Preventing malnutrition in old age

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Malnutrition, or undernourishment, is a condition that occurs when the body’s requirements for energy and nutrients are not fulfilled through diet and drinks over a period of time. This leads to reduced protein and fat reserves in the body, loss of weight, reduced muscle and tissue mass, and vitamin and mineral deficiency.

Illnesses and diseases can directly or indirectly lead to malnutrition and, conversely, malnutrition can lead to increased risk of illness and complications following an illness. An illness may increase the need for nutrients, while reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, or it may lead to a loss of appetite – both of which may cause malnutrition.

Other reasons for malnourishment could be loss of appetite due to, as already mentioned, being less active or maybe because your taste buds have changed or aren’t functioning properly.

Who is at risk?

Malnutrition is usually not a problem in First World countries, but some groups, such as older people, are more at risk than others. Besides the elderly, people with poor general health, eating disorders or chronic long-term illnesses are also at risk for malnutrition, as are lonely people and alcoholics.

When the body is undernourished, it doesn’t have the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Typical adverse effects of malnourishment include fatigue, low body temperature, loss of muscle mass, loss of appetite, wounds taking longer to heal, poor blood circulation, osteoporosis, a weak immune system, and increased risk of infections. 

What you can do to prevent malnutrition in old age

There are several steps you can take to prevent malnutrition and create a healthy diet for yourself.  It’s important to have a nutritional plan with several and more nutrient-dense meals to ensure your nutritional requirements are met – especially when it comes to protein intake. If you eat little food, it’s good to add energy-boosting drinks such as full fat milk in your coffee, yoghurt, and smoothies.

Energy-boosting snacks

Sometimes you might be hungry but don’t feel like eating a full meal. This is where it helps to have healthy snacks on hand that don’t need much preparation. Some ideas for energy-boosting snacks are:

  • A handful of nuts, raisins and dried fruit
  • Ice-cream and other desserts
  • Yoghurt with berries
  • Avocado with prawns and mayonnaise
  • Hot chocolate and whipped cream
  • Soups with a base of full-fat milk or cooking cream
  • Waffles with sour cream and jam
  • Egg dishes

It’s a good idea to make a weekly menu plan. This will ensure you eat enough food and get an accurate daily intake of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In order to eat enough food, it’s important to create a good rhythm and avoid skipping meals.

Important nutrients

Nutrients such as vitamin D, iron, calcium, vitamin C and omega-3 are very important for your health. Good sources of these include

  • Calcium – from milk and dairy products such as yoghurt, cottage cheese, cultured dairy products and cheese
  • Vitamin D – from fatty fish, Möller’s Cod Liver Oil and skimmed milk
  • Iron – from wholegrain bread, liver paté, organ meats, meat and poultry
  • Vitamin C – from fruit, fruit juices, potatoes, berries and vegetables
  • Omega-3 – from fatty fish, Möller’s Cod Liver Oil and Möller’s Original Capsules

Drink enough water

It’s also important to drink enough water, a minimum of 1.5 litres every day. When your  cells have a fluid deficiency, you might feel thirsty. Always drink when you are thirsty to maintain a correct level of fluid in your body. It’s also easier to become dehydrated when you are older, which could be a result of adipsia (decreased or absent feelings of thirst). This condition could lead to headaches, poor appetite, loss of energy, and mental confusion. So make sure you drink plenty of water even if you aren’t thirsty!

It’s the sum total of what you eat and drink, and how much and how often you eat, that determines your overall health in the long run. Make sure to eat regularly so that you can keep healthy and avoid malnutrition in your golden years.

*The recommended daily intake of vitamin D increases for both men and women after 75 years of age, and the recommended daily intake of iron for women decreases from 15 to 9 mg/day after menopause.