4 Minerals Your Elderly Loved One Needs from Her Diet
Elderly Care in Pacific Palisades CA
Your loved one’s body uses minerals derived from the foods that she eats to keep itself healthy and balanced. If she doesn’t get the minerals that she needs, her health can suffer. Whether you cook for your loved one or an experienced home care provider helps with the cooking tasks, it’s important to know which foods offer your loved one the nutrients that she needs in order to stay healthy.
Calcium
Calcium is really important for strong bones and teeth. Your loved one’s doctor probably also mentioned calcium as a preventative for osteoporosis. Your loved one’s body also uses calcium for nerve and muscle functioning and blood clotting, so it’s essential for a lot of reasons. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are good sources of calcium. Calcium is also in other foods, though, like dark leafy greens and nuts. If your loved one is especially low in calcium, then supplements are a good alternative.
Magnesium
Magnesium does a lot in the human body. It helps to regulate blood pressure, so your loved one’s doctor may have recommended magnesium if she has issues with blood pressure levels. It also helps to control blood sugar levels and helps with muscle and nerve functions. You can find magnesium naturally in whole grains, dark leafy greens, nuts, salmon, potatoes, and bananas.
Potassium
Another important mineral for muscle and nerve function is potassium. It helps to balance fluid levels in the body as well. Because it can help to regulate fluids, it’s helpful if your loved one has high blood pressure, too. Potassium is found in lots of the foods your loved one eats, especially fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, and milk.
Sodium
You probably hear a lot about how sodium is not all that great for your elderly loved one, but the truth is that we all need a certain amount of sodium in order to function properly. It is important to blood pressure regulation, which is why too much salt can make blood pressure soar out of control. Sodium is a big component of processed foods, but that can lead to overdoing it. The best option is to eat whole foods and use salt sparingly while cooking.
In a properly-balanced diet of healthy foods, your loved one should be getting all the minerals that she needs. Be sure to talk to her doctor to verify whether she needs supplements.
If you or an aging loved one needs elderly care services in Pacific Palisades, CA, call Livewell Private Care at (310) 933-4986. Servicing Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding areas.
Source
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/17/magnesium-benefits.aspx
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Potassium-and-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_303243_Article.jsp
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Sodium-Salt-or-Sodium-Chloride_UCM_303290_Article.jsp