Vitamins and proper nutrition are important throughout our lives, but as we age, our body’s needs change. Our metabolism can shift, and it’s essential to ensure we get the right vitamins and minerals in order to stay active and healthy as older adults.
Canadians are enjoying better health than ever before, and the number of Candian seniors is expected to double by 2025. Origin Active Lifestyle Communities know that maintaining a healthy body is the cornerstone of achieving an active lifestyle, and vitamin intake plays a significant role in that for older adults.
Benefits of Calcium for Strong Bones
While calcium is not a vitamin, it is an important mineral and one of the nutrients essential to healthy living. If we deny our body calcium or do not get enough calcium, it begins to absorb it from our own skeleton, which can cause our bones to weaken and increase our risk of injury. Building up calcium levels can help build and maintain stronger bones, and it is also aids in the function of our hearts, muscles, and nervous system.
Benefits of Vitamin D for Seniors
Vitamin D is possibly one of the most important vitamins for seniors, considering its relationship with calcium. Without vitamin D, our bodies can not properly absorb calcium. Without a proper balance of both vitamin D and calcium, you may not be providing your body with proper nutrition.
Vitamin D is also one of the best vitamins for seniors because it is host to a wide array of health benefits, including:
- Regulating insulin levels
- Strengthening and supporting our immune, brain, and nervous systems
- Helping with lung function
- Improving cardiovascular health
In Canada, vitamin D fortification is mandated for foods such as margarine, cow’s milk and substitutes, egg products, meal replacements, and nutritional supplements.
Vitamin D is also one of the easiest vitamins to obtain naturally. At Origin Active Lifestyle Communities, we encourage our community members to partake in outdoor activities frequently as part of an active lifestyle and the sun is the perfect natural source for vitamin D. Of course, during the colder months in Canada, we typically do not get as much sun as we need to produce adequate vitamin D. For this reason, Osteoporosis Canada recommends taking supplements of vitamin D to help offset deficiencies year-round.
The Importance of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is also considered one of the best vitamins for seniors as it creates energy in our bodies and is important to maintaining much of our body’s health. Vitamin B12 can be found in various food items, such as poultry, fish, meat, and certain fortified dairy products.
Similar to vitamin D, Vitamin B12 is a common deficiency amongst older adults since our bodies are less able to absorb it.
We always recommend speaking to your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or starting a supplement regimen.
Brain Health and Development: Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is another vitamin for seniors that should be incorporated into your dietary plan. Small studies have shown that vitamin B6 can help reduce the risk of a stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. B6 is an important vitamin for seniors, and as we age, our bodies require more doses to reap its benefits.
When it comes to living a healthy and active lifestyle for older adults, vitamins and minerals play a huge role in our health. At Origin Active Lifestyle Communities, we understand the value of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle during our retirement years, and we are streamlining the path to preparing and serving not only quality food but nutrient-dense food. 
If you found this information helpful, we encourage you to visit Origin Active Lifestyle’s blog for more information regarding active living!
