The elderly population in the U.S. is getting bigger and bigger every single day. There are more than 46 million people over the age of 65 in this country right now, and that number is expected to balloon to about 90 million within the next 30 years.
Are you in this age category now or expecting to be in it sometime soon? If so, there are all types of dietary supplements that you’re going to want to consider adding to your daily routine sooner rather than later. They’ll ensure that you’re able to stick around well beyond your 65th birthday.
There are actually so many dietary supplements for aging adults that it can be confusing trying to figure out which ones will work best for you. You should familiarize yourself with some of the supplements for seniors and learn about the ones that’ll benefit you the most.
Here are six of the best dietary supplements for those who are starting to get up there in age.
1. Calcium
It’s important for those of all ages to get enough calcium into their bodies. Calcium plays a crucial role in the strength and stability of your bones.
But it’s especially important for you to take in enough calcium day in and day out once you begin to age. If you don’t, it’ll only be a matter of time before your bones begin to get very brittle. It’s not uncommon at all for those who are over 50 to experience bone loss over the years.
You can avoid this by making calcium one of the types of dietary supplements that you take. You’ll strengthen your bones by leaps and bounds when you get enough calcium into your body.
Milk, yogurt, cheese, and even figs are excellent sources of calcium. But to ensure you’re getting enough of it, you may want to go with physician-only supplements suggested by your doctor instead.
2. Vitamin D
Calcium isn’t the only supplement that you should take to improve the strength of your bones. Vitamin D is another supplement that you should work into your regular routine to improve bone density.
Vitamin D can also do so much more than just build up your bones. There is also a wide range of other benefits that you’ll enjoy when you take it in supplement form.
Vitamin D supplements can help you when it comes to:
- Reducing chronic pain
- Preventing heart disease
- Keeping cancer at bay
When you’re on the younger side, you’re usually able to get all the vitamin D your body needs directly from the sun. But as you age, it’s not good for you to spend too much time out in the sun soaking up its UV rays.
It’s a much better idea to take vitamin D supplements that are designed to keep your vitamin D levels stable.
3. Vitamin B12
As you age, one of the things that you’re going to want to focus on is decreasing your risks of dealing with dementia at all costs. Getting enough vitamin B12 is one way to do this since studies have shown a connection between dementia and vitamin B12 deficiencies.
Vitamin B12 supplements might help to keep your brain functioning properly as you get older. It wouldn’t hurt to work them into your routine if you’re worried about the possibility of being diagnosed with dementia one day.
4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Heart health is something that a lot of older Americans are concerned about. Heart disease is, after all, the leading killer in the country right now.
You can keep your aging heart as healthy as it can be by getting enough exercise and maintaining a good diet. But you can also potentially do it by using different types of dietary supplements.
Specifically, omega-3 fatty acids might be able to help you improve your heart health. These supplements have been known to:
- Prevent plaque from building up in the arteries of the heart
- Do away with irregular heartbeats
- Promote good heart health through and through
You can keep your heart beating stronger for longer by taking omega-3 fatty acids each day.
5. Probiotics
You can take as many different types of supplements as you want to take every day. But if your gut isn’t healthy enough to absorb them, they’re not going to do you a whole lot of good.
When you get to be older, more and more unhealthy bacteria will work their way into your gut. The only way to counteract them is going to be to take probiotics. They’re some of the very best types of dietary supplements for seniors.
Probiotics will make your gut way healthier and allow your body to absorb all the nutrients that it needs from the supplements you’re taking. You should speak with your doctor about how probiotics can help you.
6. Protein
Older people often start to see a lot of their muscle mass begin to deteriorate away. And they don’t think there’s any way to stop this trend once it starts to take over their life.
There is, however, one effective way to reverse this trend and keep your muscle mass around for a longer stretch of time. You can do it by taking in more protein.
You might not be able to get more protein by eating a big, juicy steak every night anymore. But you can get it by finding supplements that will supply your body with the protein it needs.
See Which of These Types of Dietary Supplements Your Doctor Would Recommend
As you’ve seen here, there are so many different types of dietary supplements that you can take as you age to make yourself healthier. You should sit down with your doctor and talk to them about which types you should consider taking.
Your doctor can break down the different types of dietary supplements and help you choose the right ones based on your specific situation. They’ll help to make you healthier than you would be otherwise when you take them properly.
Learn more about maintaining your health and fitness as you age by browsing through the other educational articles on our blog.
