Thanks to advances in medical research, Americans are living longer. Compared to 100 years ago, the average life expectancy for men and women increased from 58.2 years to 77.5 years. Although Americans are living longer, rates of disability and diet-related chronic diseases increase substantially in older populations.
In the U.S. 41% of adults 60 years and older are obese, more than 75% have high blood pressure, and 48% are living with type 2 diabetes. What’s more, adults over the age of 80 years are at the highest risk for reduced bone mass and muscle strength (Kochanek, 2022).
What we eat can have a profound effect on our health, and as we age, healthy nutrition is paramount for disease prevention and management. However, data show that Americans struggle with meeting nutritional recommendations. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) translates the science on diet and health into general recommendations for choosing healthy dietary patterns that can promote health and prevent diet-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity…
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