As we grow older, we may not receive sufficient vitamins and minerals in order to stay healthy and be in good shape. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as not preparing the right meals and not being able to consume certain foods. However, it’s not all bad news as we can gain those vitamins to meet our nutritional needs by consuming pills and supplements. Not only are these pills easy to purchase from many grocery and health food stores, but they’re also a quick and easy way for our bodies to get those vitamins. Of course, before getting your hands on any supplements, it’s important to consult your doctors first or any certified healthcare professional to prevent any side effects from occurring. If you would like to know what are the common vitamins for older adults above 60 years old, continue reading.
Multivitamin
As the name suggests, a multivitamin is a blend of many vitamins into one single pill. Compared to individual vitamins, a multivitamin only contains a small dose of each vitamin in order to fill in the nutritional gaps in your diet. Most of the time, you can find vitamin K, vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, and calcium in a multivitamin, all of which play an important role in strengthening our bodies and immune systems to lead an active lifestyle. If you’re unsure of which specific vitamin to get, a multivitamin is a good start in introducing your body to supplements. However, do note that high doses of any kind of vitamins can do more harm than good.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies when we’re exposed to sunlight. However, as we grow older, we may find ourselves having fewer opportunities to head outdoors, which leads to vitamin D deficiency. Lack of vitamin D can result in many negative effects, such as cognitive decline, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. As such, it’s important for our bodies to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D in order to protect ourselves from diseases, as well as to strengthen our bones to decrease the likelihood of fractures and injuries in case of falls. If you aren’t looking to consume pills and supplements, you can get vitamin D from most dairy products like milk and eggs, alongside fish, specifically salmon.
Calcium
Considering that the number one injury among older adults is falls, this makes it even more crucial for the elderly to consume enough calcium in their diet. Calcium deficiency is what causes brittle bones, which means that you’re more likely to suffer from fractures and broken bones in the case of accidents. Some people may even suffer from osteoporosis, a bone disease. As such, besides taking calcium pills, you can incorporate more calcium-rich foods into your meals, such as tuna, cheese, yogurt, and spinach, to name a few.
Vitamin C
Another important vitamin is vitamin C, which helps in improving our overall immune system and health. In fact, vitamin C carries many benefits, namely supporting the growth and repair of body tissues, forming collagen, absorbing iron, healing wounds, and basically maintaining the bones and teeth. Therefore, it’s safe to say that vitamin C is what allows us to go about our day healthily. While many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, the easiest way to do so is by consuming a supplement, one that contains preferably around 75 to 90 milligrams of the vitamin.
