Special Health Concerns for the Elderly and the Best Supplements to Address Them
Nobody likes to admit they are getting older. However, aging doesn't have to be the worst thing in the world if you take good care of yourself, eat right, sleep well, and make sure your health concerns are met in a timely fashion. What concerns do you have, now that you are not as young as you once were? Keep reading to get some helpful information about supplements for the elderly.
A proper night's rest is one of the most important things for anybody, regardless of age. The optimal amount of sleep is approximately eight hours, however, many people find that as they age, they have greater difficulty getting this much sleep. Most of the time, they can fall asleep just fine but have problems staying asleep. Either they wake up many times during the night, or they find themselves waking up at about 4 a.m.!
One way to get more sleep is to take a supplement called melatonin. Melatonin is produced naturally in the body. It is a hormone, and when it first entered the supplement market it was actually derived from cows. Now, it is a very popular supplement made synthetically and standardized in a lab.
The natural production of melatonin begins to decrease in a person's late twenties, and continues to dwindle the more they age. Melatonin keeps the circadian rhythm in check and regulates one's "body clock." Obviously, if a person is waking up many times in the night or awakening for good at 3 or 4 a.m., their body clock is not functioning correctly. Melatonin can be of great help, especially for the elderly whose supply of melatonin has dramatically decreased.
Perhaps you sleep just fine, but your hips and joints ache and bother you when you climb stairs or engage in activity that is now considered strenuous for you. You may be a great candidate for glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.
When taken a couple of times a day, in a 1500 mg dosage, these two powerful supplements together can help the function of knees, hips, ankles, and any other part of the body containing tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Many athletes rely on this supplement, but it is also of great help to those of us getting older and feeling the aches and pains of joints we didn't use to feel.
Sometimes you can find a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement with MSM, which is a sulfur-based supplement that helps in the synthesis of collagen and helps to relieve pain. It is often used to help those who suffer from arthritis, and can only benefit those who take glucosamine/chondroitin. It generally takes about four to six weeks before you see a big difference in your joints, as this compound needs to build up in the body.
Are you noticing a change in vision as you grow older? If you are one of many whose eyesight is becoming worse as you age, you are not alone. Luckily, there are some wonderful natural remedies for this condition. Beta-carotene is a well known antioxidant that is critical for good eyesight. It is found in high dosages naturally in carrots.
Two other powerful antioxidants, Vitamin E and Vitamin C, are also quite beneficial because they protect the retina and other eye tissues. Both of these antioxidant vitamins help to prevent macular degeneration. As far as minerals are concerned, Zinc is probably your best bet for eye health, as it helps to strengthen the body's cells, which of course include the cells in your eyes. Lutein is another great supplement for the eyes. Because it helps to protect against the onset of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, it is especially good for the elderly. It is one of the carotenoids, but probably most beneficial of all of them for this purpose.
Some herbs also play an important role in eyesight health. One of them is bilberry, which helps to protect the veins and arteries in the eye, and can also help you to see better after dark. Night vision issues are prevalent among elderly individuals, so bilberry extract can be a huge help. The other herb is rooibos, which is commonly found in tea and should be quite easy to come by. Rooibos contains a host of antioxidant properties as well as immune function enhancers. By adding the two of these to your supplement routine, along with the vitamins mentioned above, you can greatly enhance your vision if you begin supplementing early enough.
These are just a few of the health concerns that the elderly have, and some special supplements that can help. With a healthy lifestyle, the right supplements and a positive outlook, your golden years can be long and fruitful.
A proper night's rest is one of the most important things for anybody, regardless of age. The optimal amount of sleep is approximately eight hours, however, many people find that as they age, they have greater difficulty getting this much sleep. Most of the time, they can fall asleep just fine but have problems staying asleep. Either they wake up many times during the night, or they find themselves waking up at about 4 a.m.!
One way to get more sleep is to take a supplement called melatonin. Melatonin is produced naturally in the body. It is a hormone, and when it first entered the supplement market it was actually derived from cows. Now, it is a very popular supplement made synthetically and standardized in a lab.
The natural production of melatonin begins to decrease in a person's late twenties, and continues to dwindle the more they age. Melatonin keeps the circadian rhythm in check and regulates one's "body clock." Obviously, if a person is waking up many times in the night or awakening for good at 3 or 4 a.m., their body clock is not functioning correctly. Melatonin can be of great help, especially for the elderly whose supply of melatonin has dramatically decreased.
Perhaps you sleep just fine, but your hips and joints ache and bother you when you climb stairs or engage in activity that is now considered strenuous for you. You may be a great candidate for glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.
When taken a couple of times a day, in a 1500 mg dosage, these two powerful supplements together can help the function of knees, hips, ankles, and any other part of the body containing tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Many athletes rely on this supplement, but it is also of great help to those of us getting older and feeling the aches and pains of joints we didn't use to feel.
Sometimes you can find a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement with MSM, which is a sulfur-based supplement that helps in the synthesis of collagen and helps to relieve pain. It is often used to help those who suffer from arthritis, and can only benefit those who take glucosamine/chondroitin. It generally takes about four to six weeks before you see a big difference in your joints, as this compound needs to build up in the body.
Are you noticing a change in vision as you grow older? If you are one of many whose eyesight is becoming worse as you age, you are not alone. Luckily, there are some wonderful natural remedies for this condition. Beta-carotene is a well known antioxidant that is critical for good eyesight. It is found in high dosages naturally in carrots.
Two other powerful antioxidants, Vitamin E and Vitamin C, are also quite beneficial because they protect the retina and other eye tissues. Both of these antioxidant vitamins help to prevent macular degeneration. As far as minerals are concerned, Zinc is probably your best bet for eye health, as it helps to strengthen the body's cells, which of course include the cells in your eyes. Lutein is another great supplement for the eyes. Because it helps to protect against the onset of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, it is especially good for the elderly. It is one of the carotenoids, but probably most beneficial of all of them for this purpose.
Some herbs also play an important role in eyesight health. One of them is bilberry, which helps to protect the veins and arteries in the eye, and can also help you to see better after dark. Night vision issues are prevalent among elderly individuals, so bilberry extract can be a huge help. The other herb is rooibos, which is commonly found in tea and should be quite easy to come by. Rooibos contains a host of antioxidant properties as well as immune function enhancers. By adding the two of these to your supplement routine, along with the vitamins mentioned above, you can greatly enhance your vision if you begin supplementing early enough.
These are just a few of the health concerns that the elderly have, and some special supplements that can help. With a healthy lifestyle, the right supplements and a positive outlook, your golden years can be long and fruitful.
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