5 Myths You've Probably Heard About Nutrition...

  We often hear comments about eating less as we age, and many of those statements are unfounded.  With that in mind, we'd like to offer 5 myths regarding nutrition and seniors.  See if you recognize any of these...

#1: It’s Natural For Older People to Lose Their Appetite
  It’s true that seniors need slightly less food than younger adults because of metabolic changes.  But an outright loss of appetite is not normal, and could be a sign of serious health problem. Simple causes such as decreased sense of taste or dental problems can lead to eating less and make it appear that appetite has decreased when it hasn’t.  Any sudden weight loss should be seen as a red-flag and warrants a doctors visit.

#2: Being Moderately Overweight is a Sign of Robust Health
  While some studies suggest that being moderately overweight contributes to longer lifespans, other studies dispute this. The very overweight, or obese, will experience lifespans on average 10 years less than person of normal weight.

#3: It Doesn’t Matter Whether an Older Person Eats Alone or With Others
  People who live alone and who are left to their own devices in the area of food preparation often have bad outcomes. Eating almost every meal in isolation can also exacerbate loneliness, stress and anxiety. In other words, constantly eating alone can put seniors at risk. Mealtime should be a social activity!

#4: Seniors With a Weak Appetite can Safely Skip Meals
  There are multiple drawbacks to skipping meals. It can cause our body to crave food to such an extent that at the next meal we overindulge in the extreme, which is not healthy. On the other hand, and somewhat paradoxically, skipping meals can further decrease one's appetite. Another major risk is that it can wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, which has numerous negative impacts.  Skipping meals is not a good thing.

#5: Seniors Have Slower Metabolisms and Need Fewer Nutrients
  While a senior may need slightly fewer calories and food-bulk than a younger adult, they need just as many nutrients, if not more. One reason is that as we age, our ability to absorb nutrients is decreased. Specifically, physicians recommenced that older adult increase their intake of calcium,  as well as vitamins D and B12.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!