Vitamins to Help You Stay Super After 50

If you’re 50 and up, some congratulations are in order—reaching and exceeding half a century is no simple feat! At that age, your life experiences have provided you with everything necessary to reap the rewards of a life well lived.

At this age, your body needs to be able to keep up with your drive and enthusiasm—easier said than done, but never impossible. To achieve that, regular exercise is a common must-have, but an idea worth diving into is how vitamins play a huge part in empowering you for the days ahead.

The truth is, regardless of how old you are, there is no single vitamin that can stave off the overall effects of aging. There is, however, a set of vitamins that can improve quality of life at advanced ages—granted, of course, they are working in tandem with other important methods like exercise and having a balanced diet.  

Take note that these need to be included in your diet safely. Your best way in is to get the weigh in of your physician regarding which vitamins you lack and how to add them into your daily sustenance.  

That said, let’s get familiar with the letters and numbers you need to incorporate in your life to make your 50s and beyond as vibrant as they can be. 

Physical independence may be a nice-to-have for some, but it’s a sure-to-have for you when you get enough Vitamin D! Among its multiple health benefits are bone and muscle health improvement and the strengthening of the immune system. Through this, people beyond 50 can also ward off conditions that affect the density and stability of bones.

Get your daily dose of Vitamin D through the following:

• Food: Eggs, oil-rich fish, and mushrooms are rich in Vitamin D. Pick a dish that includes one or more of these ingredients, then include them in your regular recipe roster.

   

• Sun exposure: Sunbathing is one of the simplest and quickest ways to absorb Vitamin D in the body. If you have no adverse reactions to sun exposure, around 20 minutes a day is good practice. 

• Supplements: Although it’s always better to get your Vitamin D from natural sources, supplements are also a viable option.

Interestingly, there is bacteria living in our intestines that produces Vitamin B12, which is particularly important in the formation of blood cells and neurons. Unfortunately, this vitamin-producing bacteria lies at the end of the digestive tract where nutrients can no longer be synthesized.  

Interestingly, there is bacteria living in our intestines that produces Vitamin B12, which is particularly important in the formation of blood cells and neurons. Unfortunately, this vitamin-producing bacteria lies at the end of the digestive tract where nutrients can no longer be synthesized.  

This is the reason why Vitamin B12 needs to be supplemented orally, either by food or supplementation. 

• Food: Vitamin B12 can be found in several foods, such as beef liver, milk and dairy products, eggs, salmon, tuna, chicken hearts, among others. 

• Supplements: Some of the ingredients mentioned above are commonly included in a 50-year-old's no-eat list due to some dietary restrictions. Check with your doctor in case you need Vitamin B12 supplementation through capsules. 

Keeping your wits sharp is crucial for living life to the fullest after 50. Other B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B9) can help preserve the proper functioning of the nervous system.  

Staying physically and mentally active will keep your nervous system strong, and consuming foods that provide a good amount of B vitamins can help!

Feeling your age yet? Feeling good about it is just a matter of perspective supplemented healthy habits that boost your physical and mental wellbeing—of course, alongside all your doctor’s recommendations! So, whether you’re in your 50s, 60s, and so forth, always take care of your health—it’s advice that will never get old!  

More references:

Osteoporosis treatment: Medications can help Mayo Clinic, 2023. 
What to Know About Vitamin B12 Dosage for Older Adults, WebMD, 2023.

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