Functional foods can provide nutrients we need as we age
Food Insight Blog recently published a fun and informative list: The A-B-C’s of Healthy Aging by Amber Mosher. “Q” was our favorite letter. Amber wrote:
Quick tip to boost your diet – Many of us struggle to get the nutrients we need as we age and one way to give your diet a boost is to fill your plate with functional foods, like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber-rich cereals, low-fat dairy, and fortified foods and beverages.
We thought it would be a good idea to amplify Amber’s message with a short list of some specific nutrients manufacturers and consumers should expect in functional foods and beverages for conditions that impact us as we age:
- For anti-inflammation – In addition to antioxidants in general, Omega-3 fatty acid, B vitamins and curcumin.
- For endurance – In addition to antioxidants in general, calcium, vitamin D, B6 and folate.
- For aging eyes – Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc.
You can learn more about nutrients that help us maintain health as we age by reading some of our technical papers. Of particular interest will be Restore: The Role of Anti-Inflammatory Nutrients and Go: Nutrients for Everyday Endurance.