As we reach midlife, our bodies may compel us to make a few tweaks here and there when it comes to what we put on our plate as our nutritional needs require a little adapting.
“Our need for energy or calories reduces as we age,” says registered dietitian Maria Lucey. “We tend to be less active, and our metabolism begins to slow. Although this means that if we want to prevent weight gain, we need to eat less, our requirement for vitamins and minerals remains largely the same. In fact, we need slightly more protein and the same amount of vitamins and minerals as we always did. Over the age of 50, this ageing process is gradual and consistent in men. However, for women the changes tend to be more dramatic, coinciding with the onset of menopause.”