Many people believe moderation is the key to a good life. The Japanese apply this idea to their meals. People in America are often surprised when they visit Japanese restaurants because portions are usually half the size of what Americans are used to. Smaller meal portions can help your senior loved one prevent obesity and related diseases.
Fruit for Dessert
In Japan, people don’t expect a bowl of ice cream or a slice of cake after dinner. Instead, they serve platters of fresh fruits, such as strawberries, apples, and pears. Your loved one can get many more vitamins and nutrients from fruits than from a handful of cookies.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of encouragement when your loved one is trying to practice healthier habits, including eating more nutritious foods. Senior care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Green Tea after Meals
The Japanese typically finish off a meal with a nice cup of green tea. Your loved one can gain many health benefits from drinking green tea, such as lower blood sugar levels and a stronger immune system. Green tea can also increase brain function, boost the baseline metabolic rate, lower the risk of various forms of cancer, and reduce cholesterol levels. It also has significantly less caffeine than coffee, which means the average healthy senior can drink six or seven cups per day with no negative side effects.
Faily caregivers need to maintain healthy lifestyles too, which involves taking time to attend to their own wellbeing. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Montgomery, AL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
Plenty of Vegetables
The Japanese eat vegetables at practically every meal. They steam, stir-fry, and simmer them for tasty yet easy-to-make dishes. Some options your loved one can include in his or her diet are green beans, seaweed, spinach, mushrooms, onions, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and bamboo shoots.
Less Red Meat
While seniors must consume protein every day to keep their cells healthy and maintain their energy levels, many different types of meat can be unhealthy when consumed regularly. According to the World Health Organization, red meat and processed meat products can increase the risk of gout, obesity, and various forms of cancer.
Red meat consumption is much lower in Japan than in other parts of the world. For protein, the Japanese often opt for fatty fish such as tuna and salmon. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, these fish are especially beneficial for heart and brain health. In the Japanese diet, lean protein sources such as fresh fish and tofu have large amounts of protein with none of the common drawbacks associated with red meat. Cutting back on red meat can help your loved one prevent clogged arteries, high cholesterol, and other heart conditions.
A professional caregiver can be a terrific source of support for a senior who needs a hand with planning and preparing nutritious meals. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care. Montgomery Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at (334) 593-3988 today