Taking Dietary Supplements as a Senior: 5 Things You Need to Know

As someone who’s getting a little older and might be considered “a senior,” taking care of yourself becomes far more important. With a young man or woman, the body was far more forgiving of late nights on the town and eating poorly. However, that’s not the case as you age – particularly when becoming a senior.

At the point when you’re past the half-century mark or perhaps older still, then taking a dietary supplement can make sense for you. Here are 5 things to know relating to them.

1.      Start with a Balanced Diet

While some dietary supplements are genuinely beneficial in the latter years of life to avoid shortfalls of what that the body requires, don’t overdo it.

Start with a good diet filled with high-quality produce, plenty of fresh vegetables, a modicum of lean meats, and some fats (the body still needs fat despite the low-fat craze in supermarkets, presently).

Use a good diet as a foundational stage, then build up from there using relevant supplementation, as necessary.

2.      Choose Wisely Between Tablet and Capsule Supplements

Some supplements are provided in tablet form.

These are often unpleasant to consume with a glass of water because they’re large, solid, and tough to swallow. Also, the taste of the active ingredient(s) is evident and can leave a bad aftertaste. This makes tablets harder to stick to when wanting to take a course of supplements regularly.

What’s a better solution?

Taking a supplement that’s supplied in capsule form is typically easier to take with food or a drink.

To get an idea about how supplement manufacturers produce their retail product, they have access to empty capsules made from vegetable, HPMC, and Gelatine sources.

These capsules for both those with small and large demand give supplement producers options for how to deliver a more practical solution than a hard pill to consumers.

3.      There Might Not Be a Deficiency in Vitamin D

Not everyone is deficient in Vitamin D. In fact, only 20 percent or fewer people in a Western population have too little of this essential vitamin.

It’s also been found that seniors taking a vitamin D supplement may have too much in their body. This can lead to increased risk of bone fractures including problems with either of their hips. As a result of having too much vitamin D, it may make matters worse.

For people who aren’t sure, it’s worth being tested for a deficiency before overloading in one specific type of vitamin or mineral. As the well-known saying goes, “Everything in moderation”, holds true here.

4.      Calcium for Bone Strength and Durability?

There’s a strongly held belief that calcium is beneficial for bone structure and building strength. The truth is that through a balanced diet, most people will get enough calcium for their needs – including seniors.

Whilst women who’ve recently gone through menopause may be prescribed calcium by their doctor to prevent a porous bone structure developing, this is a specific case that doesn’t apply to all.

Calcium taken through pills has been previously linked to heart issues and the development of kidney stones. It’s far better to get the calcium that’s required through a dietary plan which doesn’t carry these added risks.

5.      Take Supplements to Manage Real Deficiencies

When you’re feeling rundown, a good supplement is likely to help you feel more like yourself. That’s certainly the case if you’re missing key minerals or vitamins.

Therefore, don’t dismiss their benefits. Nevertheless, pick and choose between what you should be taking. Look for short-term supplementation to address real issues and not as an ongoing preventative. This then allows you to invest in the highest-quality supplements, rather than a lesser brand, to manage the issue properly and well.

Supplements for seniors is critical to get right. A balance must be found to take care of your health as you age.