Do you ever remember your teachers in school reminding you of the importance of calories to the body? Have you ever watched reminders about how to burn calories, in order to make sure that you are fit and healthy as you grow older? Depending on your age, your calorie needs change. What are your needs in this regard, after turning 50?
Guidelines
When you are already over 50 years old, it is advised that you adjust your caloric intake depending on your body’s level of activity. This is as per the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Here are specifics to consider in this regard:
- For Active Individuals. Consume food that contains about 2,000 calories daily. An active individual is someone who walks 3 miles every day at a rate of about 3 to 4 miles every hour. This is in addition to regular activities, like exercising three times a week.
- For Moderately Active Individuals. When you are walking at a pace of three to four miles an hour and you walk 1.5 to 3 miles a day, you are moderately active. If you are under this bracket, you need to eat about 1,800 calories daily.
- For Inactive Individuals. Inactive individuals are those who do not intend to exercise at all. For those of you with this habit, you need to consume 1,600 calories daily.
What’s the Difference When You Were Younger?
As mentioned above, you are encouraged by older people to eat more when you are younger. The reason is that you are more active when you are younger, which means you can burn any excess calories that you have taken in. Once you are over 50, your metabolism slows down, thus you are encouraged to eat less. Based on the guidelines, the more inactive you are, the lesser your calorie needs should be.
Muscle Mass and Reduced Calorie Needs
Older adults are prone to losing more muscle mass when compared to when they were younger. This explains why calorie needs are reduced when one ages. Strength training is recommended to balance calories and muscle mass in older adults. Retirement communities have considered this when devising health and wellness programs for residents.
Exercise Right, Eat Right
Getting old is not a reason to be lazy and tuck yourself in bed most of the time. The older we get, the better it is for us to choose what we eat, and to engage in physical activities that are appropriate for our age. Exercising has its way of imbibing positivity in our lives. It changes our disposition for the better. It definitely makes us happier too.
If you want to enjoy life longer, then now is the time to start exercising and eating right. When you are in a retirement community, feel free to ask team members about how they can assist you with your needs. They will be more than glad to find programs that are tailored to your body requirements.
