For many seniors, a simple diet change might be one of the easiest ways to slow down the progression of certain medical conditions or even prevent some health concerns that may be looming. After a visit with their primary physician, they may be sent home with some diet recommendations to implement into their everyday meal planning to support their goal of healthier living. One of the most common diets that doctors often recommend is called the DASH Diet.
What is the DASH Diet?
The DASH diet (DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a plan for healthy eating that is often recommended for people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure or high LDL cholesterol levels.
The DASH Diet recommends foods that are high in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as other essential vitamins. Those who partake in the DASH Diet will strive to add more fresh vegetables and fruits to their daily diet, as well as whole grains. Proteins will consist of low-fat proteins like fish and chicken, and dairy items should also strive to be non-fat or low-fat to enhance the diet’s ability to improve health.
Some foods will either be restricted or eliminated from the person’s diet as well, such as foods that have excessive amounts of sodium or contain added sugar or saturated fats. While there can always be occasional splurges like a slice of cake on a birthday, the diet should strive to be consistently healthy to improve your loved one’s medical conditions.
What Medical Conditions Does the DASH Diet Help?
While created to help those who have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, the DASH Diet has proven to help with many medical conditions, especially when implemented with other healthy lifestyle changes as recommended by a person’s doctor.
Medical conditions that often show improvement after the DASH Diet has been implemented include:
- High Blood Pressure (sometimes showing improvement within a week of starting the diet!)
- Type 2 Diabetes (it can also help with insulin resistance)
- Heart Disease and Stroke
- Kidney Stones
- Gout
- Obesity
Home Care Assistance Can Help Your Elderly Loved One With Meal Management
Making a change to a lifelong diet can be difficult whether it’s just a few small changes or a complete overhaul. Your elderly loved one may have all of the best intentions when it comes to following her doctor’s recommendations regarding her diet but continue to struggle to meet those recommendations for a variety of reasons.
For some seniors, learning how to purchase and prepare new foods can be overwhelming. They may find themselves shying away from eating a diet that is good for them because they don’t know where to start. Those who need assistance often benefit from a helping hand of a home care provider. A home care provider can help your loved one follow the DASH diet or any other diet recommendations that her doctor has suggested for any medical conditions she might be managing. From the beginning aspects of finding new and better food alternatives at the grocery store to preparing the meals at home, a home care provider can help your loved one successfully make the dietary changes her doctor recommends and enjoy better health in her future.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Medical Conditions Services in Delray Beach FL, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida including Palm Beach, Miami Dade, and Broward County.
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