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The Essential Nutrients you need as you Age

Aging is a powerful experience and a phase we all hope to attain. Despite the bliss that comes with getting older, the human body requires more nutrients especially micronutrients to support and maintain its normal body functions. While looking forward to more years in life, here are some nutrients your body needs as you age.

Calcium

As you age, you tend to lose more of this mineral than you absorb. This can make you more susceptible to osteoporosis particularly women in post-menopausal stage. Calcium is needed for a strong bone, and ensure proper function of the muscles, cells, and blood vessels. While dairy are excellent source of calcium such as milk, yogurt; you can also get the mineral from dark leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.

Vitamin B12

This vitamin helps produce blood and nerve cells. Though supplementation is a common source of getting the vitamin, you can get vitamin B12 naturally from eggs, fish, meat, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin D

Also known as the sunshine vitamin; the sun is a common source of getting this vitamin, but your body is less able to convert the sun ray’s to vitamin D as you age. Vitamin D helps with proper functioning of your muscles, nerves, and immune system. Also, your body needs this vitamin to absorb calcium in your diet. Although it’s more complex to get vitamin D from foods, but you can get them form foods such as mushroom, salmon, and sardines.

Magnesium

Magnesium helps the body synthesize protein and bone, and as well stabilize your blood sugar. Excellent sources of magnesium are nuts, seeds, and leafy greens. Sufficient intake of foods high in magnesium has been shown to have numerous health benefits.

Probiotics

The importance of taking the friendly bacteria cannot be over-stretched. They are beneficial to your gut health by aiding digestion and preventing irritable bowel syndrome. You can get them from foods such as yogurt or from supplements. Remember to speak with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.