As we age, getting adequate nutrition becomes increasingly important. However, as appetite decreases and nutritional needs increase, getting enough nutrients through diet alone is hard. That’s why today we’re talking about the three best vitamins for seniors and what you should consider in 2019.
Nutritional Requirements for Seniors
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, seniors need to pay close attention to their intake of soluble fiber, vitamins B-12 and D, potassium, and calcium. Fortified milk and yogurt are excellent sources of both calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin B12 is found in fortified cereal, lean meat and some types of seafood, such as lean fish. The best sources of fiber and potassium are fresh fruits and veggies. However, frozen produce is great, too. When produce is frozen while ripe, it retains all its nutrients.
Yet sometimes it’s not possible to get all this from food intake alone. In that case, multivitamin supplements can help immensely.
The 3 Best Vitamins for Seniors
Some nutritional supplements use synthetic vitamin E and synthetic beta-carotene. Research has shown that synthetic vitamin E is ineffective for anticancer purposes and may even increase the risk of prostate cancer. When you look closely at the ingredient lists on these multivitamins, there are many beneficial ingredients missing and synthetic ingredients that are hard to absorb and may damage your health.
Here are the best vitamins for seniors that are actually easy to absorb and proven effective:
1. Optimal Multivitamin Powder
This cherry-flavored multivitamin comes in powdered form. This makes it easy to get the dose you need. Moreover, it answers the pain point many seniors have, which is difficulty swallowing large pills or capsules. Simply mix a full or half dose with water and then drink. Alternatively, you can add this to a fresh berry and chia seed smoothie.
Upon request, the company will send you a certificate of analysis. Here are some highlights of the product:
- Two types of B12
- 100 mg of choline
- 10 mcg of zinc bisglycinate chelate
- No copper
- B6 in the form of P-5-P
- 150 mg of magnesium malate for pain relief and quality sleep
- 1,000 IU of vitamin D
2. O.N.E. Multivitamin
O.N.E. Multivitamin makes the best vitamins for seniors on blood thinners because their product does not contain vitamin K. Like Optimal multivitamin powder, this product doesn’t contain copper. O.N.E. focuses on eye support with ingredients such as 25 mg of zinc, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin. It also contain 2,000 IU of vitamin D, readily absorbed forms of folate and B12, choline and inositol.
3. Basic Nutrients 2/Day
Basic Nutrients 2/Day offers you the best value for your dollar. For less than a dollar per day, you can get the optimal levels of each nutrient. This product is free from food dyes, harmful fillers, and potential allergens. Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials have been conducted to prove the safety and effectiveness of these supplements.
Here are a few of the highlights:
- Ideal doses of boron, copper and manganese
- K2 rather than just K1
- Highly absorbable zinc bisglycinate chelate
- Most absorbable forms of B12, B6 and folate
- 750 mcg of copper
- Selenomethionine form of selenium rather than the less absorbable selenate or selenite
Get More
Nutrition is important at any age, but it’s especially important as we get older. While it’s often hard to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone, it’s too easy to fall for marketing traps and buy nutritional supplements that are bad for you. We recommend Optimal multivitamin powder because it tastes great, you can customize the dose, and it’s easy to swallow. To learn more about how to stay healthy in your golden years, sign up today with Senior Health & Lifestyle News to get the latest updates on everything that’s relevant to you.
