Author/Editor		Eržen, N
Title		Prehrana starejših ljudi
Translated title		Nutrition of the elderly
Type		članek
Source		In: Pentek M, editor. Zdravo staranje. 1. nacionalna konferenca o promociji zdravja v Sloveniji; 1995 mar 29-30; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Gerontološko društvo Slovenije,
Publication year		1995
Volume		str. 32-40
Language		slo
Abstract		Food is the only source energy and nutrients absolutely necessary for life providing essenial amino acids, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Qualitatively balanced nutrition, which, for the elderly (especially the non-ambulatory) person should exist in quantity rather less than more, promotes better health and hastens recovery after an illness. Unbalanced nutrition consequentially leads to malnutrition or overnutrition. The causes for malnutrition can be primary (scarcity of food, inadequate supply of nutrients) or secondary (increased digestion, malabsorption, loss of nutrients, the consequences of primary causes, etc.), which all lead to deficiency diseases. The main reasons for overnutrition are nonessential intake of high caloric foods and too little exercise. All these factors must be considered since proper nutrition of the elderly can aid in the prevention of rapid physical and mental deterioration. Protective nutrition, which shields the organism from the onset of premature atherosclerosis and other diseases, should provide 50 to 60 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 20 to 35 percent from fats (less then 10 percent from saturated fats), and 12 to 20 percent from proteins. Also necessary are vitamins, minerals, salt, fibre, and water. Insufficient knowledge about nutrition as a consequence influences the choice, preparation, durability, consumption, and storage of meals. Although some of these issues can be solved by counselling others, which are mostly a result of the inability of the elderly to provide adequate nutrition for themselves and their financial inability, are a matter for endeavour by all of society (the state).
Descriptors		DIET NUTRITION SURVEYS AGED