Nutrition in Older Adulthood

Older adults have unique nutritional needs that support optimal health and enhance quality of life during aging.

Chronic Disease ¹

Older adults have unique nutritional needs that support optimal health and enhance quality of life for healthy aging.

• Milk and yogurt reduce risk for overweight or obesity.
• Low-fat dairy foods and milk reduce risk for hypertension.
• Yogurt reduces risk for type 2 diabetes.

Bone + Muscle

Older adults are at greater risk for health conditions related to bone and muscle mass loss, including osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

• Nutrient-rich dairy foods provide high-quality protein to help maintain muscle, as well as bone-building nutrients important during bone remodeling that takes place postmenopause.²
  
• Improving calcium and protein intake through dairy consumption reduces the risk of frailty, falls and fractures.^3,4,5,6

Cognition

Researchers are uncovering how a healthy diet can help preserve cognitive function.

• One study found that increasing milk consumption to three servings per day increases glutathione, an antioxidant responsible for reducing oxidative stress in the brain.⁷
• Eating fermented foods like cheese and yogurt that contain probiotics may improve gut health, which research shows may help improve immunity, reduce inflammation and decrease memory decline in older
  adults.^8,9

Nutrition Security

One in 5 food-insecure households include an adult 65 years or older.¹⁰ Poverty, food insecurity and poor nutrition have harmful impacts on the health and well-being of older adults.

Access to nutrient-rich dairy foods can help older adults achieve nutrition security, supporting their ability to work, carry on daily activities and live
independently.

Prioritize Nutrition for Older Adults

Adequate milk and dairy intake can be a simple, safe and affordable solution to support health as people age. Health professionals, community resource centers, Area Agencies on Aging, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP), Meals on Wheels and food banks can advocate for milk and dairy foods’ role in meal programs that support older adult nutrition.

Tips for adding daily dairy for Older Adults

• Add milk to oatmeal or cheese to grits in the morning
• Add yogurt to fruit or vegetable packed smoothies
• Top cottage cheese with fresh or canned fruit
• Make savory dips with thick protein-rich yogurt
• Sip on kefir as a snack

Adding just 1 additional daily serving of dairy foods to current consumption can help older adults move closer to meeting daily dairy needs and significantly contribute to closing gaps in key nutrients of concern.

Daily dairy recommendation for older adults is 3 servings.¹¹

Serving Sizes for Adults