s why…
Issues that affect nutrition and how to cope with them
Several factors can cause poor nutrition among seniors, but these are the most common:
1. Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite is not a normal consequence of aging and it is not necessarily a sign of a medical issue.
It could be a lack of energy to cook or due to a change in taste buds, or sense of smell. Loneliness or depression can also cause a loss of appetite.
Whatever the reason is, it should not be taken lightly because it can result in a drastic loss of weight and other serious medical issues.
You can cope with the loss of appetite by…
- Setting a regular eating schedule. The body has a biological clock that dictates most of our routines, i.e., time to sleep, discharge waste, hunger, thirst, etc. Setting a regular eating schedule is like programming the body to yearn for food.
- Increasing nutrient density, not the volume of food you eat. This assures enough nutrients are taken in even if the volume of food intake is sparse.
- Eating with a friend or groups of friends to have a better eating experience and better nutrition. Dine out occasionally to be in the midst of people (this is my favorite way of whetting up my appetite).
- Take appetizers like banana, mango, or salad with your meals.
2. Budget constraints
Based on the 2017 official poverty measure (income of $11,756/yr), 9.2% of adults 65 and older, or 4.7 million, live in poverty. For them, buying quality and nutritious foods is a real problem.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t. It just takes a little patient digging.
For example, Clark.com has a list of discount restaurants for seniors. And for groceries, SeniorList contains a list of grocery stores where you can buy necessary stuff at bargain prices.
3. Oral health issues
Age brings along oral health problems like a diminished sense of taste, teeth loss, gum disease, root decay, and thrush (a mouth infection caused by the Candida fungus) which can affect your daily food intake.
It is very important then to stick to a daily oral hygiene routine like:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day using fluoride-based toothpaste;
- Flossing your teeth at least once a day;
- Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic once or twice a day.
On top of the above, visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleaning and oral exam.
4. Health conditions
There some medical issues like stomach flu, migraine, or cold sores that can temporarily affect proper nutrition.
But chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart failure, cancer, obesity, etc., may affect your nutritional intake over the long haul.
It is very important, therefore, to have your doctor or nutritionist design a diet plan which can satisfy your nutritional requirements and, at the same time, keep your medical condition in check.
5. Medications
Aging, woefully, brings along a lot of medical issues requiring the ingestion of several drugs that may cause malnutrition in several ways. For example, drug interaction may cause:
- suppression of hunger
- interference in the absorption of nutrients like fats, proteins, and vitamins;
- an alteration of the senses of taste and smell;
- Swallowing problems.
To avoid drug-induced malnutrition, do these:
- ask your health care provider the effects of all the medications you are taking, prescription or over-the-counter;
- consult with your doctor for any side-effect you are experiencing with a particular drug;
- take your drugs on their suggested schedules, i.e., before or after meals;
- unless clearly specified, take medications with a full glass of water to prevent stomach irritation and improve absorption;
- don’t mix or stir medication into food or drink unless indicated. Some foods may break them down, decreasing their efficacy.
6. Personal circumstances
Living alone or having reduced social contact is a risk factor for malnutrition. In fact, an NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) report shows that loneliness is a predictor of anorexia nervosa.
There is no easy way to cope with this other than determination and the will to live.
I am a live-along senior and I hate eating alone. It sucks. But I am not malnourished. In fact, my BMI is perfect, and I am trying to get rid of unwanted belly fat.
How I get over this loneliness/nutrient thing is to constantly remind myself that malnutrition is a painful (and dishonorable) way of dying – especially since my ref is full of foodstuff.
But I am not talking about myself. Malnutrition is an ugly specter hovering over 1 in 2 seniors and the diseases it causes cost a whopping $ 15.5 billion annually.
Don’t fall for it.
Please share to help other seniors keep up.
Image: The Conversation
~oOo~
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