Do You Need a Diet Supplement?

It may be a valuable addition at times, but it’s no substitute for well-balanced meals

A complete meal in a can! From their ads, you might think nutritional supplements like Boost and Ensure are the perfect food in midlife and beyond. Exactly how good are these products—and do you really need them?

There’s no doubt your body burns fuel more slowly as you get older, says dietitian Bill Whipple of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Metabolism decreases about 2 percent every decade,” he says, “so you need fewer calories to maintain the same weight. But cutting calories also means cutting protein, vitamins and minerals, so it’s important to eat nutrition-packed foods.”

That’s not always easy, especially for the very elderly, says Francis Salerno, M.D., chief of geriatrics at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Loss of appetite, physical decline, low income, loneliness—all these things can contribute to malnutrition,” he says. “When healthy meals take too much time and effort, people may rely on dietary supplements as a quick fix.”

Ensure and its cousins can be valuable in certain situations, Whipple says—for example, if you have difficulty chewing, can’t get to the store or need extra nutrition after surgery. The key is using such products wisely. Here’s how:

Don’t rely on them exclusively. “By definition, ‘supplement’ means something added to make up for a deficiency,” Salerno says. “It doesn’t mean a substitute for a healthy, protein-rich diet.”
Check the label. A lot of carbohydrates and fat can be packed into that can along with the protein.
Take a good daily multivitamin (not a diet supplement) for the extra calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins you need after age 50.
If you’re ill or have special needs, talk to your doctor or nutritionist before using supplements. “People with diabetes have to be extra-careful about the amount and type of carbohydrates they take in,” Whipple says.
Shop around. Prices range from $1 a can up to $3 or $4.
Exercise regularly. Even if you can manage only a short walk, exercise is essential as you age, to help burn calories and fat as well as maintain muscle tone.

Want to Know More about your nutritional needs? For a copy of the Food Guide Pyramid for Seniors, call 610-402-CARE.

This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM

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