Part 4 Nutrition and Aging 11 22 2010 The only thing shown to increase life span in rats is calorie Can Nutrition Help You Live Longer Factors that impact physiological age o Moderate or no alcohol consumption o Regular nutritious meals o Weight control o Adequate sleep o Not smoking o Regular physical activity Factors Affecting Nutritional Status in Elderly restriction Physiological Psychological Socioeconomic Changing Macronutrient Needs Energy needs decline o Decreased lean body mass o Decreased activity level Protein needs stay the same Carbohydrate needs stay the same o Emphasis on high fiber foods o More must be obtained from diet supplements Fat needs stay the same o Focus on healthy fats o Keep overall calories in mind Vitamin A absorption increases Vitamin D synthesis declines Vitamin B12 absorption declines o Supplements recommended Iron needs decline Calcium absorption declines o Needs increase after age 50 o Intake often inadequate Zinc o Intake may be inadequate o Medications interfere with absorption Phytochemicals and Other Antioxidants o Role in prevention of macular degeneration o Possible prevention of cataracts o Maintenance of immune system Dehydration Elderly and increased risk for dehydration Impaired thirst mechanism Kidneys do not reabsorb water as efficiently Many conditions can impair ability to drink thin liquids o Stroke o Alzheimers Dementia o ALS o Parkinson s Disease Major Causes of Disability Sarcopenia Osteoporosis Arthritis Heart Disease Cognitive Problems Sarcopenia Loss of skeletal muscle o Largely a result of inactivity o May lead to falls broken bones o Inability to perform daily activities such as grocery shopping walking up stairs etc Osteoporosis Affects 44 million Americans or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older In the United States today 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone density placing them at increase risk for osteoporosis and broken bones An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients aged 50 and over die the year following their fracture Due to inadequate calcium intake throughout life and inadequate exercise Arthritis o Leads to broken bones usually in hip and spine o Decreased mobility ability to care for yourself Deterioration in and around joints Common among obese individuals Other nutritional causes are unlikely though research is ongoing Omega 3 fatty acids may help to decrease inflammation Cardiovascular Disease Leading cause of death in the United States Heart attack high blood pressure stroke congestive heart failure Diet high in cholesterol saturated fat High salt intake Lack of physical activity Folate B12 and B6 Antioxidants Omega 3 fatty acids Cognitive Function An estimated 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer s by 2050 The United States spent more than 50 billion in 2000 on taxpayer funded Medicare and Medicaid services for people with the disease Many others have age related dementia or mental impairment Malnutrition in the Elderly Population 1 4 million households with elderly member experience food insecurity United States Census Bureau 1 5 of elderly households experience hunger United States Census Bureau Elderly individuals classified as food insecure are at higher risk for being underweight Food Security Insititute Factors Contributing to Malnutrition in the Elderly Nutrition Screening Initiative o Disease o Eating poorly o Tooth loss o Economic hardship o Reduced social contact o Multiple medications o Involuntary weight loss o Needs assistance with self care o Elderly over 80 years of age Poverty in the Elderly Population In 2001 the number of older adults living in poverty was 10 1 or 3 4 million adults Administration on Aging 3 7 million older Americans 9 7 percent of adults over age 65 do not have sufficient income to meet their basic expenses AARP Federal Assistance Programs for the Elderly Older Americans Act o Provides an array of services and support to help older adults aged 60 years and older to remain independent in home and community settings o Targets poor minorities and those living in rural areas with limited access to services OAA Nutrition Programs Congregate Nutrition Program Home Delivered Nutrition Program Meals on Wheels United States Department of Agriculture o Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP o Senior Farmer s Market Nutrition Program o Child and Adult Care Food Program Nutrition and the Environment and the Ever Changing Food Supply 11 22 2010 Our Diets and the Environment Large Scale Conventional Farming o Synthetic fertilizer runoff causes algae overgrowth dead zones o Pesticides and herbicides kill native plants and insects o Conventional farming may deplete soil of nutrients o Energy intensive o Small number of crops grown for their cash value reduced dietary variety o Corn for biodiesel o Solutions organic sustainable locally grown produce In the United States the food industry uses 20 of the nation s fuels to run farm machinery and produce fertilizers and pesticides and to prepare package transport refrigerate and otherwise store cook and wash our foods Food Processing o 6560 calories of fuel are used to produce a can of corn o 2100 calories of fuel are used to produce a diet soda 500 for the soda 1600 to make the can o Solution eat food that is less processed Large scale meat production o Manure results in soil and water pollution o Animals are fed grain 1 5 of all cropland in the United States is used to produce grain for livestock more than for people o Loss of land environmental destruction deforestation o Energy intensive gain in a cow raised grass fed Takes 8 pounds of grain to cause one pound of weight o Solution eat less meat if eating meat find locally sustainably Overfishing and Species Depletion o Deplete breeding stocks o Unsafe practices damage non food populations o Solutions eat smaller fish sustainably fished raised Water bottles Cooking methods Energy efficient dishwashers only running full dishwasher Reusable grocery bags Reusable pans dishes rather than disposables Reduce reuse recycle USDA Certified Organic October 21 2002 Established regulations for organic farming and labeling of organic products Prohibits use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more earth friendly practices o Crop rotation o Planting cover crops o Releasing beneficial insects o Adding composted manure Fields must be free of synthetic pesticides and
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