The song “Young at Heart” and the phrase “you are only as young as you feel!” were coined in America and can be heard by millions from coast to coast, however the current population demographic firmly point towards the opposite direction: aging.

Currently, the 65+ population comprises slightly more than 12% (35 million) of the total US population. By 2030, this percentage is predicted to almost double to just below 20% (71 million)[i]. To put it another way, an unprecedented demographic will exist in the US within a generation : 1 in every 5 Americans will be older than 65.

The good news is that because of this more individuals are living longer and healthier lives than before. But this also presents American society with some very real health-related issues that must be solved as well.

To deal with the inevitability of an aging demographic, different sectors are frenetically positioning themselves with the intention to attempt to cope with it. Lobbying to extend the awareness and seek assets to assist age-related conditions such as faulty dentures and reduced saliva-flow conditions[ii]. The allied health care field is similarly struggling to develop the needed resources, such as more doctors and nurses, so as to tackle the upcoming and overwhelming demand for old age-related surgical procedures and other health care commodities[iii].

Yet while the dental and health sectors strive to adjust to this demographic pattern, the nutritional sector has not kept pace. One look at any health food store shelf will show you energy bars and powders which are (judging by the pictures of their merchandising materials) appropriate only for the high-performance need of young and active consumers. At the same time the nutrition sector has not really tried to dispel the myth that macronutrients (protein,fats and carbohydrates) are very important parts of a nutritious diet no matter what the age of the consumer is.

This apparent common neglect of the senior community’s nutritional needs is only just being seen recently as the population ages and the baby boomers, which number around 76 million strong, are inching towards retirement. However, it’s inevitable that this service gap will develop into larger as the future unfolds. Essentially, tens of millions of seniors are going to need to find new and revolutionary nutrition options possibly for the first time in their lives.

The prospects that face a 65-year-old searching for a nutrition solution are in some ways the same as those going through a 25-year-old: there are an array of promised options available on the market, including energy bars, drinks, and supplements.

However, the similarities between an average 25-year-old and a 65-year-old end there because whereas the former can still afford the time to experiment, the latter doesn’t have the same luxury. In other words, a 25-year-old consumer might add energy bars to their eating routine and realize in a couple of months that theyre really eating glorified, calorie-rich candy bars. The same luxury doesn’t apply for a 65-year-old consumer who does not have room to make any sort of mistake in terms of their nutritional options. It is paramount that their decisions be relevant and correct from the very begining, especially since older individuals usually suffer from diminished appetites, and often have fewer access to balanced nutrition than younger people.

The nutritional sector must accept and own this serious problem. This means that more than simple consciousness is required, actual tangible solutions are required. The fundamental fact is that senior citizens like all other age groups require balanced nutrition, and for a lot of of them, the best and most convenient method to access it is through supplements.

This much-delayed consciousness does seem, however, to be abating. bodily activity level, are constantly being created by revolutionary companies. This suitability is the result of a rigorously balanced protein blend that captures all essential amino acids. Since many seniors continue to lose nitrogen and thus protein as they age, it is incredibly important that seniors access methods to compensate for this gradual loss.

Carbohydrate-free, fat-free, and low-calorie nutritional supplements might help senior citizens to steer clear of accumulating undesirable body fat which might weaken muscle mass and sap the body’s strength and energy levels. Furthermore, it’s additionally ideal if the dietary supplements are served in liquid form to be able to permit seniors with dentures or tooth concerns to easily consume them without hassle.

America has an aging population and that’s a fact. It is not an opinion that is up for debate or an educated guess that’s up for experimentation. It’s already happening as we speak and it’s vital that America’s seniors be provided with options so that they’ll proceed to lead happy and eventful lives. The dental and health care fields are already hard at work positioning themselves, as best that they can right now, to absorb this unprecedented demographic change. Courtesy of a few but hopefully growing number of senior citizen-friendly products, there’s reason to believe that the nutrition field is well on its way to be added unto this list.

References

[i] Source: “Public Health an Aging: Trends in Aging – United States and Worldwide”. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5206a2.htm

[ii] Source: “Caring for America’s Aging Smiles”. Healthfinder. http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=521247

[iii] Source: “Aging Population Creating Higher Demand for Surgery”. ANNews. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2003/08/25/prsc0825.htm

[iv] Source: “Baby Boomers Envision Their Retirement: an AARP Segmentation Analysis”. AARP. http://research.aarp.org/econ/boomer_seg_prn.html

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for dialysis patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

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