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Less food, more water and more exercise are included in the new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) age-modified food pyramid. The USDA created the revised Food Guide Pyramid in 2005, with an interactive model available on the Internet so that nutritional requirements can be adjusted by body size, sex, and physical activity levels. They have also created custom Pyramids for pre-school children, and now for adults 70 and older.

Senior citizens have unique nutritional needs including special requirements for nutrients that are depleted in many people over 70. The pyramid emphasizes the need for extra calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 in a diet.

Specifically, the Food Pyramid notes the need for extra:

Calcium: Low-fat dairy and fortified foods are emphasized as rich sources of this bone-healthy nutrient.

Vitamin D: Most elderly people don’t get enough of the sunshine vitamin. The skin’s ability to convert vitamin D to its active form diminishes with age, and many seniors shun the sun for fear of skin damage. Older people can increase their vitamin D intake by eating fortified foods; some people may also need to take a vitamin D supplement to ensure adequate intake.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common with increasing age, as many people lose the capacity to produce stomach acid, which is necessary for its absorption. It might be wise to take a B12 supplement or talk with your doctor to determine if B12 injections would be beneficial.

Fluids: "Thirsty cues” diminish with advancing age, leaving seniors vulnerable to dehydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.

Fiber: Select "good carbohydrates" like legumes, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables for fiber sources.

While some nutrients might be lacking in a senior diet, others some seniors may get too much folic acid, which can mask the laboratory diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, potentially leading to neurological damage.

Many medications may deplete important vitamins and minerals from one's body, too. It's important to let your doctor know about all the supplements and vitamins you take daily, and also to find a doctor who understands the importants of adding supplements to the diet to counteract the effects of medication and age.

Visit the Interactive Food Pyramid at the link below:
http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/

Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is found in just about every cell of your body where it’s critical for energy production. The heart, which requires tremendous energy, has the highest concentration of CoQ-10.

Our body cannot regenerate CoQ-10 naturally, and it begins to wane after age 50. If your CoQ-10 levels are below normal, it could cause major health concerns. Normal aging, certain cholesterol-lowering regimens, and diet can lead to a CoQ-10 deficiency. CoQ10 is found primarily in fish and meat, but the amounts in food are far less than what can be obtained from supplements. New studies have focused on the importance of CoQ-10 supplements for heart health.

Adult supplemental levels are usually 30�"90 mg per day, although people with specific health conditions may supplement with higher levels (with the involvement of a physician). Most of the research on heart conditions has used 90�"150 mg of CoQ10 per day.

If you have a heart condition or any health issue, check with your doctor before starting to take any over-the-counter vitamin, supplement or medicine. But do ask your doctor about CoQ-10 and how it may help you achieve optimal health.

PS: BotanicChoice.com is celebrating Heart Health Month in February.

Found in the Amazon, the Acai berry is a small purple fruit traditionally used to enhance energy and wellness. In addition to it being a powerful antioxidant, the Açaí berry is a rare plant source that contains complete proteins along with naturally occurring Omega 6 and 9 and essential amino acids. Acai enhances energy and promotes a healthy immune system.

No clinical trials of Açaí for the prevention or treatment of any health condition have been published in the medical literature as yet, but Acai has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of conditions in its native Brazil.

Açaí is one of nature’s richest sources of anthocyanins �" a type of bioflavonoid. Anthocyanins make up the purple, red, and blue-black pigments found within certain berries, fruits, plants, and flowers. The fruit of Açaí also contains protein, fiber, enzymes, vitamin E, amino acids, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, zinc, and boron), phytosterols, and beneficial fatty acids.

Acai Juice is available at many grocery stores, and Acai Berry Extract is available in easy-to-take supplements.

http://www.botanicchoice.com Copyright, 2008 Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc. All Rights Reserved. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician.

Mood swings...Hot flashes...Night sweats...Sound familiar? Menopause can bring an array of disruptive, unpleasant changes that affect your mind, body and spirit. And with controversies surrounding certain therapies, more and more women are searching for a natural way to manage menopause.

Fortunately, now there are all-natural solutions that are safe and effective.


* Soy: Botanic Choice uses Soylife® Soy Germ Extract, because not all soy is created equal. The concentration level in Soylife is extracted to maintain an isoflavone ratio close to the whole soybean, which offers the greatest health benefits. Clinical studies consistently show that soy isoflavones like Soylife lower the incidence of hot flashes. Furthermore, soy isoflavones may also help keep arteries flexible and healthy.

* Black cohosh �" This herb, also known as black snakeroot and bugbane, can ease anxiety and occasional sleeplessness

* Chasteberry �" This is the peppery fruit of a Mediterranean tree, also known as monk's pepper. It works to alleviate hot flashes.

* Dong quai �" Also known as dang-gui in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dong quai is sometimes referred to as the female ginseng. Assists with menopause symptoms.

* Ginkgo biloba (leaf) �" Medicinal use of ginkgo can be traced back almost 5,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine. It boosts memory and mood.

* Red clover �" Modern research has revealed that red clover also contains high amounts of isoflavones. It helps to lessen the rigidity of blood vessels due to declining estrogen levels.
You can find all of these supplements individually at Botanic Choice, or try the Doctor-Recommended Hot Flash Ease Formula

http://www.botanicchoice.com Copyright, 2007 Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc. All Rights Reserved. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician.

Good nutrition affects every part of our body and new research points to Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12 as important nutrients to protect against age-related hearing loss. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that hearing tests in a sample of women between the ages of 60 and 71 revealed B-12 and folate levels that were 25%-31% lower than for women of the same age, with normal hearing.

According to Dr. Gary Gendron, D.C., director of the Integrated Medical Center in Bonita Springs, Florida, "Your ears affect your balance and your well-being. You should give them the nutritional support they need." Among the nutrients you need to support better hearing are:

* Magnesium - Supports healthy hearing, especially as related to noise-induced hearing loss and can protect against an over-sensitivity to loud noises.

* Folate - Supports age-related hearing concerns. Folate levels are lower in women studied who had hearing loss.

* Vitamin B-12 - Low levels of B-12 deficiencies can be related to hearing loss in the elderly. B-12 can improve blood flow to the inner ear,

You can find these nutrients in the recommended dosages in the improved Accu Hear™ blend available at Botanic Choice.

If you suffer from Ringing or Buzzing in the ears, you can also find herbal relief. Noises in the ear not related to external sounds often stem from underlying ear problems associated with noise damage. This causes irritation to the nerves in ears with distracting buzzing, roaring and ringing. Botanic Choice's Homeopathic Ringing Ear Formula is the solution that may provide welcome relief from this annoying issue.

[link="http://www.botanicchoice.com"]http://www.botanicchoice.com Copyright, 2007 Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc. All Rights Reserved. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician.