We all know that we are better off with good nutrition. Foods fried in trans fats, or eight ounces of meat daily, or lots of cheese casseroles are not going to help us. Even so, many people over age 50 do not eat a healthful diet.

The problem is that as we get older, many factors influence how much we eat. Frequently this results in eating less which now makes us even more vulnerable to poor health. To make matters more sketchy, as we get older our immune system doesn't work as well as it once did and a poor diet just makes the situation worse. As a matter of fact, the nutrition experts agree that eating a better diet helps to reduce the disease burden of aging.

What's interesting is that women are more vulnerable to poor nutrition and may even be malnourished based on their diet, weight and mental well being. Part of the reason is that because older women live longer than men, they are more likely to live alone, all of which makes them susceptible to poor eating due to depression.

One of the results from the study, as published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing, was that more women were at risk of poor health if they felt their health was poor. Researchers believe that poor health itself may be a warning sign physicians can use when it comes to a patient's nutritional status.

The fact is getting older does affect your appetite. Your senses of smell and taste diminish so that food does not taste as good. Another reason is not being able to chew food such as steak because there are problems with dentures staying in place. Aging also reduces the production of certain digestive enzymes and acids so we do not absorb food nutrients as well.

Chronic illnesses and conditions can also decrease appetites. So can depression especially when we're not motivated to prepare the meals. And Parkinson makes it difficult to swallow the food. On top of all that medications can exacerbate the physiological effects of getting older and suppress the appetite even more. For instance, a dry mouth, which can interfere with chewing, is a side effect of many drugs including antidepressants.

As we get older we need to pay more attention to our diets and to specific nutrients. For instance we need to make certain we're getting enough vitamin B6 (potatoes, bananas and beans),B12 (salmon),C (fresh fruits and vegetables), E (nuts and seeds), and calcium (dairy foods and leafy green vegetables).

You may want to talk to your doctor about taking supplements. You probably will need more of vitamin D because it's hard to take in if you live in the northern states because the body produces vitamin D when exposed to the son.

In general, as you age, you need to take in foods that are rich in nutrients such as protein found in poultry and lean meat, fruits and vegetables and good fats like those found in oily fish.

Tips to Encourage Your Appetite

To encourage a better appetite get enough exercise in daily so that your appetite is stimulated. You can increase your protein by spreading peanut butter on toast, or using it as a dip for apple or banana. You may also want to grate cheese on vegetables, soups and sandwiches for more protein. Use herbs and spices to spice up your good especially if you're on a restricted diet such as low in salt. Or you can use salt-free herbs.