USC’s Professor of Gerontology, Dr. Ed Schneider, Debunks Nutrition Myths & Misconceptions for Successful Aging

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Belmont Village Senior Living and Ed Schneider, M.D., Dean Emeritus and Professor of Gerontology on the College of Southern California’s Leonard Davis College of Gerontology, recently hosted a webinar addressing correct diet for getting older adults. Dr. Schneider shares key insights on the newest findings in getting older and debunks well-liked myths and misconceptions about dietary supplements, multivitamins, natural meals, weight, longevity, water, wine, and extra.

“It’s a brand new yr, and probably the most often made and damaged resolutions should do with weight-reduction plan – what to eat and what to not eat, all with a watch for staying wholesome as we age,” says Patricia Will, Founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Dwelling. “For over 15 years, Belmont Village Senior Dwelling has been working with Dr. Schneider and USC, mining the unimaginable data of the most important and most prestigious gerontology school on this planet. USC is the one faculty within the U.S. that awards superior levels in gerontology and diet, and Dr. Schneider’s work is in our DNA in thousands and thousands of how. We couldn’t be extra thrilled that he took the time to talk with us on a subject that’s on our thoughts greater than ever proper now.”

Dr. Schneider’s diet suggestions embrace:

• Toss the multivitamin dietary supplements: Enormous numbers of seniors are taking multivitamins, however could not know if and why their elements are useful to their well being. They typically comprise iron, copper (which most individuals don’t want), and vitamin A within the type of retinol when it needs to be consumed within the type of beta carotene. Multivitamins comprise half or much less of the quantity wanted of vitamin D. The underside line: they’re not significantly efficient and don’t comprise the correct mix.
• Does supplemental calcium or vitamin D assist forestall hip fractures? Whereas calcium does enhance bone mass, calcium has by no means been proven to scale back the danger of fractures. Vitamin D does help calcium absorption, however supplemental calcium can enhance the danger of coronary heart illness in seniors. Vitamin D deficiency is the commonest pervasive kind of vitamin deficiency amongst People, however not everybody wants it as a complement. Nevertheless, seniors dwelling above the fortieth parallel in northern U.S. states and seniors who don’t go outdoors typically could must take a vitamin D complement containing the really useful dose of 1000 milligrams.
• Nutritional vitamins: Sure, or no? It’s been proven that vitamin D and C don’t have an effect on coronary heart illness or enhance one’s longevity. Quite a few observational research point out that consumption of fatty fish is said to decreased cardiovascular danger, which could be achieved simply by consuming fish. Nutritional vitamins to keep away from are B12, E, beta carotene, folic acid, and resveratrol. Supplemental antioxidants are usually not wanted for almost all of inhabitants, and they’re really useful solely for many who interact in intensive bodily actions and train, comparable to long-distance runners, whose our bodies should reply to the elevated oxidation produced by exertion.
• The egg: The jury continues to be out on eggs. The phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin can act as useful antioxidants which might defend the eyes. Eggs do comprise ldl cholesterol, however wholesome folks usually don’t have issues associated to their each day egg consumption. Total, research of eggs haven’t proven to trigger hurt or profit to 1’s well being. Nevertheless, eggs are sometimes eaten with merchandise like bacon, sausage, cheese, hash browns, and butter, which could be detrimental to well being if consumed often.
• Crimson wine: The pores and skin of the crimson wine grape is stuffed with wholesome, protecting antioxidants comparable to resveratrol, and flavonoids. Scientific studies have revealed that resveratrol will increase the lifespan of yeast, worms, fruit flies, short-lived fish, and mice, however the dose of resveratrol required to attain these leads to mice is the equal of people consuming 50 bottles of crimson wine a day to attain the identical impact. In a long-term observational research of over 300,000 individuals, outcomes discovered a decreased danger of loss of life in gentle or average crimson wine drinkers, and a considerably elevated danger in heavy drinkers compared to those that have been abstainers. One glass of crimson wine with dinner is completely high-quality.
• Caffeine, espresso & tea: Espresso comes from a bean that has many antioxidants. Espresso is thought for holding caffeine, which might enhance cognitive perform and improve long-term bodily efficiency. Nevertheless, most of those drinks’ well being advantages are unrelated to their caffeine content material. Espresso lowers the danger for stroke, Sort 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s illness, colon and prostate most cancers, gallstones, cirrhosis, and, presumably, Alzheimer’s illness. Conversely, espresso additionally will increase the danger of getting hypertension, blood sugar, LDL ldl cholesterol, frequent journeys to the toilet, insomnia, tooth staining, jitteriness, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. These issues are related to caffeine, thus making decaffeinated espresso an excellent resolution. It needs to be clarified that inexperienced tea and black tea are produced from the identical leaf – the distinction being that black tea is simply oxidized inexperienced tea, so that they comprise the identical elements. They’ve nearly the identical forms of antioxidants as effectively. Consuming tea reduces blood ranges of LDL ldl cholesterol, blood stress, blood sugar, the danger of strokes, the danger of Parkinson’s illness, and will increase bone mass.
• Eight glasses of fluid per day? Actually? For years, folks have been saying that the typical particular person dwelling in a temperate local weather ought to drink eight glasses of fluid per day. Nevertheless, the Institute of Medication Guideline (2004) for water consumption doesn’t suggest a certain quantity of water to eat each day, however as an alternative states that People already get sufficient fluids simply through the use of thirst as their information. Ageing adults ought to maintain off on consuming fluids earlier than going to mattress.
• Chocoholics unite! Chocolate has been proven to assist with cardiovascular well being. Cocoa and chocolate comprise the highly effective antioxidant flavonoid epicatechin in addition to nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels and reduces the danger of coronary heart assaults. Chocolate additionally improves insulin sensitivity, reduces the danger for diabetes, reduces blood stress, and inhibits the aggregation of platelets (blood elements that may accumulate to kind clots), so chocolate prevents clot formation. Dr. Schneider recommends that each one getting older adults eat not less than one cluster of darkish chocolate-covered almonds each day, presumably two as nuts additionally comprise unsaturated fat and decrease LDL ldl cholesterol.
• BMI and getting older: For these 55 and youthful, preserve your BMI beneath 25.0. For these 55 and older who would not have hypertension, diabetes, or important coronary heart illness, a BMI of 25.0 to 26.9 carries little danger and should enhance longevity. A BMI of 27.0 and above carries important dangers in any respect ages.
• Mind well being and weight-reduction plan: Many surprise if something of their weight-reduction plan is especially useful or detrimental in terms of mind well being. There have been quite a lot of anecdotal proof and observational research revealing, usually, that what’s good for the center is sweet for the mind. Among the many primary issues related to mind well being is arteriosclerosis, or strokes. Something one can do to scale back their danger of arteriosclerosis would enhance their mind well being. Frequent train is the principle factor, however staying away from saturated fat helps. Unsaturated fat, like these in olive oil, are a lot better for one’s total well being.
• Is there a magic weight-reduction plan? Dr. Schneider has investigated every kind of diets, comparable to Dr. Atkins’s weight-reduction plan, the keto weight-reduction plan, and the Mediterranean weight-reduction plan. There is no scientific proof in any respect that any weight-reduction plan will considerably enhance longevity or enhance well being. Nevertheless, Dr. Schneider does suggest the Mediterranean weight-reduction plan, which is characterised by numerous fiber, greens, fish, low consumption of saturated fat like meat, and consists of wine (sparsely) as a wholesome and useful alternative.
• High quality of life: As seniors age, lots of them are involved about whether or not they can nonetheless eat meals which might be usually deemed “unhealthy,” like fried hen. Dr. Schneider says that it is necessary to remember the standard of life for getting older adults. If the senior is aware of the danger, their happiness is in the end an important. If that particular person is having fun with fried hen and never going to take pleasure in a chunk of hen that is unsalted and unseasoned as a result of it is more healthy for them, then allow them to eat fried hen.

Belmont Village Senior Dwelling prioritizes senior well being and wellness. All features of each day life are influenced by its proprietary, evidence-based strategy to programming, well being, and wellness. Residents can profit from on-site bodily, speech, and occupational remedy companies, short-term respite and transitional stays, Whole Brain Fitness Lifestyle, Circle of Friends® memory support, Dedicated Memory Care Neighborhood to support cognitive strength, and the Diabetes Center of Excellence. Along with personalised weight-reduction plan plans, Belmont Village communities additionally supply particular take care of residents’ weight-reduction plan, together with a full-service restaurant (Josephine’s Kitchen with its 24+ each day, chef-prepared menu choices) and a bistro for espresso, tea, and snacks. Throughout its communities, Belmont Village serves greater than 360,000 meals a month to residents who’ve rated the eating service greater than common for the senior housing business.

“I’ve visited greater than 100 senior dwelling communities throughout the nation, and Belmont Village is on the prime,” says Dr. Schneider. “Belmont Village is the very best high quality assisted dwelling group I’ve ever visited. So, if you’re a Belmont Village resident, you are very lucky. In case you’re a relative or pal of a resident, you need to take solace figuring out that your family members are in a really, superb place.”

About Belmont Village Senior Dwelling:

Based in Houston in 1997, Belmont Village is an built-in developer, proprietor, and operator of 31 first-tier impartial, assisted dwelling, and award-winning reminiscence care communities for older adults throughout eight states within the U.S. and Mexico. With greater than 4,000 staff, Belmont Village communities are famend for distinctive design, excessive requirements of life, security, high quality of care, and modern, award-winning packages. Belmont Village is licensed as a Nice Place to Work® and has been ranked since 2018 as certainly one of FORTUNE Journal’s 50 Greatest Workplaces for Ageing Companies. Be taught extra about Belmont Village at www.belmontvillage.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.