Seniors

The aging process can bring about challenges to nutrition. Older people tend to eat less as energy requirements, activity, and metabolism rates decrease. But the vitamins and minerals needed for sound health remains the same or even increases. The objective is to select foods that maximize the intake of nutrients.

Bananas are very useful to seniors in helping them meet the nutritional challenges posed by aging. Not only are bananas easy to eat and to digest, but also they are rich in several nutrients that are important to a senior's diet, such as vitamins C, B6 and folate, and minerals like potassium.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 25% of U.S. adults report eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. As a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, bananas can help satisfy certain dietary requirements for good health. Bananas also provide 20% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of B6, a vitamin that helps the body use proteins.

For a better understanding of the food choices that will help you meet nutrient requirements, please refer to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Information Center website. This site contains the Dietary Guidelines and the Food Guide Pyramid.