A

aging, nutrition and dietary changes that occur
with Nutritional needs and dietary choices
change across the spectrum of age. Diet and nutri-
tion also influence the processes of aging and the
status of health.

Food Choices and Lifelong Health
Health experts recommend BREASTFEEDING for
infants, in most circumstances, from birth through
at least six months of age if possible. Breast milk
fulfills 100 percent of an infant’s NUTRITIONAL NEEDS,
provided the mother is meeting her own nutri-
tional needs, and provides the infant with extended
immune coverage until his or her own IMMUNE SYS-
TEMdevelops enough to become protective. Infants
for whom breastfeeding is not practical or appropri-
ate should receive fortified formulas that meet their
nutritional needs. Cow’s milk does not provide ade-
quate nutritional value and contains higher
amounts of sugars than infant formulas.
The nutritional needs of the toddler and older
child focus on supporting proper growth and
development. Children who learn to make nutri-
tious food choices, including portion size, early in
life are likely to make such choices the mainstay
of diet throughout life. Healthy children do not
require vitamin or mineral supplements and
should take them only when a doctor recom-
mends them.
A critical health problem among children is OBE-
SITY, which sets the stage for a plethora of health
challenges that can have lifelong consequences.
Researchers are identifying in children, especially
teens, diseases formerly the exclusive territory of
middle age such as type 2 DIABETES, OSTEOARTHRITIS,
and ATHEROSCLEROSIS. Nutritious EATING HABITSare an
important component of weight management.
However, children should not go on “diets” or have

food intake restricted without precise instructions

from a doctor or nutritionist.

Health Changes and Nutrition

Beginning in middle age people start to experience

physical changes that alter their ability to digest

foods and absorb NUTRIENTS. The STOMACHproduces

less acid, and foods may stay in the stomach

longer before being digested enough to progress to

the SMALL INTESTINE. The stomach also produces

less intrinsic factor, a biochemical essential for the

absorption of vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin). Den-

tal conditions and changes to the gums (such as

PERIODONTAL DISEASE) may result in lost TEETHand

difficulty chewing. Perceptions of taste and smell

may change, altering the desire for certain foods.

Other changes include a generalized slowing of

the metabolic rate, which affects digestion and

nutrient absorption, and a decreased need for

nutrients (fewer calories).

Health conditions with metabolic conse-

quences, such as diabetes and GALLBLADDER DISEASE,

become more prevalent with advancing age.

Health conditions for which nutrition plays a role,

such as CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE(CVD), also become

more prevalent. Other chronic health conditions

may accelerate the body’s use of certain nutrients.

Both men and women begin to experience

changes in BONE DENSITYand BONEmass in middle

age, women in an especially pronounced manner

after MENOPAUSE. Without proper vitamin D and

calcium intake, OSTEOMALACIAand OSTEOPOROSISare

significant threats to bone health.

The very old (80 and older) may have mobility,

independence, and economic issues that prevent

them from eating appropriately. Debilitating con-

ditions such as ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, DEMENTIA, and

PARKINSON’S DISEASEare more common among the

176