ADVERTISEMENT
Healthy Recipes, Healthy Eating, Healthy Cooking - Eating Well
 SEARCH EATINGWELL.COM
 
  ADVANCED HEALTHY RECIPES SEARCH »
 MY EATINGWELL
LEARN MORE | LOGIN

HOME » HEALTH » HEALTH & DIET CENTERS » HEALTHY AGING DIET

HEALTH & DIET CENTERS

Free Eating Well Newsletters

and special offer emails.

EatingWell This Week
Healthy recipes of the season
EatingWell Diet
Healthy weight loss how-to, recipes
EatingWell for Health
Nutrition news, health how-to
HealthESavers Coupons
Valuable printable coupons
EatingWell Store
Special deals on kitchen tools
privacy policy

ADVERTISEMENT

HEALTH & DIET CENTERS


add email print

ADVERTISEMENT

Healthy Aging Diet

page 3 of 3

Healthy Aging Diet

“B” aware of changing nutrient needs.

As you age, your stomach produces less gastric acid, which makes it harder for the body to absorb vitamin B12—a nutrient that helps keep blood and nerves healthy—from natural food sources. (These include meat, fish, eggs and dairy products like yogurt and milk.) Since data suggest that up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb the vitamin from food, nutrition experts advise that people aged 50-plus get the recommended daily intake (2.4 mcg) of B12 from fortified foods, such as cereal or supplements. A multivitamin that supplies 100 percent the daily value should do you fine.

Keep moving!

It's never too late to reap the benefits of exercise. Research shows that regular exercise—at any age—not only helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers, but also burns calories, gives you energy, relieves stress, helps you sleep better and improves strength and balance. What’s more, studies show exercise increases blood flow to the brain and may even help new brain cells grow, which keeps the mind sharp. The key to reaping the benefits of physical activity is sticking with it, so choose any exercise you enjoy and aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day.

If you drink, do so in moderation.

Studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may protect against heart disease. But consuming alcoholic beverages may interfere with the effectiveness of certain medications. It also may increase the risk for some kinds of cancer. (The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends avoiding alcohol altogether.) It’s important to weigh for yourself the risks and benefits. If you decide to drink, limit alcoholic beverages to no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women.

Play it safe with food storage and prep.

As you get older, your risk of foodborne illness increases (likely in part due to an aging immune system, say experts). Store and handle food properly (think: keeping your fridge at a safe temperature; avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen). More food safety tips

« Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 |

dotted line

More on Healthy Aging:

Stay current with the latest issue of EatingWell. Subscribe Risk-Free Now!

More EatingWell Resources:

Advanced Healthy Recipes Search
Today's Featured Recipes
100 + Healthy Recipes Collections
EatingWell Homepage: News, Recipes, Health
EatingWell's BEST Menu Ideas

 
USER COMMENTS — Add Your Comment
NO USER COMMENTS


Add Your Comment:
Name
City
State
Comments
(HTML is NOT allowed)


Introducing the EatingWell Menu Planner

EATINGWELL EDITORS' PICKS


 

The EatingWell Market


FEATURED SPONSORS:
Save with HealthESavers Coupons

Home   |   Recipes   |   Health   |   Eat & Drink   |   Diet   |   News & Views   |   Community   |   About Us   |   Subscribe   |   Give a Gift   |   Shop   |   Customer Service   |   My EatingWell   |   Newsletters   |   EatingWell Market   |   Professionals   |   Advertising   |   Jobs

EatingWell, 823A Ferry Rd. PO Box 1010, Charlotte, VT 05445, USA     www.eatingwell.com     Tel. (802) 425-5700

World Wide Web Health Award Winner