Rola warzyw i owoców w diecie osób starszych

One of the key elements for healthy aging is proper nutrition, including the amount and type of fruit and vegetables consumed but seniors usually don't eat enough products from these groups. This paper provides data on the role of fruit and vegetables in decreasing risk of such diseases as CVD, osteoporosis, COPD, depression, impairment of cognitive functions, some type of cancers as well as mortality. In this context data on a frequency of vegetables and fruits consumption by older people was presented. The results indicate that the meeting the nutritional guidelines was unsatisfactory. More frequent consumption has been observed among women, participants with higher education and those using medications/special diet. Having a denture significantly reduced the consumption of fruits. Higher nutritional knowledge about vegetables and fruits was associated with more frequent consumption. Therefore, providing nutritional education seems to be particularly important among older people. Key words: elderly, fruits, vegetables, frequency of consumption, nutritional knowledge