How your Digestion Changes with Age

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CLEVELAND - Have you ever noticed that something you used to eat all the time now upsets your stomach, or just doesn’t taste the same anymore?

Well, it could be due to your age.

Lillian Craggs-Dino, RD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic, explains how our digestive systems change as we get older.

“Sometimes we become intolerant to certain foods because we’re starting to lose those digestive enzymes. All these enzymes in the digestive process are needed to break down food, but as we get older, things slow down a little bit,” said Craggs-Dino. “So maybe we used to be able to drink milk, but now we became lactose intolerant. It’s going to affect our intake and our choices.”

Craggs-Dino said older individuals may also experience other digestive issues like acid reflux, or heart burn, and constipation.

To help prevent that, she recommends keeping a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein, whole grains and dairy.

In addition, they need to make sure they’re getting enough calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and fiber, which offers many benefits.

For example, fiber can aid in weight management and improved digestion.

She said staying active is important too.

Besides digestive changes, there are other factors that can impact an older person’s food preferences.

“As we get older, sometimes we might be losing our teeth or having problems with our oral intake, so if that’s the case, now you’re already having problems with the right foods because it’s hard to chew it or hard to eat it,” she said. “The other thing that I see that as we age is the social context too. If we lose loved ones or friends, you may not have an appetite when you’re by yourself.”

Cragg-Dino said lack of resources could play a role too.

For those with concerns about their digestive system or nutrition, it’s best to consult with your physician.