Nutrition and medications
Nutrition is all about eating a healthy diet. Which means you get an adequate supply of nutrients to help your body function the best. A healthy diet gives away for a healthy mind and body. Good nutrition is an important aspect of our life, regardless of age. Our bodies have the power to heal itself, provided we practice proper nutrition. Also, we must understand that good nutrition is important for strengthening our immune system.
Making good choices
Making good food choices can go a long way in keeping our body healthy and free from various kinds of diseases. Furthermore, with age, there is a drastic change in our immunity levels. Making us fall prey to a variety of infectious diseases. This makes our loved one’s dependant on medications, to keep themselves healthy and free from ailments. While medications help cure and manage several diseases. Our foods are also quite effective to protect our bodies against various ailments. You may want to get with your physician to discuss a way to make better choices with your medications.
Food is very important when it comes to our health
Mindful eating can reduce the need for most medications. Which would, in turn, help us from the side effects of drugs. Proper nutrition can be the best medicine of all time if we eat the correct way. However, it is always easier said than done, because eating healthy has not been always easy. With so many unhealthy foods out there, eating healthy is can be difficult with each passing day.
Immunity and our loved ones- the role of nutrients and medications
With increasing age, there is a marked decrease in our loved one’s immune system. Furthermore, it can make them susceptible to infections and inflammatory diseases. A strong immune system is necessary for protecting the body against foreign bacteria and viruses. We live in a world where we are constantly exposed to a wide range of infectious agents. And this can play havoc if not controlled in time. While age is just one factor for a poor immune system, there are several other factors such as:
- Poor dietary habits
- Improper nutritional status of the individual
- Existing chronic medical conditions
All of this can contribute to low immunity.
Foods that boost the immunity for our loved ones
Let us look at some of the most important nutritious foods that can boost the immunity of our elderly loved ones:
Garlic
This is one food that not only adds flavor to the food but also is capable of improving the immunity of your elderly loved ones. Garlic contains an active ingredient alliin, which handles strengthening the immune system. When crushing the garlic, it converts the alliin to allicin. This, in turn, stimulates the immune cells. Studies carried out, suggest that taking garlic supplements can help decrease the flu symptoms in older adults.
With age, your loved one may find it difficult to cook a nutritious meal by themselves, especially if they are living alone. You can help them as well as educate them about the various foods that they need to include in their daily meals. Also, there are a variety of services that can deliver health nutritious meals to your loved ones if they can no longer cook for themselves.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes are rich in Vitamins A and C. This strengthens the immune system and helps fight off the viruses and bacteria.
Almonds
Almonds are also a rich source of a variety of vitamins and also contain a considerable amount of good quality proteins. All these macro and micronutrients in combination are necessary for building up a strong immune system.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber and protein, zinc. Which serves to be an excellent source for building strong immunity in elderly individuals. Pumpkin seeds are pretty good for evening time healthy snacks, as there are low in calories.
Eating healthy can be a tricky affair for our loved ones. The knowledge about nutritious foods and the task of cooking up a nutritious meal can become an overwhelming task.
Essential nutrients for our loved ones
As our parents get older, getting the right amount of nutrients can really become a challenge. With age, the desire to eat decreases. Also, there is a lack of calories combined with a deficiency in other nutrients. Furthermore, as one age, there is also a large decrease in the body’s capability to absorb the nutrients. All these factors make nutrient deficiency a common problem among the elderly population.
Here is a list of some of the most important nutrients that you need to give your loved ones a healthier life.
B vitamins
Vitamin B12 and folate are important for a healthy nerve function in older adults. Encourage your loved ones to eat a more fortified breakfast cereal to get adequate amounts of B vitamins.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D in combination are essential for healthy bones in old age. As our parent’s age, their body loses the capability to store enough calcium. Dairy and low-calorie seafood are some of the prominent sources of calcium.
Potassium
Potassium is also necessary for healthy bones and it also plays an important role in cell function. Getting adequate levels of potassium from the diet also helps in keeping the blood pressure levels under check. You need to give your elderly a good 4 – 5 serving of fruits and vegetables every day, to keep their potassium levels up to the mark.
Fiber
A rich fiber diet keeps the gut healthy and prevents the elderly from constipation and other gut-related problems. In addition to fruits and vegetables, whole grains, cereals, and nuts also form good sources of fiber.
Omega – 3 fatty acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are particularly important for our elderly. It helps with delaying the onset or even the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Magnesium
Magnesium is not only important for strengthening the immune system. But also important for maintaining strong bones and heart health. Many medications that our elderly take may interfere with the absorption of magnesium, causing its deficiency to set in. Make sure your elderly get enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans.
Conclusion
There are many natural ways to help manage this problem. Use the above tips and suggestions to help. And talk to your healthcare provider for more advice. In addition, there are several foods that lower heart rate as part of an anti-inflammatory diet, especially fiber-rich vegetables and all kinds of fruits, and herbs and spices, and beans and legumes. Nutrition can play a big part in better health and the reduction of many medications. Finally, It can be difficult to attend to your loved one with too many medications, but it’s not impossible. With the right knowledge, you can do this. Don’t forget about taking care of yourself and keeping your business going while you are caregiving. I’m here to assist you on this journey, schedule your planning session with me so we can look at how to keep your life and your business running smoothly. Also, I can help create a weekly meal plan to help incorporate all of this.
