Elderly Nutrition Paper
I decided to write my paper on elderly nutrition. I have chosen this topic because I believe nutrition is important at all ages now, especially in those of the elderly. Fattening foods are around more now than ever, so the problem of obesity is getting out of control. Obesity as we all know causes heart attacks and other such medical problems. People are not noticing the problem anymore until the worst happens. "Everyone thinks that heart disease always happens to someone else, until it happens to them," says
Christopher Cates, M.D., director of a Heart Center in
Atlanta. Sixty-two-year-old Jack Andre says having a heart attack in March 2003 was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat. "It brought a lot of things …show more content…
Statistics show that every year more than 1 million people have heart attacks, about 13 million Americans have coronary heart disease, and about half a million people die from it each year. The one dying are the elderly whose bodies are not as strong as those who are younger. Heart disease is mostly known as a "man's disease" these days. Patrice
Nickens, M.d., leader in a cardiovascular medicine department says, "We want women to know that heart disease is not a man's disease. Rather, heart disease is the leasing cause of death for women, and heart disease is preventable and treatable." I am throwing in these statistics because nutrition is the cause of these diseases and once it again it is important to take care of ourselves and more importantly the elderly. The Department of Health and Human Services offers some suggestion for the elderly as far as what they can eat.
Many times they have trouble chewing foods like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. So the department suggests that the elderly try fruit juices, vegetable juices, ground meat, eggs, and cooked cereals instead. Another issue for the elderly a lot of times is having stomach problems, like …show more content…
These changes in metabolism and physiology can be exaggerated due to complications from digestive difficulties, oral and dental problems, and medication-related eating and nutrient problems." (Gardner) I keep reading about those who over eat and who consume too much fat, too much fast food, etc. On the other side of that I found those who actually do not eat enough. The elderly is no doubt affected by the fact the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet message. The problem is often that they fear foods and the over-emphasis on single nutrient issues.
Basically what researchers are coming up with is that we do need some fat and cholesterol, so do not be afraid of this be concerned about it instead. Of course, along with nutrition comes exercise. For older adults aerobic exercise will not only help to keep their heart and body healthy, but will make daily activities such as lifting grocery bags and climbing the stairs easier.
Before elderly begin an exercise program they should definitely consult their physician. There are several types of aerobic exercise to choose from if one is not aloud.
Christopher Cates, M.D., director of a Heart Center in
Atlanta. Sixty-two-year-old Jack Andre says having a heart attack in March 2003 was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat. "It brought a lot of things …show more content…
Statistics show that every year more than 1 million people have heart attacks, about 13 million Americans have coronary heart disease, and about half a million people die from it each year. The one dying are the elderly whose bodies are not as strong as those who are younger. Heart disease is mostly known as a "man's disease" these days. Patrice
Nickens, M.d., leader in a cardiovascular medicine department says, "We want women to know that heart disease is not a man's disease. Rather, heart disease is the leasing cause of death for women, and heart disease is preventable and treatable." I am throwing in these statistics because nutrition is the cause of these diseases and once it again it is important to take care of ourselves and more importantly the elderly. The Department of Health and Human Services offers some suggestion for the elderly as far as what they can eat.
Many times they have trouble chewing foods like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. So the department suggests that the elderly try fruit juices, vegetable juices, ground meat, eggs, and cooked cereals instead. Another issue for the elderly a lot of times is having stomach problems, like …show more content…
These changes in metabolism and physiology can be exaggerated due to complications from digestive difficulties, oral and dental problems, and medication-related eating and nutrient problems." (Gardner) I keep reading about those who over eat and who consume too much fat, too much fast food, etc. On the other side of that I found those who actually do not eat enough. The elderly is no doubt affected by the fact the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet message. The problem is often that they fear foods and the over-emphasis on single nutrient issues.
Basically what researchers are coming up with is that we do need some fat and cholesterol, so do not be afraid of this be concerned about it instead. Of course, along with nutrition comes exercise. For older adults aerobic exercise will not only help to keep their heart and body healthy, but will make daily activities such as lifting grocery bags and climbing the stairs easier.
Before elderly begin an exercise program they should definitely consult their physician. There are several types of aerobic exercise to choose from if one is not aloud.