The U of M organized a session on March 19. This brought together retirees and community members to explore healthy aging through nutrition as part of a broader initiative aimed at supporting scholars beyond retirement.
The session was titled ‘Nourish to Flourish: Eating Well as We Age with Leslie Redmond’.
Francene Perehinec, family resources coordinator, noted the session is one piece of a larger institutional effort through the Emeriti and Senior Scholars Engaged in Navigating Continued Excellence (ESSENCE) Project, funded by the 2025-26 Strategic Initiatives Support Fund.
The project connects to the university’s recognition of emeriti and senior scholars — these titles are awarded to faculty and administrators in acknowledgement of distinguished service and contribution.
Organizers emphasized that the sessions are primarily designed for retired academics.
Redmond presented different vitamins and minerals, discussed their benefits and explained which foods hold those vitamins.
Throughout the presentation, Redmond emphasized that nutrition in older adulthood is less about strict rules and more about understanding how the different nutrients support the body over time.
A major portion of the session focused on essential vitamins and minerals, particularly B vitamins, which play a role in energy metabolism, brain function and overall health.
For example, B12, primarily found in animal products, was highlighted as especially important for older adults, as absorption can decrease with age due to changes in stomach acid.
A consistent theme throughout the session was the importance of obtaining nutrients through food rather than relying on supplements.
Redmond shared that although some vitamins can be prescribed in high doses for medical reasons, excessive supplementation can carry risks, including liver damage or nerve issues in certain cases.
The session addressed the relationship between nutrition and cognitive function. Foods like fish, nuts, leafy greens and whole grains were highlighted as part of dietary patterns associated with better cognitive outcomes.
Approaches such as the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet were discussed as examples of balanced eating that emphasize whole foods, lean proteins, healthy fats and overall lifestyle.
Regulating diet is important, but practical steps such as having an active lifestyle and eating with others are also essential.
One of the key messages of the session was simplicity.
Rather than looking for a single superfood or nutrient, individuals are encouraged to be intentional about their overall eating habits.
