Nutrition is Important at All Stages of Life

No matter what stage of life we are in, it is extremely important that we follow a healthy and well-balanced diet. Good nutrition is one of the building blocks of our bodies, and all foods are broken down by our bodies into three main components: proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Have you ever been told that it is okay to eat sugar calories, because the body burns them faster than fat calories? This is a complete myth. The body burns all foods in the same manner, and once it is broken down, it will be used immediately by the body as energy or stored as fat.

Stages of Life

Throughout the stages of our lives, we go through changes and often need different amounts of certain nutrients in our diets. The major stages of the human life are infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Then of course, there is pregnancy, which brings with it a host of additional nutritional needs to keep mother and baby healthy throughout the pregnancy. During all of the stages of our lives, we need to have calories in our diets from proteins, carbohydrates and fats, for growth, muscle and tissue growth and recovery and more. For example, infants need these nutrients for proper brain development and to have a proper growth pattern. The first year of life is when all humans grow at the quickest rate, therefore, many nutrients are needed to support this growth.

Our nutritional needs change throughout our lives due to such factors as growth and activity levels. Middle-aged people tend to need fewer calories since their metabolism is beginning to slow down, but they will still need to get the proper amount of nutrients that will keep them healthy. One way to do this is by using nutritional supplements, which contain protein and a number of vitamins and other nutrients. Protein supplements are a great way to get the nutrients you need without adding fat, carbohydrates and calories to your diet.

The Nutritional Needs of Adult Women

By the time we reach the age of 20, the amount of calories we need daily begins to decrease, about five to ten percent for every decade of life. This means that a menopausal woman will only need about two thirds of the calories that she did as a teen and young adult.

Even though women need fewer calories as they age, they still need to get the right amount of specific nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and the B vitamins. Sometimes, in order to get all of the nutrients they need, particularly protein, many women opt for using protein supplements.

By following a healthy diet that includes protein supplements, we can be assured that we are going to grow old gracefully. In fact, eating healthy will allow us to remain active well into our senior years barring any unforeseen use of walkers and canes, and good nutrition is also good for maintaining good eyesight.

There are three nutrients that we all need for survival, one of those being protein. This is the nutrient that helps to build and maintain strong muscles and tissues, and without enough protein, we are susceptible to a number of health conditions, including heart disease and kidney disease.

Senior Citizens and Proper Nutrition

It is extremely important that we get the proper nutrition, especially as we age. Unfortunately, many senior citizens are not getting the nutrition that they need to remain healthy and active. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:

– Not having enough money

– Not having access to healthy foods

– Not being able to go grocery shopping themselves

– Not having properly fitting dentures

– Physical conditions that cause the body not to absorb certain nutrients

– Dementia or senility

Often, many senior citizens change their eating habits and stop eating many of the foods that they once ate, either for the reasons listed above or just because of the fact that their tastes have changed and they no longer like certain foods. Many dementia and Alzheimer’s patients often forget to eat, which can cause them to “waste away” because they are not getting the nutrition that they need to remain healthy. It is often difficult to keep these patients healthy, and often, nutritional supplements are used to ensure that the patients are getting all of the nutrients they need.

There are a number of other protein supplements available as well, including protein powders, which are available in chocolate, vanilla, berry, fruit punch and other flavors and can be used to make awesome protein-rich shakes and smoothies. Flavorless protein powders are available as well, and they can be added to many of your favorite recipes. There are also many liquid protein supplements, many of which are pre-mixed so they are portable and can be taken anywhere. But many of these liquid supplements are only available in 10-ounce servings, making them bulky and awkward to carry easily or to tuck into a purse or backpack.