It is estimated that over 3 million people in the UK are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Our elderly population is particularly at risk: over 1 million of those affected are over 65. Malnutrition does not just look skinny. Malnourishment means not getting the right nutrition across the day.
What Is Malnourishment?
As we age, we can lose our appetite and want smaller portions. Because medical healthy eating advise is usually about losing weight, we believe that healthy means more fruit and vegetables as well as low fat, sugar, and salt diets. However, if your appetite is small this style of eating is not always a good idea.
“There is no point struggling through a bowl of salad if that is all you can manage to eat all day.” Malnutrition Task Force. Malnutrition is both a cause and a consequence of ill health and is a silent and hidden problem.
• It will affect health and wellbeing, increase hospital admissions, and can lead to long-term health problems for otherwise healthy and independent older people.
• Signs of malnutrition are not just weight loss but can be other physical symptoms, such as
• dry skin and hair, brittle nails, or sores around the mouth.
• They can also be psychological, including increased irritability and depression.
• Worsening night vision and joint pain are signs of a lack of vitamins and minerals.
Signs that we often think are an inevitable factor of ageing may well be down to malnutrition.
Which Vitamins and Minerals Are Needed in Later Life?
- Calcium is essential for bone health. Found in nuts (especially almonds), dairy products, dried fruit, leafy green vegetables, pulses, and seeds.
Grandbars are made using almond butter, dried fruit, and flax seeds. Some contain white chocolate.
- Omega 3 fatty acid research has shown that it can reduce risk factors for heart disease, aid sleep, soothe skin, lower blood pressure and boost memory as well as many other benefits. The NHS advises against supplements but to ingest Omega 3 through natural sources. Found in oily fish, walnuts, flaxseed, hemp, chia, and soya beans.
Grandbars are made using walnuts, flax seeds, and hemp oil.
- Iron is necessary to carry oxygen in red blood cells and prevents anaemia. Found in red meat, green vegetables, dark chocolate, oats, pulses, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds (among others).
Grandbars are made using gluten-free oats, prunes, dried apricot, dates, and dried bananas as well as walnuts, almond butter, and flax seeds. Some also contain dark chocolate.
- Magnesium keeps the heart and immune system healthy and your bones strong. Found in nuts, avocados, legumes, dark chocolate, seeds, whole grains, leafy vegetables, and bananas (among others).
Grandbars are made using walnuts, almond butter, flax seeds, and dried bananas. Some also contain dark chocolate.
- Potassium helps muscles work, and maintain a good water balance, nerve impulses, digestion, blood pressure and heart rhythm. Found in apricots, bananas, prunes, dates, oranges, potatoes, carrots, lean meat, whole grains, pulses, seeds, and nuts.
Grandbars are made using dried apricots, bananas, dates, prunes, walnuts, almond butter, and flax seeds.
- Selenium helps the immune system and can prevent damage to cells and tissues. Found in all meats plus bananas, nuts, oats, milk, mushrooms, seeds, eggs, brown rice, and pulses.
Grandbars are made using dried bananas, walnuts, almond butter, gluten-free oats, and flax seeds.
See our nutrition page to get a more detailed analysis of our Grandbars.
Natural Nutrients Vs Synthetic
Natural nutrients are obtained from whole food sources in the diet. Synthetic nutrients are made artificially, in an industrial process. At Grandbar Snacks we believe, along with much medical evidence, that natural nutrients are better than synthetic ones. It is unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed or how quickly they deteriorate in nutritional value due to oxidisation.
Human bodies are designed to absorb nutrients naturally and not in isolation. This means that our ingredients provide a healthy mixture of natural vitamins and minerals as well as fibre, energy, and antioxidants.
Why are Grandbars so necessary? Because they look good, taste good and are packed full of calories and natural nutrition.
