There is no denying that wisdom comes with age. Unfortunately, that’s not the only thing that the elderly tend to obtain through years and years of being in existence but also many others that pertain to their health.

Fatigue, joint pain, bone brittleness, a weakened immune system — these and many other concerns can keep them from having optimum health or diminish considerably the quality of their lives.

Certain vitamins and minerals are known to help seniors stay hale and hearty, although their everyday diet may not be able to provide all of the ones their aging bodies require.

This is when the benefit of taking vitamin and mineral supplements can shine. If it’s apparent that an elderly’s everyday diet is not the kind that can provide him or her with all the nutrients required, popping a pill in the mouth that contains those essential vitamins and minerals can help get the body supplied with what it needs.

Here are some of the vitamins and minerals that seniors greatly need, according to nutrition experts:

Calcium

Seniors are at higher risk of suffering from osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the weakening of the bones. Most especially because older people are prone to slipping and falling accidentally, they may end up with fractures due to having brittle bones. To fend off osteoporosis, calcium is very important as it’s a bone strengthener.

Vitamin D

Having calcium alone is not enough. It’s important for the body to be able to utilize all of the calcium that’s introduced into it. According to experts, vitamin D is something that makes it more efficient for the body of a senior to absorb calcium much better. Vitamin D also strengthens the teeth and may also protect against cancer and diabetes.

Vitamin B12

Doctors say that B vitamins are very good at keeping the brain cells healthy. Since seniors are prone to cognitive decline, it’s very important to maintain brain cells that are working properly. Among all of the B vitamin family members, vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is scientifically proven to help keep the brain of people in their golden years healthy.

Iron

As people age, their bodies become less and less efficient at absorbing iron from the diet. It’s for this reason why they may not have enough optimum levels of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bloodstream, which can cause fatigue. Not having enough RBCs due to iron deficiency, by the way, is also the one to blame for anemia.

Vitamin C

There are a couple of reasons why vitamin C is very important for the elderly. First, it allows for a much better absorption of iron obtained via the diet or by means of supplements. Second, it helps maintain a stronger immune system. With the immune system bolstered, infection risk can be considerably lowered.

Zinc

Other than vitamin C, zinc is also a major role player in keeping the immune system strong. Numerous studies have shown that this particular mineral is extremely good at keeping the respiratory infections at bay. Scientists say that zinc also promotes optimum functioning of the brain among the elderly.

Vitamin E

According to experts, vitamin E is actually a powerful form of antioxidant. Seniors can benefit a lot from this particular nutrient in that it helps in getting excess free radicals in the body neutralized. Having lots of free radicals can cause damage to healthy cells, causing the aging process to accelerate.

The above mentioned vitamins and minerals can be obtained via the diet. Unfortunately, it’s not all the time that seniors are able to have well-balanced meals. This is when the benefit of taking vitamin and mineral supplements come into the picture.