Ensuring Seniors are Getting Enough Vitamin C in Victoria, BC

Uncategorized  |  September 10, 2020

Vitamin intake is crucial to getting necessary nutrition and maintaining good health throughout the golden years. However, vitamin deficiencies are common in older adults and they can occur for many different reasons – the natural process of aging, side effects of medication that prevent proper vitamin absorption, inadequate diet, frequently skipped meals, and more.

If you provide care for an elderly family member, you probably know that the vitamin especially important to your loved one’s overall wellbeing is vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid.

Although certain health benefits of vitamin C do not need a special introduction, let us remind you that it is essential in:

• Fighting off colds – Vitamin C is well-known to have healing properties when it comes to ordinary colds and other illnesses.
• Boosting immunity – This vitamin helps fight off infections by assisting in the formation of white blood cells.
• Maintaining healthy joints – Promotes the formation of collagen, which is the structural protein that helps hold skin, ligaments, and cartilage together.
• Keeping blood vessels strong – When there is a sufficient level of vitamin C in the organism, the walls of blood vessels can remain strong and resistant to damage.

As our loved ones get older, the need for vitamin C increases, meaning their immune system becomes weaker and more susceptible to illnesses. By supplementing or eating foods rich in vitamin C, your aging loved one can significantly improve their overall health and ward off numerous medical conditions such as heart disease, macular degeneration, osteoporosis, and cancer.

As estimated, the recommended daily dose is 90 milligrams of ascorbic acid for men and 75 milligrams for women. To ensure mom or dad is getting sufficient amounts of vitamin C, it is best if you consult with a healthcare professional. A physician or a nutritionist can recommend a healthy diet rich in citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cantaloupe. For some aging adults, supplements are a preferred way of preventing vitamin C deficiency.

Comfort Keepers Can Help

At Comfort Keepers of Victoria, we support physician-prescribed diets and nutrition plans. Our trained caregivers can help with meal planning, cooking, grocery shopping, and more. Our goal is to provide customized in-home care and do everything we can to keep your mom or dad healthy, happy, and comfortable at home, regardless of age or acuity.

Call our Victoria office at 778-402-2175 to learn more about our unique care services and schedule a free care assessment today.

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