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Optimal Nutrition for the Older Adults

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Nutrition in Lifestyle Medicine

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

The aim of dietary guidance specifically targeted for older adults is to maintain optimal health and forestall the onset of chronic disease. The actual dietary recommendations, for the most part, are consistent throughout the adult lifecycle. Diet quality can have an important effect on the ability to perform activities of daily life and survival rates. Due to lower levels of physical activity, decreased metabolic rates secondary to increased proportions of fat to lean muscle mass, energy requirements decline with advancing years yet nutrient requirements remain unchanged, or in some cases increase. This situation requires a greater emphasis on choosing nutrient-dense foods within each food category. With advancing years, special attention needs to be given to adapting living environments to retain the ability to acquire and prepare food. Changes in social situations that could impact on food intake should be monitored on a regular basis. Evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle interventions can forestall the onset of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, decline in immune function, and possibly some cancers. There are no data to suggest a person is too old to benefit from improvements in diet quality. The definitions of “old age” are changing, and expectations for the period of time individuals can remain active, productive, and live independently are expanding. Efforts towards improving diet quality and levels of physical activity as individuals get older should keep up with this trend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02465, USA

    Alice H. Lichtenstein D.Sc.

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  1. Alice H. Lichtenstein D.Sc.
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Correspondence to Alice H. Lichtenstein D.Sc. .

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  1. Rippe Lifestyle Institute , Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA

    James M. Rippe

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Lichtenstein, A.H. (2017). Optimal Nutrition for the Older Adults. In: Rippe, J. (eds) Nutrition in Lifestyle Medicine. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43027-0_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43027-0_19

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