The Bigger Picture of Nutrition and Aging

1. The Bigger Pictureof Nutrition and Aging Lisa Killinger, DC

2. Nutrition, The BIGGER Picture • Many issues intertwine w/ aging and nutrition • Poverty • Physical Limitations • Oral Health • Depression & Dementia • Vision • Education/Choices

3. POVERTY • Issue: One in 10 elderly person in America exists below poverty level • Solutions: • Meals on Wheels, • Meal sharing, • Eat fresh (rather than buying packaged foods)

4. PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS • Issues: Vision Impaired, Arthritis, Ambulatory?, Dementia • Solutions: • Assessment (baseline & beyond) • Strengthening/ROM exercises • Buddy system • Magnifiers for reading labels

5. ORAL HEALTH ISSUES • Missing teeth • Poorly fitting dentures • Sores in mouth • Loss of appetite • Decreased sense of taste • Dry mouth • Difficulty swallowing • Dehydration

6. ORAL HEALTH –cont. • Solutions: • Referral to dentist for treatment of oral health issues • Rehydrate-educate about importance of H2O • Spice it up a bit! • Discover new, flavor-filled foods • How about soup? • Introduce a variety of liquid food sources • Freshly made fruit or vegetable juices • Smoothies with soy, fiber, etc • Over the counter products

7. Vision Impairment Issues: • Cataracts, limited vision (can’t drive, read labels, operate stove) Solutions: • Referral for vision testing, correction, surgery • Partnering/support network

8. Depression & Dementia Issue: • Depression –leads to? • Solutions: Treatment, counseling, support, nutrition Issue: • Dementia = danger! • Solutions: Adult day care, reminiscence, activities, heart-smart diet/practices

9. Aging: Unique Nutritional Needs

10. For aging persons, a similar food pyramid but… • SUPPLEMENTS: Ca++, Vit. D, and B12 • WATER: explicitly part of the pyramid (minimum of 6 cups of water per day; not counting coffee) • FEWER CALORIES: 1,200-1,600/day • DENSE: More nutrient dense food

11. Nutritional Guidelines: Aginghttp://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000023.html#xtocid2381818http://nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/pyramid.pdfhttp://nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/guidelines.pdf

12. Other important concepts... • HEART HEALTHY: Mediterranean diet • FIBER: 30 Grams/day • PLANTS: Whole grains, vegetables, fruits • FISH: Should replace red meat 2-3 times/week (fish reduces stroke risk) • OLIVE OIL: Instead of animal fat or butter

13. What Do These Diseases Have in Common? ?(Think Prevention Through Diet) • Heart Disease • Prostate Cancer • Breast Cancer • Colon Cancer • Uterine Cancer • Stroke

14. Dieting in Aging Persons • Diets tend to decrease muscle mass • If weight is regained, fatty tissue is gained • Weight loss should only be recommended with physical activity (moderate) • Think nutrient dense! • Water and fiber

15. Colon Cancer Prevention • 1 in 17 people get colon cancer in the US • 55,000 deaths/year in US alone • Almost all colon cancer is in people over 50 • High fat, low fiber diet, & alcohol increase risks • RECOMMEND: low fat, high fiber, drug free (Am. Cancer Soc. 1999. Colon CA)

16. Fiber: How to get 30 gms/Day • 9-10 g: Canned beans (chili or kidney) • 7-9 g: Popcorn • 5-7 g: Seeded berries • 4-12 g: Wheat bran cereals • 4 g: WW or buckwheat pasta/pancakes • 3 g: Whole wheat breads, bagels, etc. • 3-4 g: Dried fruits • 3-5 g: Raw fruits and veggies

17. Recommendations: (Evidence-based) • Drink Water-It’s free! • Take supplements, or focus on nutrient dense foods with CA++, Vit D and B • Vitamins A, E, and C (antioxidants) • More “live” foods (veggies) • Juicers for better liquid nutrition • Balance, moderation (limit fats/sweets)

18. Balance... • Balance carbs, fats, proteins • Decreased need for protein* *Keep in mind the need for fiber, vitamins and minerals

19. Help your patients age well through better nutrition!