Aging changes what your body needs—and the right questions about food, medications, appetite, and supplements can help protect your strength, energy, and independence.

Good nutrition is the cornerstone of healthy aging. Yet as we age, our dietary requirements change. We usually don’t need as many calories. But we have to be sure we get enough of certain key nutrients, like calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.

Getting proper nutrition often becomes harder with age because of things like loss of appetite or problems with chewing or swallowing food. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your doctor about nutrition. Here are questions you may want to ask.

How do I know if I’m getting all the nutrition I need?

Surveys show that many Americans, especially older Americans, aren’t getting all the nutrition they need.

Even many people who are overweight fall short on vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. They get plenty of calories, but they may not be getting enough nutrition. Unfortunately, a long-term lack of nutrients may happen before symptoms show up.

Early signs of this may include:

• Unusual fatigue
• Brittle hair or loss of hair
• Skin rashes or sores that don’t heal
• Cracks at the corners of the mouth
• A pale tongue

A physical exam may alert your doctor to poor nutrition. Blood tests can show whether you get enough of some key nutrients, such as iron or vitamin D.

Do any of my meds affect my appetite or how food tastes?

A range of medicines, including many often used by older adults, can interfere with good nutrition.

Some pain relievers and arthritis meds irritate the stomach, for example. Some antibiotics, stool softeners, and chemotherapy drugs can affect how food tastes. Antidepressants, diuretics, pain medications, and some heart drugs can lower your appetite.

Does anything I’m taking get in the way of nutrients I need?

A variety of treatments can stifle the body’s ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medications.

I’m not very hungry when I know it’s time to eat. Is that normal for someone my age?

There are many reasons why older adults often don’t have a big appetite. Because they are usually less active than younger people, they need fewer calories. And less ability to taste may mean that food just doesn’t have as much appeal as it once did.

However, a big loss of appetite or weight loss can also be a sign of depression or other serious health problems. Tell your doctor if you see a change in your appetite or lose weight without trying.

If you found this Health Matters update helpful, feel free to share it with someone you care about. It might be exactly what they need today.