Every decade of our lives feels a little different. Many of us are familiar with having boundless energy in our 20s even after four hours of sleep and a few margaritas, and needing a lot more sleep in our 30s. Starting from the moment we’re born, our bodies and nutritional needs are changing — which is why it makes sense that we need more and less of certain foods as we get older.a registered dietitian and former director of nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center.
Gomer added that we need protein for muscle maintenance and strength, and healthy fat for hormones and fat-soluble vitamins. “As we age, we naturally will lose muscle — if we don’t use it, we lose it,” she said. “And as we age, many things can happen in our lives where we become less active and less motivated to build and maintain muscle. All of our cells, including our brain cells, need healthy fats to function. When we don’t provide them, we can get into trouble physically and cognitively.