Aging and Nutrition
As we all know, there are a lot of studies out there about aging and longevity. There are a few major issues that can impact longevity, including inflammation and malnutrition which can impact a variety of things from pain, sleep, and energy. Nutritional deficiencies and inflammation can go hand and hand. If our body does not get all the vitamins and minerals it needs, it can trigger inflammation throughout the body.
When a client comes in with the symptoms of decreased muscle tone, injuries that take a long time to heal, pain, and low energy, I begin to think about what is triggering these symptoms. Oftentimes they are related to the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies and inflammation.
Certain nutrients become harder for your body to absorb with age or if you suffer from chronic gut illnesses. It is important to increase your intake of vitamins C, E, D, B6, and the minerals iron, calcium, and magnesium. As you all know, I believe strongly that food is medicine. Instead of taking extra supplements, fresh produce and the right proteins can go a long way.
In our holiday newsletter, we talked about the importance of aiding your body in digestion. As you age, your body begins to produce less hydrochloric acid, an important digestive enzyme. Lower amounts of hydrochloric acid make it harder for your body to break down food, meaning you get less nutrients out of each meal. This also results in an imbalance in the gut that can cause chronic constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
I have am sharing two recipes; one for a stew I love to make. Each ingredient contains one of the needed vitamins or minerals noted above. I use emu meat because it has higher digestible proteins, vitamins C, A, D, E, potassium, and iron than either beef or chicken. It is also lower in calories, fat, and sodium than either beef or chicken. Emu meat is local for the Triangle, as there is an emu farm in Guilford County, North Carolina.
The other recipe is for the apple cider vinegar elixir from the holiday newsletter. Taking this elixir after eating can help promote digestion by supporting the acids needed to breakdown foods.
Emu Stew
Full of vitamins and minerals your body craves!
Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir
Take after eating to promote good digestion!