Aging and Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements play an important role as a complement to the possible lack of certain nutrients that are essential for the normal functioning of the human body. Vitamins and minerals are extremely important to prevent the onset of numerous diseases that threaten our quality of life.

When we are going through certain biological periods or we are exposed to a higher caloric expenditure than usual, either because we have included a greater load of physical activity in our daily routines or because our daily life demands it, it is possible that it is necessary to incorporate certain supplementation to make our body perform at its best.

In the case of old age, nutritional supplements can be of great help, since the body of an elderly person does not have the same metabolic capabilities as that of a young person. Our bone structure can suffer wear and tear during aging, while the capacity to retain valuable minerals, such as calcium, decreases significantly.

During the development of this guide we will be addressing the topic of nutritional supplements and the importance they play in combating the conditions that can arise during aging.

Vitamin and mineral replenishment

As we said before, one of the most harmful consequences for the human organism, of having to face the aging process, is that the changes in our metabolism make retaining vitamins and minerals much more complex than when we were young. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients of essential value for human beings. If they are lacking, the immune system degrades and the risk of getting sick easily increases.

These vitamins and minerals can normally be acquired through a balanced diet, incorporating nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. When we eat these foods, our body retains the micronutrients and macronutrients it needs to continue carrying out its biological functions normally. What happens is that in old age, the retention capacity of these nutrients is affected, which can lead to a nutritional deficit even when our diet is adequate.

Through nutritional supplements it is possible to complement the absence of nutrients in our body, thus protecting our immune system and ensuring that our body can develop its biological functions without any lack of the substances and compounds it needs to do so.

Should all elderly people take nutritional supplements?

The truth is that there is a false belief that just because we are going through old age, we need to supplement because we lack vitamins and minerals. Determining whether an older adult needs to take nutritional supplements is a task that only a health specialist can perform.

To accurately diagnose that there is a nutrient deficit requires medical tests in specialized laboratories, with simple observation is complex to appreciate the absence of certain nutrients. Although a doctor can, through observation, appreciate certain characteristic features of nutritional deficit, it is most likely that the routine medical checkup is the best way to diagnose more accurately.

Similarly, whatever the case may be, regular consultations with health personnel is a habit that should be encouraged among the elderly. During old age, our organism is faced with very abrupt biological changes, which means that we must be constantly watching over our state of health.