Why does elderly need dietary fibre

Diabetes is another health concern for several senior adults. If you have diabetes, fiber can help control your blood glucose levels. Fiber slows the breakdown of nutrients. This allows glucose from foods to move into the blood little by little. Overall fiber in whole grain foods helps prevent constipation. Fiver moves waste through the body and lowers the risk of hemorrohoids.

Fiber rich foods may help you manage your weight. A high fiber diet is often lower in calories, and fiber rich foods make you feel full for longer. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans and peas, and nuts and seeds are all great foods that are high in fiber.

The following tips help you make fiber part of your daily meals and snacks. Start slowly, adding fiber to your diet too quickly can cause pain. Sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, such as salmon, eggs and fortified foods and beverages.

If you take a calcium supplement or multivitamin, choose one that contains vitamin D. Some adults older than 50 may not be able to absorb enough vitamin B Fortified cereal, lean meat and fish and seafood are sources of vitamin B Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist if you need a vitamin B12 supplement. Eat fiber-rich foods to stay regular. Dietary fiber also may help lower your risk for heart disease and reduce your risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Eat whole-grain breads and cereals, and more beans peas and lentils— along with whole fruits and vegetables which also provide dietary fiber.

More info. A new paper published in The Journals of Gerontology by scientists from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research - reports that eating the right amount of fibre from breads, cereals, and fruits can help us avoid disease and disability into old age. Successful ageing was defined as including an absence of disability, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, respiratory symptoms, and chronic diseases including cancer, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Out of all the variables that we looked at, fibre intake had the strongest influence. According to lead author of the paper, Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath, from the Institute's Centre for Vision Research, the study is the first to look at the relationship between carbohydrate intake and healthy ageing, and the results were significant enough to warrant further investigation.