Aging and Your Metabolism, pt 1

Aging Necessitates Changing Diet

The energy stored in food is measured in terms of “calories”, which is a measurement tool for food just as inches or yards are a measurement for a specific distance. Calories measure the amount of energy contained in a food or beverage — whether it originates from a carbohydrate, fat, protein, or alcohol.

Whether young in age or elderly, we all need a certain number of calories for our bodies to function. Calories are the energy our body extracts from the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the food that we eat.  However, when dealing with elderly parents, we suggest a careful review of diet/nutritional needs of seniors.

While different foods contain different amounts of energy, a single fat calorie has the same amount of energy as a single protein or carbohydrate calorie. Your caloric intake must be balanced with activity to maintain a proper weight. Our elderly parents, who are prone to live a more sedentary lifestyle, should not over indulge in foods with “empty” food calories. Rather, a well-balanced diet which is high in vitamins and minerals will deliver an adequate amount of calories while providing the maximum amount of nutrients. A diet with too few vitamins and minerals may lead to chronic diseases.

The following foods are generally considered to contain mostly “empty calories” — foods or liquids that are lacking in nutrients and which may lead to weight gain:

— cake, cookies, sweets, candy, ice cream, soft drinks, fruit-flavored beverages and jello and other foods containing added sugar;
— refined grains, such as white bread or white rice;
— margarine or shortening; butter, and other saturated fats;
— beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

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