How Your Nutrition Needs Change As You Get Older

How Your Nutrition Needs Change As You Get Older

As we age, our bodies undergo significant changes that can affect every aspect of health, including how it processes nutrients. Understanding these changes is crucial for maintaining vitality and wellness in your later years. 

But what exactly shifts in your nutritional needs as you grow older, and how can you adapt to keep feeling your best? The team at Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists (IPRMS) in Arlington, Virginia, is here to clue you in!

Our interventional pain and regenerative care providers are dedicated to helping you manage the natural aging process through comprehensive age management services. We believe that with the right support, it's possible to maintain health and vitality well into your senior years. 

To address the unique health challenges that arise with age, we use an integrated approach, including advanced treatments like regenerative medicine, hormone therapy, and targeted nutritional support with IV therapy,

Take a moment to learn about the key nutritional changes that happen as you age and the ways our practice can help you manage them effectively.    

Why do nutritional needs change with age?

As you get older, your metabolism slows down, which can lead to decreased energy needs. At the same time, your body’s ability to absorb and use essential nutrients also diminishes.

This means that even though you might need fewer calories, your need for certain vitamins and minerals actually increases. As a result, many seniors develop nutritional deficiencies, which can affect your overall health and quality of life. 

What are some common nutritional deficiencies in older adults?

While everyone is different, here’s a look at some of the most common nutritional deficiencies seniors experience:

Vitamin B12

This vitamin plays an important role in nerve function, the production of DNA and red blood cells, and your cognitive health. 

Older adults often struggle with absorbing enough B12 because of decreased stomach acid, which is necessary for B12 absorption from food. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, memory impairment, and mood changes.

Calcium

As one of the most important minerals for bone health, calcium needs increase with age. This need often goes unmet in seniors due to a combination of poor dietary intake and lesser absorption efficiency. 

Insufficient calcium can lead to reduced bone density and increased risk of bone loss, leading to issues such as osteoporosis, fracture, and more.

Vitamin D

Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is essential for bone health as it helps your body absorb calcium. However, with age, the skin's ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight decreases.

At the same time, your kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D into its active form. This contributes to the higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures in seniors.

Potassium

Many older adults don’t eat enough potassium-rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. And since absorption decreases with age, this leads to seniors experiencing potassium deficiencies at a higher rate than younger populations.

Potassium is especially important as you get older since research shows it plays an important role in many health conditions relevant to senior wellness, including hypertension, heart disease, and osteoporosis. 

Recognizing these deficiencies early is key to preventing more serious complications, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and decreased immune function. 

At IPRMS, our specialists offer personalized nutritional strategies and targeted treatments to address and correct these deficiencies effectively.

How can age management help?

Age management isn't just about treating symptoms—it's about preventing them. At IPRMS, our providers focus on holistic health strategies that include a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient rest, all tailored to your individual needs as you age. 

These proactive measures enhance your mobility, mental acuity, physical fitness, and nutritional status, contributing to a higher quality of life.

About the role of IV therapy

IV therapy offers a unique advantage in managing age-related nutritional deficiencies. 

Since seniors are more likely to have issues with nutrient absorption, delivering vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream ensures that these essential nutrients are more effectively used by your body. 

Our customized IV therapy cocktails boost your levels of critical nutrients, supporting your overall health and helping combat the natural effects of aging.

If you’re noticing changes in your health as you age or just want to prepare for the future, consider how our age management services can make a difference. 

Schedule a consultation online or over the phone at Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists in Northern Virginia today!

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