Myths & Facts About Nutrition after 60

Myths & Facts About Food and Nutrition After 60

Myth: Once you reach your 60s, metabolism slows down and you need fewer nutrients.

Fact: While it’s true that older people typically require fewer calories than young adults, they actually need more of certain nutrients. The reason: As we age, our bodies are less efficient at making or absorbing some vitamins and minerals. The skin’s ability to generate vitamin D from sunlight declines. The body’s ability to absorb B12 also decreases.

“With age, the requirements for calcium, vitamin D, and B12 may all increase,” says Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, senior scientist and director of the cardiovascular nutrition laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Because seniors typically need fewer calories yet more of some key nutrients, they must take special care to eat nutrient-rich foods.

Myth: Older adults don’t need to worry about becoming overweight or obese.

Fact: Excess weight is a growing problem even among older Americans, says Lichtenstein. The culprit for people of all ages is simple: Consuming more calories than needed. Those extra calories are then stored as body fat. Excess body fat increases the risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Myth: If you don’t have a weight problem, you can eat whatever you like.

Fact: “Being overweight certainly increases the risk of chronic illnesses,” says Nancy Wellman, RD, past president of the American Dietetic Association. “But even if you’re slim, a poor diet can raise your risks of developing any of these chronic diseases.” Diets overloaded with saturated fat are linked to cardiovascular problems, for example. The bottom line: Following healthy nutrition advice is important whether you’re thin or fat.

Myth: If you don’t feel like eating, it’s OK to skip a meal.

Fact: Loss of appetite is a common complain among older adults, leading many to skip meals. That’s a bad idea for several reasons.

First, people who skip a meal because they’re not hungry can later gorge on high-calorie, nutrient-poor snacks between meals. Skipping meals can also cause blood sugar levels to fall too low; then when you do eat a big meal, they can surge too high. Skipping meals, paradoxically, can also suppress appetite. That can be a problem for older people who already suffer from a loss of appetite.

“The best advice is to always start your day with a healthy breakfast, since appetite is usually best in the morning,” says Wellman. “Then make sure you eat something at every meal time.”

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Michelle Wie Mounting Late Charge in Singapore

Michelle Wie - tied for 15th and five strokes behind leaders

Hawaii’s Michelle Wie moved into a tie for 15^th place by shooting a three under par 69 on day three of the HBSC Women’s Championships at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

Located at the southern end of Changi Airport runway, Tanah Merah has two 18-hole golf courses, and is one of Singapore’s finest.

Can Wie overcome a five stroke deficit to catch Ai Miyazato and Juli Inkster?  I have high hopes that see can!  

T1	Ai Miyazato		-3		F		-7		69		71		69				209
T1	Juli Inkster		-3		F		-7		70		70		69				209
T3	Hee Young Park		-3		F		-5		68		74		69				211
T3	Momoko Ueda		-4		F		-5		75		68		68				211
T3	Sun Young Yoo		-1		F		-5		70		70		71				211
T3	Hee-Won Han		-1		F		-5		73		67		71				211
T7	Yani Tseng		-1		F		-4		74		67		71				212
T7	Cristie Kerr		-1		F		-4		68		73		71				212
T7	Suzann Pettersen		E		F		-4		70		70		72				212
T10	Vicky Hurst		-3		F		-3		73		71		69				213
T10	Sakura Yokomine		-3		F		-3		73		71		69				213
T10	In-Kyung Kim		-1		F		-3		70		72		71				213
T10	Na Yeon Choi		-1		F		-3		73		69		71				213
T10	Angela Stanford		+2		F		-3		68		71		74				213
T15	Michelle Wie		-3		F		-2		72		73		69				214
T15	Jee Young Lee		-4		F		-2		73		73		68				214
T15	Inbee Park		-3		F		-2		72		73		69				214
T15	Maria Hjorth		-1		F		-2		73		70		71				214
T15	Amy Yang		-1		F		-2		73		70		71				214
T15	Lindsey Wright		-1		F		-2		72		71		71				214
T15	Jiyai Shin		E		F		-2		71		71		72				214
T15	Karrie Webb		E		F		-2		70		72		72				214

HHSAA Wrestling Team Standings After Day One Trials

Due to the tsunami warning, the HHSAA State Wrestling Championships will be rescheduled to Sunday, February 28, 2010.  Weigh-ins will begin at 7 a.m. (scratch weight plus 4 pounds).  Wrestling will begin immediately after weigh-ins and wrestling will continue, without break, until completion.  Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

HHSAA Boys Team Standings after day one
Code		Team		Score
1	PUN		Punahou		104.0
2	KSK		Kam.-Oahu		88.5
3	LAH		Lahainaluna		73.0
4	CAM		Campbell		47.5
5	MOA		Moanalua		41.5
6	FAR		Farrington		41.0
7	PEC		Pearl City		30.5
8	KAH		Kahuku		29.0
9	MOL		Molokai		26.5
10	IOL		Iolani		26.0
10	MIL		Mililani		26.0
12	DMN		Damien		24.0
13	ROS		Roosevelt		22.0
14	KON		Konawaena		21.0
15	KAS		Kaiser		20.0
16	AIE		Aiea		19.0
17	BAL		Baldwin		17.0
17	KPO		Kapolei		17.0
19	KEA		Kealakehe		14.0
19	MAR		Maryknoll		14.0
19	MAU		Maui		14.0
22	HPA		Hawaii Prep		13.5
23	WAK		Waiakea		13.0
24	CAS		Castle		12.0
25	HBA		Hawaii Baptist		11.0
25	HON		Honokaa		11.0
25	KSH		Kam. – Hawaii		11.0
25	STL		Saint Louis		11.0
29	MPI		Mid Pacific		10.5
30	KIM		Kaimuki		10.0
31	MCK		McKinley		9.5
32	RAD		Radford		9.0
33	KIN		King Kekaulike		8.0
34	WAN		Waianae		6.0
35	LEI		Leilehua		4.0
35	WAP		Waipahu		4.0
37	HIL		Hilo		3.0
37	KLH		Kalaheo		3.0
37	KEU		Keaau		3.0
40	HNL		Hanalani		2.0
41	KSM		Kam. – Maui		1.0
42	LAN		Lanai		0.0
42	LAU		Laupahoehoe		0.0
42	WAL		Waialua		0.0

HHSAA Wrestling Championships Postponed Due to Tsunami Alert

Kamehameha's Jenna Aina advanced to Sunday's semi finals

Tsunami Warnings have postponed the Boys and Girls state wrestling championships until Sunday, according to Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestling coordinator, Keith Tolentino.

“We’re going to have weigh INS at 7a.m. on Sunday and then go straight through with the matches, without any breaks,” Tolentino said.

After day one of the HHSAA Champions there were eleven BIIF wrestlers advancing to the semi finals.

Following are the girl’s team standings after opening day trials:

HHSAA Wrestling Championships Girls Standings

1	KAH	Kahuku	76.0
2	PUN	Punahou	59.0
3	PEC	Pearl City	58.5
4	KSK	Kam.-Oahu	56.0
5	AIE	Aiea	50.0
6	KSH	Kam-Hawaii	45.0
7	LAH	Lahainaluna	36.0
8	KON	Konawaena	31.5
9	CAM	Campbell	26.0
10	ROS	Roosevelt	24.0
11	IOL	Iolani	23.0
12	MOL	Molokai	21.5
13	RAD	Radford	21.0
14	KEA	Kealakehe	19.0
15	KLN	Kalani	18.0
15	KPO	Kapolei	18.0
17	MOA	Moanalua	16.0
18	FAR	Farrington	14.0
18	HON	Honokaa	14.0
20	MAU	Maui	13.0
21	MCK	McKinley	12.0
22	HAN	Hana	11.0
23	PBA	Pacific Buddhist	10.0
23	PRI	S.A. Priory	10.0
25	MIL	Mililani	9.0
25	WAK	Waiakea	9.0
27	BAL	Baldwin	7.0
27	HBA	HI Baptist	7.0
27	KIL	Kailua	7.0
27	WAN	Waianae	7.0
31	KLH	Kalaheo	6.0
32	HPA	HI Prep	5.0
32	KAS	Kaiser	5.0
32	KIN	King Kekaulike	5.0
32	LEI	Leilehua	5.0
32	UHS	University	5.0
37	LAN	Lanai	4.0
38	CAS	Castle	3.0
38	KAU	Ka`u	3.0
38	KSM	Kam.-Maui	3.0
38	SHA	Sacred Hearts	3.0
42	HIL	Hilo	0.0
42	KEU	Keaau	0.0
42	MPI	Mid Pacific	0.0
42	STF	St. Francis	0.0
42	WAP	Waipahu	0.0

Eleven BIIF Wrestlers Advance to Semi’s at HHSAA

Kamehameha's Nalu Souza, 120, advances to semi finals

   Big Island wrestlers fared well in day one of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association wrestling championships held Friday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu to advance into Saturday’s semi-finals.

   Kamehameha-Keaau advanced a total of five wrestlers, Konawaena four, Waiakea one and Hawaii Prep had one.

   For the boys it was Kona’s Sage Aoki, 108, and Jimmy Romualdo, 135, along with Kamehameha’s Nalu Souza, 120, and HPA’s Keoni Colson making it into Saturday’s semis.

   For the girls Kamehameha Meghan Aina, 98, Jenna Aina, 114, Rustee-Ann Johansen, 130 and Kaopua Sutton, 175, along with Waiakea’s Tracey Poch, 155, and Kona’s Tamalei Louis, 125, and Alexandra Aoki, 103, make the semis.

   All eleven wrestlers are the Big Island Interscholastic Federation individual champions for their respective weight class.

  Alexandra Aoki was the BIIF highest state finisher last year finishing with a second place medal. 

  The big surprise was Honokaa’s Geo Chavez-Pardini, 160, who dropped his opening match during the trials and now needs to work his way through the consolation bracket in order to medal in the top six.