Does a longer life mean a healthier life? The number of adults over 65 in the United States is growing, but many may not be aware that they are at greater risk from foodborne diseases and their nutritional needs change as they age. The IOM's Food Forum held a workshop October 29-30, 2009, to discuss food safety and nutrition concerns for older adults.

Molecular Basis of Nutrition and Aging: A Volume in the Molecular Nutrition Series focuses on the nutritional issues associated with aging and the important metabolic consequences of diet, nutrition, and health. The book is subdivided into four parts that reflect the impact of nutrition from a biomolecular level to individual health. In Part One, chapters explore the general aspects of aging, aging phenotypes, and relevant aspects of nutrition related to the elderly and healthy aging. Part Two includes molecular and cellular targets of nutrition in aging, with chapters exploring lipid peroxidation, inflammaging, anabolic and catabolic signaling, epigenetics, DNA damage and repair, redox homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity, among others. Part Three looks at system-level and organ targets of nutrition in aging, including a variety of tissues, systems, and diseases, such as immune function, the cardiovascular system, the brain and dementia, muscle, bone, lung, and many others. Finally, Part Four focuses on the health effects of specific dietary compounds and dietary interventions in aging, including vitamin D, retinol, curcumin, folate, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, vitamin B, fish oil, vitamin E, resveratrol, polyphenols, vegetables, and fruit, as well as the current nutritional recommendations. Offers updated information and a perspectives on important future developments to different professionals involved in the basic and clinical research on all major nutritional aspects of aging Explores how nutritional factors are involved in the pathogenesis of aging across body systems Investigates the molecular and genetic basis of aging and cellular senescence through the lens of the rapidly evolving field of molecular nutrition

Nutrient metabolism, requirements, nutritional imbalances, and deficiencies of nutrients; and energy metabolism and obesity as a factor in the pathogenesis of diseases. In volume II, toxicological factors affecting nutritional status are discussed, specifically medications and alcohol/nutrient interactions. Other topics are: nutrition-related diseases which occur more frequently among the elderly, particularly cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, periodontal diseases, hypertension, diverticular disease, and anemias. Graphs, charts and references are included in each volume.

Nutrition for the Older Adult is a clear, comprehensive text that introduces students to nutrition and health promotion for older adults. Covering such important topics as the physiological changes of aging, weight and nutrition problems in older adults, nutritional assessment and support for the elderly, and diet and cultural diversity as well as exercise prescriptions for older adults, this text is an essential resource for students in the fields of nutrition, nursing, and gerontology. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book is missing some of the images or content found in the physical edition.

In the first section of Volume 2, toxicological factors affecting nutritional status are discussed. Medications and alcohol may affect nutritional status. Section 2 provides a discussion of nutrition-related diseases which occur more frequently among the elderly. Cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are the leading causes of death in the U.S. The relative importance of cardiovascular diseases, in terms of all deaths for the given age group, rises steadily with age. The death rate from these diseases is 28% for the middle age group (35 to 44) and is 69% for the old age group (age 75 and above. This reflects the continued progression of artherosclerosis with aging. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. The death rate from cancer also rises steadily with age. The death rate from diabetes mellitus increases progressively with age and more rapidly after the age of 45. The incidence of diabetes mellitus is 0.23% under age 25 and 6.2% over 45.

The first section in Volume 1 describes the fundamentals of nutrition and aging which include research strategies for the study of nutrition and aging. The nutritional modulation of the aging process which has provided a major breakthrough in the field of nutrition and longevity is also discussed. These include biomedical influences, and social and psychological aspects. Section 3 includes dietary characteristics of the elderly population and methods for the assessment of nutritional status. The nutritional status of the elderly with respect to individual nutrients as determined by dietary survey and by biochemical methods is described in Section 4. Section 4 also includes discussion on nutrient metabolism, requirements, nutritional imbalances, and deficiencies of nutrients. Energy metabolism and obesity as a factor in pathogenesis of diseases are also discussed.

"The first section in Volume 1 describes the fundamentals of nutrition and aging which include research strategies for the study of nutrition and aging. The nutritional modulation of the aging process which has provided a major breakthrough in the field of nutrition and longevity is also discussed. These include biomedical influences, and social and psychological aspects. Section 3 includes dietary characteristics of the elderly population and methods for the assessment of nutritional status. The nutritional status of the elderly with respect to individual nutrients as determined by dietary survey and by biochemical methods is described in Section 4. Section 4 also includes discussion on nutrient metabolism, requirements, nutritional imbalances, and deficiencies of nutrients. Energy metabolism and obesity as a factor in pathogenesis of diseases are also discussed."--Provided by publisher.

Nutrition and Functional Foods for Healthy Aging aims to equip anyone studying geriatric nutrition or working with aging adults with the latest scientific reviews of critical topics. The major objective of this book is to review, in detail, the health problems of the aged and how normal food, lifestyle, or nutritional and dietary supplements can help treat them. Nutrient requirements for optimum health and function of aging physiological systems are often quite distinct from those required for young people. The special nutrition problems of the aged are intensively researched and tested, especially as the elderly become a larger percentage of the population. Many chronic diseases and cancers are found with higher frequency in the aged, and it is also widely known that many elderly people use foods and nutrients well above the recommended daily allowance, which can be detrimental to optimal health. - Explains the evidence supporting nutritional interventions relevant to age-related diseases - Reviews the macro- and micro-nutrient requirements of aging adults and their variables - Describes how alcohol, drugs, and caffeine can impact deficiencies, also exploring functional food and dietary supplements that can be used for prevention and treatment

This edited volume is a compilation of 30 articles discussing what constitutes food for health and longevity. The aim is to provide up-to-date information, insights, and future tendencies in the ongoing scientific research about nutritional components, food habits and dietary patterns in different cultures. The health-sustaining and health-promoting effects of food are certainly founded in its overall composition of macronutrients and micronutrients. However, the consumption of these nutrients is normally in the form of raw or prepared food from the animal and plant sources. The book is divided into four parts and a conclusion, and successfully convenes the well-established information and knowledge, along with the personal views of a diversified group of researchers and academicians on the multifaceted aspects of nutrition, food and diet. The first part reviews the scientific information about proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, micronutrients, pro- and pre-biotics, and hormetins, along with a discussion of the evolutionary principles and constraints about what is optimal food, if any. The second part discusses various kinds of foods and food supplements with respect to their claimed benefits for general health and prevention of some diseases. The third part brings in the cultural aspects, such as what are the principles of healthy eating according to the traditional Chinese and Indian systems, what is the importance of mealing times and daily rhythms, and how different cultures have developed different folk wisdoms for eating for health, longevity and immortality. In the part four, various approaches which are either already in practice or are still in the testing and research phases are discussed and evaluated critically, for example intermittent fasting and calorie restriction, food-based short peptides, senolytics, Ayurvedic compounds, optimal food for old people, and food for the prevention of obesity and other metabolic disorders. The overreaching aim of this book is to inform, inspire and encourage students, researchers, educators and medical health professionals thinking about food and food habits in a holistic context of our habits, cultures and patterns. Food cannot be reduced to a pill of nutritional components. Eating food is a complex human behavior culturally evolved over thousands of years. Perhaps the old adage “we are what we eat” needs to be modified to “we eat what we are”.

Increased life expectancy and the ageing of the population have been the subject of attention in Western countries, and particularly in Europe, for some years now. The challenge of 'squaring the circle' between ends and means – as well as between personal aspirations and systemic constraints – in health and social care continues to be a major concern for policymakers and all those involved in the delivery of services. This book, Active Ageing and Healthy Living: A Human Centered Approach in Research and Innovation as Source of Quality of Life, presents the results of a number of research projects from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - the largest private university in Italy and in Europe - with a strong commitment to the areas of medicine and health sciences, economics, business, international relations, political science, psychology and communications. Visions and research directions for the future are also presented and discussed. The introduction to the book addresses the challenges posed by an increasingly ageing population and the way in which multidisciplinary research can contribute to positive outcomes. The remainder of the book is divided into two sections. The first proposes promising research directions for future focus, and includes papers on demographic change; frailty in the elderly; the role of diet in healthy ageing; active ageing; and positive technology. The second section deals with recent developments in research into active ageing and healthy living (AA&HL). It addresses numerous topics, including: mechanisms to shift the balance from unhealthy to healthy ageing; nutrition; the role of ICTs for older people; work, retirement and health; and empowering skills for AA&HL.