Good nutrition is vital for every age group, but seniors in particular need to pay special attention to their nutritional needs. The right dietary choices can boost a senior’s health and prevent a host of serious conditions, and eating more whole grains is a great place to start. Here are a few of the reasons aging adults should eat more whole grains.
Increase Fiber Intake
A study conducted at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research found high fiber intake is directly linked to successful aging, which is defined as getting older without developing age-related diseases or disabilities. Though researchers are still learning why fiber is so crucial to senior health, they’ve determined it shuttles waste out of the body, lowers cholesterol, controls blood sugar, and maintains digestive health.
Receive Important Vitamins
Seniors have a higher risk of developing deficiencies in certain vitamins, particularly B vitamins. Whole grains provide the vitamin B1, B2, B3, and folate many aging adults need. Folate is important for seniors because some of the symptoms of folate deficiency mimic those of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of information on nutrition and how your loved one can live a healthier lifestyle. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. You can rely on Ambience In-Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often looked at as an inevitable consequence of aging. However, eating whole grains may help seniors keep their blood pressure under control. A study conducted at the University of Aberdeen found participants who consumed three servings of whole grains a day were able to lower their blood pressure.
If your loved one has difficulty shopping for food or preparing nutritious meals, consider adding a professional caregiver to your family’s caregiving team. In Garland, in-home care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Ambience In-Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is a hallmark of many different disorders, ranging from arthritis to diabetes. Regularly consuming whole grains like barley and rice reduces inflammation in the digestive tract, and it may even lower levels of C-reactive protein, which is linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
If your loved one has difficulty meeting his or her nutritional needs, a professional caregiver can help. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Garland, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Ambience In-Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more. Call us at (469) 535-6825 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.