Which Vitamins Are Essential for Healthy Aging?
As you age, your balanced diet will support everything from your bone health to your immune system. Older adults are at a higher risk for low vitamin consumption than younger people, according to a paper published in Clinical Interventions in Aging.
Your diet is where most of the essential vitamins and minerals you need come from. However, your doctor may recommend supplements or multivitamins, especially if you’re on certain medications that deplete your body of a particular nutrient or you have any dietary restrictions that limit major food groups. But which ones are the most important? To help you figure out exactly which vitamins and minerals you should focus on consuming in the name of healthy aging, we spoke with experts for their recommendations.
1. Magnesium: Magnesium is a mineral that provides several key functions in the body. It keeps your muscles strong, regulates blood sugar levels and contributes to heart health. Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a board-certified internist in integrative medicine, told us that “magnesium is critical for well over 300 reactions in the body.” He said an unprocessed diet has about 600 mg of magnesium daily, but the average American diet has less than 250 mg of magnesium after processing. For reference, the daily recommended amount of magnesium is 400 to 420 mg per day for adult men and 310 to 320 mg for women, but more is needed for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Excerpted from CNET
