Eating healthy becomes especially important as you age because aging is linked to a variety of changes in your body, including changes that affect how you eat and what you require.

Eating nutrient-rich foods can help keep you healthy as you age. Taking a multi-vitamin mineral supplement can also be helpful to fill the gap on nutrients you may have missed.

Aging is linked with muscle loss, thinner skin and less stomach acid. Low stomach acid can affect the absorption of nutrients, such as vitamin B12, just as your needs increase. A common diabetes drug (Metformin) can decrease your vitamin B12 levels. So can heartburn medications. Vitamin B12, used for healthy blood and nervous system, is best absorbed as you age from man-made forms — fortified foods and a vitamin-mineral supplement. Your doctor can check your nutrient level with a blood test.

Another challenge of aging is a reduced need for calories. Older adults need to get just as much, if not more, of some nutrients, all while eating fewer calories. Being active helps this challenge.

Eat a variety of whole foods: unprocessed whole grains and fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts, olives), and protein from animals (meat, fish, chicken) and plant sources (dried beans, lentils, peas, nuts, tofu and tempeh). Keep the extras (desserts, alcohol, snack foods) to a minimum.

Age also reduces the body’s ability to recognize vital senses like hunger and thirst. This could make you prone to dehydration and unintentional weight loss. Monitoring the foods and beverages you consume could be helpful to stay on track.

Choose a multi-vitamin mineral supplement for mature adults or 50+ (which means it is low in iron) that is no greater than 100 percent of the daily value (DV) and U.S. Pharmacopaia (USP) verified. USP is a certifying organization that assures the supplement is true to the label, pure and can be dissolved in 30 minutes. USP certified products in Wisconsin are Nature Made and Kirkland Signature (Costco) vitamin supplements. Supplements should never be excessive in dose or cost.

Eat as well as you can as often as you can.