We can use such help. As we age, our bodies are less able to deal with the oxidative stress we encounter. We also become more sensitive to inflammatory responses in our central nervous systems.
While some foods have been shown to support greater health, energy and mental strength in aging bodies, the biological mechanisms that produce those results aren't fully understood yet. Many researchers believe the beneficial effects are created by the variety of nutritional components in real food, working in combination.
That means you should look in the produce aisles, not the drug aisles, to find what you need. Very few disease processes or healthy outcomes are attained through taking vitamin supplements. Bone loss and vitamin B12 deficiency are among the few conditions that current research shows can be improved with supplements.
By contrast, when vitamins and other compounds are obtained by eating certain foods, there are big benefits. Experts think eating fresh fruit or vegetables, even frozen, is better than taking supplements, because supplements don't have all the compounds. Researchers have broken down foods into families of compounds, and the individual families aren't as effective as when they function together.