These days, there are so many varieties and brands of dietary supplements on the market, and many who consume several supplements every day, but is it really necessary?
While these supplements can be useful for people who lack certain essential vitamins and minerals, it is recommended that people try to produce these nutrients naturally through the food they consume.
However, as people grow older, the way their body absorbs certain nutrients can change, making it difficult to use the amount of food they need. For this reason, some dietary supplements may be useful for older adults.
Some health experts say that dietary supplements may be encouraged in older adults.
Tips for taking supplements
According to the National Aging and Health Line Institute, there are some useful things to know before taking a dietary supplement.
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Talk to your doctor before deciding to take a dietary supplement to treat your health. Some supplements can cause side effects or interfere with medicines.
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Choose additional brands recommended by a doctor, nutritionist or pharmacist.
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Choose brands that have carried out third -party attempts to ensure safety, purity and quality as supplements do not have to be approved by the FDA. You can check this by searching for a stamp on the packaging from organizations such as NSF International, USP or Conserlab.
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Check the ingredient list and do not buy products with a large amount of sugar, additives or fillers.
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Follow a healthy lifestyle; Follow a healthy diet, keep your mind active, consult your doctor regularly and be physically active.
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Too much vitamin or mineral can be harmful.
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Try that most of your vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are derived from your food.
Which supplements can be useful for older adults?
Calcium
Calcium is a necessary mineral that plays a key role in bone health, which is important to everyone, including old age. This can help preserve the density of the bone, especially if you do not make enough calcium through food.
According to Healthline, women have a higher risk of osteoporosis – bone loss – aging.
There are several types of calcium supplements that should be used differently. Calcium carbonate supplements should be used with food, but calcium citrate supplements are easier to absorb and do not need to be used with food in each health line.
You can include more calcium in your diet without taking supplements with tofu, broccoli, collard greens, cabbage and various dairy products. You can also find foods that add calcium, such as breakfast grain, for each National Institute for Aging.
Vitamin d
Vitamin D is often referred to as “solar vitamin” because it is a fat -soluble vitamin that your skin produces exposed to the sun.
According to the National Aging Institute, most Americans use less than the recommended vitamin. D. This is because very few food sources are vitamin.
Older adults are often at risk of vitamin D deficiency because they tend to avoid sun -like exposure due to risk or skin cancer or simply spend less time outdoors than younger people.
Vitamin D can also help your body absorb calcium, and some supplements contain both vitamin D and calcium.
Vitamin D supplements can help increase muscle mass, strengthen immune function and reduce depression symptoms for each health line.
You can include more vitamin D in your diet without taking supplements by eating yogurt, milk, fatty fish, beef liver and mushrooms. There are also some breakfast grains that are vitamin D-for-function.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps maintain your red blood cells and nerve health at the National Institute of Aging.
Older adults need the same amount of vitamin as other adults, but some of them find it difficult to absorb vitamin B12 naturally from food. Doctors may recommend those who have this problem, take supplement or eat reinforced grain with added vitamin.
Because vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods, vegetarians and vegans is at a higher risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency.
You can include vitamin B12 in your diet without taking supplements by eating poultry, meat, molluscs, milk and eggs through aarp. Too much vitamin can be dangerous.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is essential for the body’s ability to form red blood cells.
According to the National Institute of Aging, men 51 years and older should consume 1.7 mg of vitamin per day, and women of that age need 1.5 mg.
You can include more vitamin B6 in your diet without eating salmon, eggs, bananas, milk, chickpeas and avocado in each health line. Vitamin can also be found in potatoes and other starchy vegetables.