As the new year and Chinese New Year festivities approach, it’s the perfect time to show your elderly family members and friends how much you care about their well-being. Proper nutrition becomes increasingly challenging as people age 50 and beyond, making high-quality supplements vital to maintaining health and wellness. Explore the must-have supplements experts recommend supporting the elderly in the new year and beyond
(1) Calcium
Calcium and vitamin D are essential elements for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth and sending nerve signals to muscles and blood vessels to contract. If the elderly cannot get sufficient calcium from their diet, it may lead to brittle bones and fractures. Women and men over 50 are suggested to take 1,200mg and 1,000 mg each day, respectively. The elderly can also consume milk, milk products, or fish instead.
(2) Vitamin D
Vitamin D can help absorb calcium. You can get enough vitamin D by exposing your bare skin to sunlight for 30 minutes twice a week. The elderly can eat more vitamin D-fortified milk, fatty fish, or canned tuna to take sufficient vitamin D. People over 50 require 600 IU of vitamin D a day.
(3) Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is important to make red blood cells and keep nerves healthy. When you age, you may suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency. The elderly produce less stomach acid, which will cause less vitamin B12 absorption from the diet. It can lead to anemia and fatigue. We can consume food proteins from dairy and eggs to get sufficient vitamin B12. People aged over 50 are suggested to take 2.4 mcg daily.
(4) Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is essential for producing red blood cells. It also significantly helps metabolism and the immune system. Our body cannot create vitamin B6, but we can get it from bananas, soy products, whole grains, or meat. Men are suggested to take 1.7 mg, and women take 1.5 mg each day.
