10 Benefits of Milk for the Elderly (2023)

FAQs

Why is milk important for elderly? ›

Milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults tend to need more of, to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength, and prevent osteoporosis. For some seniors, milk means more than nutrition. It provides comfort in their golden years.

Which type of milk is best for the elderly? Low-fat or non-fat milk is a good source of vitamin D and other nutrients. The elderly may drink fresh milk, but those who have lactose-related intolerance may choose lactose-free versions.

Most people over the age of 70 should drink 3 to 4 cups of milk per day, as milk is a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. It's important to drink milk that is low in fat and has no added sugar for the best health benefits.

For women over the age of 70, four serves of the dairy foods group are recommended daily. For men over 70, the recommended daily amount is 3.5 serves.

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning.

A Swedish study suggests that while milk may be good, more is not better. This study found that too much milk – three or more glasses a day – was not only associated with mortality but also an increased risk of fracture and hip fracture.

Low- or non-fat dairy — Skim or 1% milk contains all the protein, vitamins and minerals that whole milk contains, but it has much less saturated fat. This type of milk is typically more heart-healthy than full-fat milk.

Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger. There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night.

There's no reason for adults to drink cow's milk unless they like it, according to Vasanti Malik of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

After that, full-fat cow's milk is recommended as a good source of fat for brain development, dropping to 1 or 2 per cent fat milk from age 2.

Does drinking milk improve memory? ›

Milk has been shown to help improve cognitive function and memory. It is a great source of protein, vitamin D, potassium, and calcium – all important nutrients for optimal brain health. If you're looking for an easy way to give your brain a little boost, consider adding milk to your diet.

Drinking milk is beneficial for health regardless of your age. Milk is an excellent vitamin D and calcium source to keep up muscle strength, maintain healthy bones, and prevent osteoporosis. Still, low or non-fat milk is the best choice for the elderly.

Undoubtedly, cow's milk is an excellent source of calcium, with 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) providing 309 milligrams or 24% of your Daily Value. Calcium is vital for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth and ensuring the heart, nerves and muscles function properly.

How to prevent dehydration in older adults? Experts generally recommend that older adults consume at least 1.7 liters of fluid per 24 hours. This corresponds to 57.5 fluid ounces, or 7.1 cups.

According to the Reynolds Institute on Aging, Seniors should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, or approximately 1.5 liters. Have your senior sip on water throughout the day. Sometimes using a straw is easier and leads to more water consumption. Offer a full glass of water when they take medications.

Your bone health might improve

Not only is milk a great vegetarian protein source, but it's also packed with calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients that are vital for bone health. Calcium is a mineral needed to build and maintain strong bones, and vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium from the foods we eat.

As per Ayurveda, the best time to consume milk for adults is before bedtime. As for kids, Ayurveda recommends an early morning dose of milk. Drinking milk at night promotes 'Ojas'. Ojas is referred to as a state in Ayurveda when you achieve proper digestion.

Cutting out dairy means you get less B12, which is important within your immune system and helping your body fight off bacteria. Harju-Westman says you can combat this by taking a B12 supplement and eating foods fortified with the vitamin.

If you fall into this category, drinking a glass of milk before bed will only your body discomfort. Digestive issues like gas, bloating, cramps and diarrhea are just a list of things caused by lactose intolerance that could keep you up at night.

Among the unhealthiest: Banana milk. Super high in sugar, carbs and calories, without very much fiber and protein. Outstanding flavor: Oat milk. Creamy texture, combined with a sweet, rich but mild taste give it the perfect flavor profile.

Which milk is the healthiest 2% or whole? ›

Milk Fat and Heart Health

One cup of whole milk has 4.5 grams of saturated fat, and 1 cup of 2-percent milk has 3 grams of saturated fat. This is one of the primary reasons most health care professionals recommend low-fat milk over whole.

AHA Recommendation. We recommend that adults and children age 2 and older use milk that's low in dairy fats. This includes fortified fat-free (skim or nonfat) milk, fortified nonfat milk powder, and 1/2 percent and 1 percent low-fat milk.

At a minimum, bathing once or twice a week helps most seniors avoid skin breakdown and infections. Using warm washcloths to wipe armpits, groin, genitals, feet, and any skin folds also helps minimize body odor in between full baths.

According to their internal body clock, most older adults need to go to sleep around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Many people fight their natural inclination to sleep and choose to go to bed several hours later instead.

While a 30- to 90-minute nap in older adults appears to have brain benefits, anything longer than an hour and a half may create problems with cognition, the ability to think and form memories, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Yes, they're small, but tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios have big anti-aging powers. These crunchy snacks contain special nutrients that can help delay or prevent age-related heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, nerve disease, and some types of cancer.

Seniors should eat plenty of citrus fruits to obtain enough vitamin C in their day. Vitamin C is known to produce antibodies, which boost immunity and help older adults fight off infections. Some examples of vitamin C rich foods are oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers, tangerines, grapefruit, and strawberries.

“We have the highest amounts of lactase when we are young because as babies, we feed on milk. But we often make less and less lactase as we age,” she says. “About 65% of people may experience lactose intolerance at some point in their lives.”

Whole Grain Cereal with Milk: Whole grains are generally low in glycemic index (GI), which helps provide steady energy to the brain. In fact, one study reported that test takers who ate a lower GI oatmeal breakfast scored better on memory and cognition tests than when they ate a high glycemic matched meal.

Green tea. As is the case with coffee, the caffeine in green tea boosts brain function. In fact, it has been found to improve alertness, performance, memory, and focus ( 75 ). But green tea also has other components that make it a brain-healthy beverage.

What foods make your memory stronger? ›

Antioxidants in cow's milk can slow down brain ageing and protect against Alzheimer's, study finds | Euronews.

Helps You Relax

Dairy milk has a small amount of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that triggers both melatonin (to help you sleep) and serotonin (to uplift your mood).

The Best Nutritional Drink For Seniors

If you're adding a nutritional drink between meals for seniors to help them meet their calorie goals, there are several drinks that aren't filled with sugar. These include Ensure High Protein shake, Ensure Light, Boost Max, Boost Glucose Control, Glucerna, and Premier.

To meet dietary calcium requirements, women need 1,000 milligrams per day between ages 19 and 50 and 1,200 milligrams after age 51, according to the federal Office of Dietary Supplements. Drinking three to four glasses of milk would meet your calcium needs.

Low-fat milk, almond milk and soymilk offer substantial amounts of calcium, protein and other nutrients good for bone and muscle health, which is extremely important for older adults. If you're looking for a lower-calorie drink, unsweetened almond milk can have as few as 30 calories in eight ounces.

When considering calcium, dairy milk naturally has about 300 milligrams per cup, and dairy products generally are considered the best absorbed source of calcium. Many soy or almond milks are fortified with calcium to at least match the amount of calcium in dairy milk.

Apricots

Out of the many calcium-rich fruits, apricots top the list.

Severe dehydration can lead to confusion, weakness, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bedsores in bedridden patients, and other serious conditions. Drinking enough fluids helps the body digest food, eliminate waste, regulate temperature through sweating, and maintain blood pressure.

What is the fastest way to hydrate an elderly person? ›

Choose foods with high water content.

If you have trouble drinking fluids, try including water-rich foods with every meal. These include cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and celery. Soups, broths and stews are also a good way to boost your fluid intake, especially in the colder weather.

Increased cold sensitivity is a normal part of aging, but it can also be a sign of a health problem. Older adults have a thinner layer of fat under the skin, making them more susceptible to cold. Conditions like diabetes, peripheral artery disease and kidney disease can restrict blood flow and lower body temperature.

The Eatwell Guide says we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.

As a rule of thumb, tight and constricting clothing is unsafe for seniors, as they need as much blood flow in their body as possible.

Here is one more reason to enjoy that morning cup of joe: “Coffee counts toward your daily water intake,” says Lauren DeWolf, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers. The water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages helps us meet our daily fluid needs.

Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium. It has an important role in bone health. Nutritionists recommend that people have milk and other dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheese, every day as part of a balanced diet.

Research on 5,834 U.S. adults by Brigham Young University exercise science professor Larry Tucker, Ph. D., found people who drink low-fat milk experience several years less biological aging than those who drink high-fat (2% and whole) milk. "It was surprising how strong the difference was," Tucker said.

Low- or non-fat dairy — Skim or 1% milk contains all the protein, vitamins and minerals that whole milk contains, but it has much less saturated fat. This type of milk is typically more heart-healthy than full-fat milk.

Milk is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus which are necessary for the development and maintenance of strong, healthy bones and teeth. These reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. Milk promotes bone health.

Your bone health might improve

Not only is milk a great vegetarian protein source, but it's also packed with calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients that are vital for bone health. Calcium is a mineral needed to build and maintain strong bones, and vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium from the foods we eat.

What is best time to drink milk? ›

As per Ayurveda, the best time to consume milk for adults is before bedtime. As for kids, Ayurveda recommends an early morning dose of milk. Drinking milk at night promotes 'Ojas'. Ojas is referred to as a state in Ayurveda when you achieve proper digestion.

Ensure and Boost have multiple ready-to-drink shakes that may help you increase your protein intake, gain weight, and manage diabetes. Both are also a good choice for older adults. However, they're not designed for children.