Being named one of America's Top 100 Hospitals* could give us swelled heads. / thought I could eat whatever amount I wanted because I was so virtuous about what I was eat- ing," says Mrs. Frank. "I started putting on weight and, after a while, I felt like I was dragging along a 20-pound turkey. "A friend suggested I work with Gail Posner and she ex- plained what was happening to my middle-aged body and what I needed to do. I learned that por- tions are important, and too much is too much even if it is a vegetable! "I also understand that I need to keep this concept constantly in front of me." "Older people do have sever- al things going against them when it comes to good nutrition," says Lisa Apfelblat, a registered dietitian for Beaumont Hospital. "First, their diets become less varied and, unless they're very active, they don't eat much food and their nutrient intake de- creases. What's more, their bod- ies handle vitamins and minerals differently. "For instance, when someone younger consumes too much magnesium, their kidneys ex- crete the excess. For older people, the kidneys and other regulato- ry systems don't compensate as well for these errors. They also may not be able to absorb the vi- tamins very well because of an illness or because they take med- ications that interfere with ab- sorption. "Research has also found a cor- relation between living alone and a poor quality diet," explains Jacqueline Stark Odom, Ph.D., who works primarily with obese /- - patients at the Associates of Birmingham, affiliated with the Henry Ford Health Care System. An elderly person may be overly medicated and not have the en- ergy and enthusiasm to cook a meal. Others may be depressed and only cook when their grandchil- dren visit. Being with other peo- ple, family and friends at meal EATING page 76 The Food Pyramid /- Bread Group Fruit Group Vegetable Group Milk Group Meat Group Modify your foods gradual- ly. Choose foods each day from the five major groups, building your pyramid with plenty of grains, fruits and vegetables. The food pyramid is flexi- ble. As persons grow older or lifestyle, health and activity level changes, simply adjust how many servings of each group are eaten. But being one of America's Top 100 Hospitals we'd know how to treat it. LEI p ROVIDENCE One of the top 100 hospitals in America and close to home. 1-800-968-5595 *Named by HCIA-Mercer healthcare study Sponsored by Daughters of Charity National Health System, Inc. . .. IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR FITNESS Let us help you be the best you can be with 1 on 1 training at our club. A patient friendly pro- gram designed just for you to help you reach your realistic fitness goals. Change your life by changing your lifestyle. Muscle therapy and nutr- tional consulting avail- able. Call us today for a FREE consultation. STA.! R - INTERNATIONAL PHYSIQUE CHAMPION • TV Celebrity Anchor PETER NIELSEN'S Personal Training Club 4119 Orchard Lake Rd. (at Pontiac`Tr.) West Bloomfield (810) 855.0345 LI DIE STAIRWAY LIFTS' THE CAREFREE WAY TO CLIMB STAIRS When you're disabled, or just not able to move around as freely as you once could, stairs can be a real problem. But there is a simple answer. STAIR-GLIDE' powered stairway lilt. Easily installed to fit curved or straight stairs. They give you back the ability to move around your own home. Folds back-gets in nobody's way. CALL OR STOP BY FOR A FREE DEMONSTRATION LARRY ARONOFF ACTON RENTAL & SALES (313) 891-6500 (810) 540-5550 ' ti MAYFLOWER NOME IMPROVEMENT Batch the best Music Reviews in Entertainment CD C >- CC cc LU 75