Nutrition in the Elderly According to Traditional Persian Medicine

As we know, due to increased life expectancy, the world’s population is aging, and Iran deals with the same challenge. Since population aging may lead to increased prevalence of malnutrition [1]; particular focus is required for the prevention and treatment of malnourished elderly. Our materials were selected by searching tutorials of Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) in TPM old books such as The Canon of Medicine (Al-Kanoon Fi Al-Tib) and Kholasat Ol-Hikmah about lifestyle management in the elderly. In old Persian medicine books, special attention has been given on aging, and the importance of nutrition and other aspects of elderly life have been explained in special parts in order to promote quality of life for elderly [2, 3]. TPM scholars emphasized that due to the weakness of the gastrointestinal (GI) system especially the stomach in the elderly, they should eat more often than young adults but in smaller portions. It is very important for elderly to eat dinner and not to sleep hungry, as skipping dinner can lead to body weakness that cannot be compensated easily; dinner should be eaten in the evening and not late [2, 3]. TPM scholars mentioned some useful foods and vegetables for the elderly. They have recommended the use of well-cooked wheat bread, soft-boiled eggs, poultry soups and pea-soup with almond or olive oil [4].