Dr. Lewis Suskiewicz, M.D., speaks to the McLean Woman’s Club on senior nutrition. Photo by Laura Sheridan/Woman’s Club
Dr. Lewis Suskiewicz, M. D., a distinguished local internist retired from Inova Fairfax and Fair Oaks Hospitals, spoke about senior nutrition to the Woman’s Club of McLean at its meeting on Feb. 2. He addressed the nutritional adjustments that seniors often must make because of physical changes that occur during aging.
Much of the doctor’s talk focused on weight control. Older people, he said, generally need to reduce the number of calories they consume because they are less active than previously and have less muscle mass and lower hormonal levels. Moreover, overweight can cause increased stress on joints and the back and also can affect medications.
The number of calories a person takes in should be determined by their optimal weight. A rule of thumb is to consume 10 calories per pound per day. Ideally, 30 to 40 percent of caloric intake should occur at breakfast, with the same general amounts at lunch and dinner. Carbohydrates should make up 50 to 60 percent of total calories, and these should be complex carbohydrates. Proteins, preferably from non-animal sources, should make up 20 to 30 percent of total calories, and another 30 to 40 percent can be fats, ideally unsaturated fats. Restricting your diet in these ways can reduce cardiovascular risk by 2 percent for each point of lowered cholesterol, and cholesterol itself can be reduced 5 to 15 points by diet restrictions.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are generally not needed, according to Dr. Suskiewicz. Some vitamin supplements in large amounts, for example, Vitamins E and A, can damage the liver. On the other hand, calcium is often recommended for bone porosity, and there can be indications for other minerals and for vitamins in certain situations. Water intake should be 1-1/2 to 2 quarts a day, according to the doctor, including the 4/5 of a quart that often comes from food.
Dr. Suskiewicz has lived and practiced in northern Virginia since 1975 and has received numerous professional awards and appointments. He has served on professional committees and hospital staffs, taught in medical schools and practiced privately.