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SPECIFIC CHANGES WITH AGING: DIGESTION
Unlike vision and hearing, many organs are involved in digestion: the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, small intestine, and colon perform the remarkable task of breaking food into the nutrients our bodies need. Though digestive complaints are common among older people, only very minor changes normally occur in this exceedingly complex system as we grow old.
By age sixty, there is about a 25 percent reduction in the amount of saliva we produce. This loss, combined with the dental problems that occur more frequently as we age, may make it more difficult to chew foods thoroughly. It also may alter taste sensitivity slightly. Primarily because of a declining sense of smell, but also because of changes in the mouth, elderly people sometimes complain that foods either taste bland or have a disagreeable aftertaste. In the stomach, less gastric juice is secreted. While this loss may affect the body\'s absorption of certain nutrients, it is unlikely to cause discomfort in digesting food. Changes in most of the other physiological processes involved in digestion are surprisingly hard to find. For instance, in spite of the widespread idea that constipation is almost universal in later life, waste material does not take longer to pass through the large intestine in older people.
So, digestive problems are not an inevitable consequence of growing old. When they occur, they either are signs of illness or are caused by changes in what we do. Poor eating habits, increased use of medications, lack of exercise, or emotional stress can interfere with digestion at any age. In later life they may wreak worse digestive havoc because they add to the small age losses that normally take place.
For instance, when we are tense we normally secrete less saliva and gastric juices. When we are anxious and older we are more likely to have problems with a dry mouth and churning stomach because the inhibiting effect of fear compounds that of age.
To ensure that your digestive system functions well, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and limit emotional stress. To maintain a tip-top digestive system, National Institute on Aging experts recommend drinking alcohol sparingly and avoiding large amounts of caffeine. And if you are prone to minor stomach upsets, eat slowly and try to relax for about thirty minutes after each meal.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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