Senior Health

Aging With Vitality

Vibrant Lives Without Metabolic Syndrome

Did you know that almost 50 percent of older Americans are malnourished? There is no doubt that age brings new health challenges. Our bodies become weaker, more sensitive to fatigue and disease; our looks change, and most importantly, our organs become sluggish or unable to complete their vital functions. Unfortunately, what we gain in wisdom we lose in vitality.

Aging and Nutrition

Malnutrition falls into two categories: Undernutrition which is defined as a state of deficiency. Overnutrition is characterized by excessive calorie intake of macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates), or an imbalance of energy and nutrients. Each category presents its own health challenges.

When our bodies do not receive the nutrients necessary to carry out the metabolic processes, chronic disease and a breakdown in overall health and wellness follow. Malnutrition can span a whole gamut of symptoms that mimic serious illnesses. Fatigue and depression are usually the first signs, followed by hair loss, change in skin color and tone, bleeding gums, bruising and so many more.

In our society, the most common cause of nutrient deficiency is overnutrition, when people consume too much food high in calories and low in nutrients. This condition leads to obesity and all of its ramifications. Many seniors who live alone, however, are malnourished because they don’t eat enough. Either they suffer from loss of appetite or lack of access to healthy food. In this late stage of life, a lot of seniors also experience a decrease in salivary secretion, which makes eating uncomfortable. The use of medication may decrease appetite or nutrient absorption. Digestive health (loss of enzymes, digestive secretions, impoverished colonic flora), may also affect nutrition status. Psychosocial factors, such as depression, loneliness, and cognitive and physical impairments also affect nutrition. The bottom line is, overnutrition and undernutrition both result in malnutrition.

Malnutrition leads to impairment in many bodily functions. Undernutrition can result in reduced cognition (cerebral functions), loss of muscle mass, or sarcopenia. Lack of antioxidants can trigger inflammation, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of infection. Depression, chronic fatigue, and other physiological impairments can reduce the quality of life and result in more dependence on others. Overnutrition can lead to metabolic syndrome: heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, and even cancer.

How to Manage Senior Nutrition

The first step is to do a screening to identify the deficiencies. Then conduct a lifestyle assessment of the senior patient and create a nutrition plan tailored to her needs that fits her daily routine. An elderly lady I worked with, Charlotte, was developing type 2 diabetes at 85. When I asked her about her eating habits, she said she ate at a fast food restaurant daily. It was close to her house, so she went there after her morning walk; she met with a couple of friends there for lunch several times a week. We replaced the fast food restaurant with another venue, I showed her how to make a smoothie and take it with her on her morning walk, along with changes to the rest of her diet. 3 months later, her doctor took her off the diabetes medication and she lived at home until she passed away at 92.

Another lady called us because her father was losing weight and refused to eat. After an initial consultation and a series of questions to understand why he shied away from food, I discovered that he had very little saliva and had difficulty chewing. I recommended nutritious meals high in calories but always with liquids. Dishes such as soups, creamy desserts, thick beverages (chocolate smoothies boosted with protein and nuts), mashed potatoes, vegetable purees, and creamy fruit such as mangos, papaya, canned tangerines, peaches, pears, are all easy to chew with little saliva requirements. We also added supplements to give his body a boost in case he suffered from malabsorption. It took 3 months for him to gain 10 pounds but it made a huge difference in his well-being. He resumed his daily walks, was joking and laughing again, and took only one afternoon nap.

Senior Wellness Program

To make sure you truly enjoy the years you have worked so hard for, we have designed a program just for seniors: Senior Wellness and Anti-Aging Program (SWAAP) that takes into account all aspects of health with particular attention to the digestive system—which is a gateway to your overall health. We also do micronutrient testing to check for deficiencies that are not easily detectable (vitamin D, folate, B12, iron, magnesium, etc…) By reversing nutrient deficiencies, adopting a healthy diet, and adding an exercise routine, seniors can live many happy years and maintain their independence.

The good news is there are ways to make this stage of life easier and more fun! You can add life to your years— not just years to your life.

Our client Stephen suffered from Metabolic Syndrome for years. After going through SWAAP, he can now play with his grandson without feeling lethargic or exhausted. Check out his testimony.