The tune ”Young at Heart” and the phrase “you are only as young as you feel!” were coined in America and can be heard by millions from coast to coast, but the current population demographic firmly point towards the opposite direction: aging. Currently, the 65+ population comprises slightly more than 12% (35 million) of the overall US population. By 2030, this percentage is predicted to nearly double to just below 20% (71 million)[i]. In other words, within a generation, an unprecedented demographic will exist in the US: 1 in 5 Americans will be older than 65. The good news is that because of this more Americans are living longer and healthier lives than before. But this also presents American society with some very real health-related issues that must be solved as well. Various sectors are frenetically attempting to position themselves to deal with this aging demographic inevitability. The dental care field is loudly lobbying to increase consciousness and resource-support for age-related ailments such as defective dentures and reduced saliva-flow conditions[ii]. At the same time, the allied health care area is similarly making an attempt and admittedly struggling — to develop the immense resources, such as many more doctors and nurses, who will somehow absorb the imminent and overwhelming old age-related demand for surgical procedures and other health care commodities[iii]. And yet the nutritional sector has not caught up to the dental and health sectors in terms of adjusting to this demographic trend. One look at any health food store shelf will show you energy bars and powders which are (judging by the images of their merchandising materials) appropriate just for the high-performance need of young and active consumers. At the same time the nutrition sector has not really tried to dispel the myth that macronutrients (protein,fats and carbohydrates) are vital parts of a healthy diet no matter what the age of the consumer is. This apparent general neglect of the senior community’s nutritional needs is only just being seen recently as the population ages and the baby boomers, which number around 76 million strong, are inching towards retirement. However, it’s inevitable that this service gap will turn out to be larger as the future unfolds. Essentially, tens of millions of seniors are going to need to search out new and innovative nutrition options possibly for the first time in their lives. The prospects that face a 65-year-old searching for a nutrition solution are in some ways the same as these facing a 25-year-old: there are an array of promised solutions on the market, including energy bars, drinks, and supplements. However, that is where the similarities between the average 65-year-old and 25-year-old end because while the latter could possibly get away with experimenting, the former cannot. In other words, a 25-year-old consumer may add energy bars to their eating regimen and realize in a couple of months that theyre really eating glorified, calorie-rich candy bars. The same luxury does not apply for a 65-year-old consumer who does not have room to make any kind of mistake when it comes to their nutritional options. It is paramount that their selections be relevant and correct from the very begining, especially since older people usually suffer from diminished appetites, and usually have fewer access to balanced nutrition than younger people. This is a serious problem that the nutritional sector must accept and take ownership of. Simple consciousness isn’t enough, actual tangible solutions are needed. Like all the other age groups, senior citizens must have balanced nutrition and the best and most convenient approach for many of them to have is by way of nutritional supplements. This much-delayed consciousness does appear, however, to be abating. bodily activity level, are constantly being created by revolutionary companies. This suitability is the result of a fastidiously balanced protein blend that captures all essential amino acids. Since many seniors continue to lose nitrogen and thus protein as they age, it is incredibly vital that seniors access methods to compensate for this gradual loss. These low-calorie, carbohydrate-free, fat-free nutritional supplements additionally help seniors avoid adding undesirable body fat that would weaken muscle mass and destabilize body strength and energy levels. Furthermore, it’s additionally ideal if the supplements are served in liquid form to be able to permit seniors with dentures or tooth issues to easily consume them without hassle. The fact that Americas population is growing older is simply that: a fact. It is not an opinion, an educated guess, or a potential expectation. It will happen, and it’s important that Americas seniors be provided with the solutions that they need to be able to continue living full, joyful lives. The dental and health care fields are already hard at work positioning themselves, as best that they can right now, to absorb this unprecedented demographic change. Thanks to a very small but hopefully growing number of senior-friendly supplements, there’s finally a reason to add the nutrition field to this list as well.

References [i] Source: “Public Health an Aging: Trends in Aging – United States and Worldwide”. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5206a2.htm [ii] Source: “Caring for America’s Aging Smiles”. Healthfinder. http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=521247 [iii] Source: “Aging Population Creating Higher Demand for Surgery”. ANNews. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2003/08/25/prsc0825.htm [iv] Source: “Baby Boomers Envision Their Retirement: an AARP Segmentation Analysis”. AARP. http://research.aarp.org/econ/boomer_seg_prn.html About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of Capsulized Foods®. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey {liquid protein|protein liquid|protein supplements|protein shots|protein bullets|protein drinks} for {bariatric|weight loss surgery|bariatric surgery|dialysis|renal care|diabetic|cancer|immunodeficiency} patients.

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