Is it true that Seniors, who manage to reach their mid eighties and beyond, without succumbing to debilitating diseases, have a nutritional secret? Is it their life-style as well as their diet that contributes to their longevity?
I do not know the answers! I do know that the Seniors I have lived with, each had their own unique way of dealing with the advancing years and each had their own attitude towards life, living, and "growing old". Now that I am a fledgling Senior, I am starting to review their beliefs and ideas to see what I can glean from that knowledge about elderly nutrition.
All the Seniors I have lived with were born during the period of World War 1 through to the mid 1930's. Cultural backgrounds varied dramatically. Economic backgrounds ranged from well-to-do to abject poverty. Family life went through the entire urban/rural gamut. Educational achievements went from Grade 2 only up to PhD's. There was only one single element in all of their lives that I saw as a common thread amongst them - their attitude towards life. Life was an exhilarating experience to be enjoyed to the fullest.
To enjoy life, health is paramount. Eating well and a vigorous daily routine were considered to be of essence. Nutrition had many definitions as did what constituted a "vigorous" daily routine. In the end it is clear that "elderly nutrition" is really "people nutrition."
Vegetables from the garden, for those fortunate enough to raise their own produce, was a nutritional staple. For the urban dwellers, they compensated in latter years by concentrating on the "organically" grown vegetables. All of the Seniors I have known were firm believers in natural foods.
Meat in their diet was also interesting. Red meat such as beef, was rare. Far more prominent was fish/fowl. Other cultures had goat/lamb. Even the "meat and potatoes" die-hards reduced their red-meat intake to once a week. Whether they did this through knowledge or through instinct is debatable. As some were "illiterate", they certainly did not peruse any literature dealing with nutritional facts and figures. I know that some just said "I'm listening to my body and my body doesn't like it!".
Another interesting fact - none of the Seniors I have lived with partook of "fast foods" or soda drinks. I tried to introduce my parents to the wonders of a Big Mac, fries and gravy. Needless to say, the compost pile received an unwanted addition. Dad wasn't even sure that he wanted to add that stuff to his compost!
To balance their nutritional requirements with respect to the climes they resided in, the Seniors I have known, all took "supplements". In the north, the lack of fruit dictated Vitamin C and D (good old Cod-Liver Oil!). In the south, I remember Vitamin A, Calcium, Vitamin E. (N.B. Not sure of my memory here, they may have taken more). Elderly nutrition sounds more and more like ageless and wise nutrition.
As to "vigorous" daily exercise - that had as many variations as nutrition. This varied from extreme physical exercise through extreme mental exercise with the entire gamut in between. I doubt if any two would agree on what was required. Each thought they had the "correct" combination of mental and physical exercise.
For example, my Mom did mental gymnastics, read prodigiously, composed music, played music, wrote books, etc. She had destroyed her knee hiking in the mountains with us when she was still in her early 60's. Ergo, she shunned physical movement in her latter years and restricted her exercise to short walks on fairly level pathways. Dad, on the other hand, was always a physical being. Being outside and "working" was his life-style. Sitting in-doors while there was day-light left, was an anathema. When he reached his latter 70's, he did concede to "no more work after supper" and would listen to Mom read aloud, or music, or he would play Scrabble or Boggle or ... When they both were in their early 80's, Dad would do his morning walk, a strenuous 2 hour hike, rain or shine or sleet or snow, and would then walk with Mom on her gentle ½ hour stroll.
Currently, I know a Senior, who at 84, is not only active mentally and physically but is also active on the Internet! She has started her own blog! She describes herself as a "Life Enthusiast" which I find to be a very appropriate term. For her, nutrition is not "elderly nutrition" but rather, it is at the very root of her long and healthy existence. Not only has she maintained her own health via her regime but she has also actively assisted others in regaining their health. An impressive lady!
She's not only impressive-this lady has a truckload of "secrets" about living well and making the Age Demon wait as long as possible. Get her views firsthand on Elderly Nutrition at http://itdonthavetobethatway.info - it's an informative and entertaining site.
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