#Special #nutrition #geriatrics
Preventive medicine it is essential for a better quality of life, diet and exercise being the main pillars.
Unfortunately, the diet is not enough to make up for all the deficits that we accumulate with age.
That’s why we, nutritionists, recommend an intake of vitamins and minerals through food supplements.
In this article we will focus on increasing life expectancy in general and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, macular degeneration and we will do this with the help of supplements that support our body and immunity.
What is sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia is a natural phenomenon when we grow old.
After the age of 30, we start to lose between 3% and 5% of muscle mass per decade. Most men lose 30% of their muscle mass during their lifetime.
Less muscle mass means weakness, low tone and mobilitywhich increases the risk of trauma.
People with sarcopenia have a 3 times higher risk of fracture after a fall.
We all want to stay young and healthy as long as possible. Today we are discussing how we can delay the aging process as much as possible and what we can do about it.
1. Low level of omega-3 is a preventable risk factor
The lack of omega-3 is as harmful as the regular consumption of trans fats.
Omega-3 deficiency is responsible for 84,000 deaths per year in the United States. We avoid bad fats, but we don’t titrate our omega-3 levels, which are just as important.
An increased level increases brain volume and improves cognition. In addition, the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s decreases.
Thus, an optimal level of omega-3 increases life expectancy by 5 years.
vitamin D in combination with omega-3 and physical activity reduce the incidence of cancer by 61%, the required dose of omega-3 being 1 gram per day.
2. zinc reduces inflammation and protects us from infections
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that included 600 people over the age of 65 showed that people with optimal zinc levels have a lower risk of 39% lower mortality.
The lack of zinc leads to a compromised immunity and makes the body more susceptible to infections, the latter being the most frequent causes of mortality in the elderly.
Another study showed that zinc supplementation reduces the risk of pneumonia by 48%, moreover, it reduces the need for antibiotic treatment in the case of pneumonia and shortens the duration of convalescence.
3. One of the most important causes of aging is the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants
With the passage of time, the scale tilts towards oxidants that affect cells and lead to aging.
selenium is an extremely powerful antioxidant. It protects our body from various chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and reduces inflammation.
Selenium helps release glutathione, reduces free radicals and reduces DNA degradation. It is indispensable for the conversion of T4 from T3 (thyroid hormones), being even more important than iodine for normal thyroid function.
4. Sarcopenia represents the loss of muscle mass, strength and function and its replacement with adipose tissue
The decrease in muscle mass also leads to a slower metabolism and obesity.
The extra kilograms put pressure on the joints and prevent the cardiovascular system from working properly. Therefore, tension and inflammation will increase, and physical activity becomes difficult and we end up in a vicious circle.
The product Nopalin from Calivita contains nopal cactus extract rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, potassium and minerals such as calcium, as well as fiber. It contains 17 types of amino acids, of which 8 are essential.
Nopalin prevents fat absorption, induces satiety, decreases appetite and stabilizes blood sugar. Therefore, it effectively regulates body weight.
It also detoxifies the liver and pancreas, accelerates lipid metabolism, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides and thus reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Vegetable fibers regulate the production of gastric acid and protect the stomach, improve gastrointestinal function and clean the colon.
5. lutein is a phytonutrient and is the most important supplement for the visual system (especially for the retina) and brain
Lutein is excellent for the prevention of cognitive disorders. This antioxidant crosses the blood-brain barrier and is extremely important for brain protection.
Macular degeneration is a condition that occurs with age and can be delayed if you take lutein supplements such as Lutein Plus from Calivita.
All these supplements in combination with diet and exercise inspire confidence, optimism and offer us a much better quality of life.
Bibliographic sources
1.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17921398/
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8535577/
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4156923/
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