Men and women over the age of 50 require a Vitamin D supplement due to the body getting older. In addition to Canada’s Food Guide, everyone over the age of 50 should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 µg (400 IU). Vitamin D and calcium are important for bone strength and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in older adults.
As we age, our ability to produce vitamin D through sun skin exposure is reduced. Therefore, it is recommended all adults over the age of 50 take a daily vitamin D supplement.
Why do we need Vitamin D?
Vitamin D maintains bone health. The major role of vitamin D is the maintenance of serum calcium and phosphate concentrations within the normal range (IOM, 1997). Improved muscle strength, reduced fracture rates, and reduced rates of falling have been associated with higher levels of vitamin D in the body. Another role of Vitamin D plays in the prevention of some cancers and offer a protective effect against certain autoimmune diseases.
The major sources of vitamin D are fortified foods. In Canada, cow’s milk and margarine must be fortified with vitamin D. Goat’s milk, fortified plant based beverages (ex. fortified soy beverages), and some calcium-fortified orange juices are permitted to be fortified with vitamin D. Cheese and yogurt can be made with vitamin D-fortified milk, however, the final product does not contain as much vitamin D as fluid milk alone. The only natural sources of vitamin D in the Canadian food supply are fatty fish and egg yolks.
Seniors who have diabetes should know what questions to ask about their disease. Since there are different types of diabetes and each type affects seniors in a different manner, the questions that are asked are very important. The following list can help seniors determine what the right questions are to ask.
1. Asking the right questions can provide seniors with the right information to better enable them to manage the disease.
2. Seniors are urged to discuss all of their symptoms. While they may seem harmless, some symptoms could indicate other health problems.
3. Seniors who have diabetes will receive treatment for these symptoms, not the cause of the disease. This is why it is important for all seniors to know and recognize any new symptoms.
4. There are many questions in regards to the cause of diabetes, however, at this time, the answer consists of a very long list. There are so many factors that are involved and each person can have the disease because of different reasons.
5. Diabetes is manageable, so seniors must take the right steps to make sure they are receiving the correct treatment for their type of the disease. This includes asking questions about treatment options.
If your Dad was always impatient with the grill and burned steaks and chicken beyond recognition, you might offer helping him to cook this Father’s Day. We recommend keeping him out of the kitchen and away from the grill by offering recipes you can simply cook for him!
Enjoy the following recipes for Father’s Day courtesy of the Winnipeg-based Granny’s Poultry co-operative, started more than 50 years ago by a small group of rural Manitoba farmers who wanted to to ensure fair pricing for the consistently high quality poultry they raised. Throughout the years the co-operative grew and now encompasses several provinces including Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario, with Granny’s new omega-3 products becoming available soon across the prairies and Western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. (Grannys.ca)
Maintaining health is one of the most important things for seniors. Many seniors do not take the necessary steps to stay healthy. The following list can offer some great tips for seniors who are looking to improve their health and maintain it. Seniors who have existing medical conditions also need to take extra measures to ensure their health. These tips can be very beneficial.
1. Health is affected by your environment, including diet, stress, water, radiation, trauma and exercise. Seniors should know how to alter these things to prevent health issues and maintain good health.
2. Blood tests can detect immune issues as well as inflammation. Precautionary blood tests can help senior health.
3. Hormones that are not balanced can cause medical issues.
4. Many seniors have digestive issues that prevent them from eating healthy foods. Try to diagnose this problem and get treatment, and then devise a healthy diet.
5. Detoxify your body for ultimate health.
6. Seniors who have low energy levels will be more prone to illness. Boosting metabolism can be done by taking a daily vitamin supplement. This can help prevent many diseases and illnesses.
7. Having a positive outlook on things can improve physical health. Happy seniors tend to be healthier, so try to stay involved in hobbies and stay socially active.
One major part of maintaining good health as a senior is making sure you are eating the right foods. Having a healthy and well rounded diet can improve over-all health. It is important for seniors to make sure they get enough essential nutrients in their diet each and every day. The following list contains some benefits of eating healthy.
1. Eating healthy will help to reduce the risks of chronic illness in many seniors.
2. Seniors require fewer calories than younger adults, but they require more nutrients. Since seniors do not eat as much, what they do eat must have nutritional value.
3. Having a diet that includes fruits and vegetables could help prevent respiratory disease, vision loss and cataracts. It can even help prevent some types of cancer.
4. Poor nutrition can cause a decline in the function of the immune system. This can leave seniors at risk of becoming ill.
5. Seniors need to make sure they have a healthy diet. In addition, seniors who eat alone often experience poor nutrition. Seniors should eat with another, whether it is a spouse, family member or friend.
6. If a senior has poor oral health, this can affect their ability to eat properly, which can lead to many health problems.
There are greater risks in abusing alcohol and drugs in older adulthood, and older Canadians are not exempt. In order to get a sample of just how prevalent the use of alcohol and prescription drugs is amongst Canadian seniors, a survey was completed in New Brunswick, with 1000 seniors participating. There were a number of trends in the findings that have been consistent across the country. The survey involved older adults aged 55+
• 50% of seniors drink – over 50% of seniors claim to have had a drink within the last 12 months, though approximately 25% claim that they have never consumed alcohol and another 25% have not had a drink in the last year
• Drinking declines with age – more seniors reported drinking within the past year between the ages of 55 and 64, while the numbers declined in those up to a decade older. The numbers decline even further in those 75 and older
• More men drink than women – a greater number of men reported drinking alcohol, despite the fact that more women participated in the survey.
• Married people are more likely to drink – surprisingly, more people living with a spouse drink than those who are living alone following divorce or death
• Little daily drinking – only about 5% of seniors admitted to drinking daily. Less than 2% claimed to drink 5 or more drinks in a sitting daily or weekly
Mississauga seniors and their families were told last night that it’s important for people to stay active as they age.
Doing so can help fight off frailty and medical complications arising from inactivity, the group at Regency Retirement Residence in Port Credit was told at the kick-off of a public awareness program designed to keep seniors fit.
Greg Bechard, a seniors’ care expert with Home Instead Senior Care, a provider of non-medical home care for Mississauga seniors, delivered the presentation. He said a lack of activity can lead to a downward spiral of poor health resulting in frailty, which threatens the mind, body and social life of older adults.
“We see many seniors who are trapped in their homes because they are too weak to perform the activities they must do to remain safe and independent,” said Bechard. “That’s why staying active is a prerequisite for healthy aging, but addressing these issues can be a challenge for many families.”
A survey of Canadians age 65+ conducted by Home Instead Senior Care found that the two top challenges the elderly face are maintaining their independence and staying physically active. Other challenges of managing finances, eating healthy and keeping socially engaged, while important, were further down the list.
Bechard also provided his audience with a list of activities to help with the mind, body and soul.
Mississauga Elder Care helps aging adults stay safe, active and healthy in their own homes.
Seniors need to make sure they have a well balanced diet. At least five servings of fruits and vegetables should be consumed each day. This may sound like a lot, but it is very easy to add an extra serving during a meal. Below are some tips that can help seniors make sure they are getting their daily servings. Fruits and vegetables are essential to senior health.
1. At breakfast time, use fruits to top cereals and yogurt. Drinking fresh orange juice is a great way to get an additional serving of fruits and vegetables.
2. Adding a piece of fruit to a lunch can help increase energy in the middle of the day while adding a fruit serving. Seniors can use celery sticks in lieu of a piece of fruit. When making sandwiches, add tomato, cucumber and pepper.
3. Salads can make for a nutritious dinner. Try to add new vegetables to a weekly menu. Having different kinds of vegetables in a diet is beneficial since not every vegetable contains the same nutrients.
4. When making any meal, use fresh fruit or vegetables as a garnish. This will dress up the dish but will also add an extra serving of fruits and vegetables.
5. Many seniors snack during the day. Try to refrain from sweets and fatty foods. Choose a piece of fresh fruit. When drinking, try to opt for a fruit or vegetable juice instead of a soft drink.
Mississauga Home Care helps aging adults stay safe, active and healthy in their own homes.
When seniors go food shopping, they should make sure that the foods they are buying are healthy. Many times it is easy to just pick up a few frozen dinners and call it quits. While this is acceptable, the foods that are chosen should contain necessary nutrients. Seniors should take some extra time to make sure they are buying healthy products. The list below offers some useful tips for senior shoppers.
1. Always read the labels. Seniors need to make sure that what they are buying is nutritious. When shopping for healthy food, look at the daily values provided. For a food to be considered healthy, it must contain at least 10% of important nutrients that make up daily values.
2. When buying vegetables, look for the darkest color possible. Dark green and red indicates nutritious produce. The dark color signifies the presence of antioxidants and important vitamins, such as A, E and C. These vegetables also contain calcium, folic acid and other important nutrients.
3. If seniors insist on buying TV dinners, make sure to choose a frozen meal that has less than 10 grams of fat content. Some frozen pasta meals contain protein, iron and Vitamin D. Look for a product that has low amounts of cholesterol and sodium.
4. Seniors should not shop on an empty stomach. This could result in buying foods that are not healthy. Also, when buying any poultry, choose a skinless product.
