Each time a new diet craze comes out, your mom wants to try it. How safe is it for her to try a new diet? Most trending diets aren’t that great, especially if your mom has a chronic health condition. Talk to her doctor first and see what is recommended.
The DASH Diet
Two diets stand out as the best for older adults. The DASH Diet is one of them. DASH stands for the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (high blood pressure). It’s a diet that’s rich in whole grains, fresh produce, and lean proteins. It cuts sodium and fat intake.
The Mediterranean Diet
Most doctors do recommend the Mediterranean Diet to older adults. If your mom insists on trying a trending diet, suggest that one. The Mediterranean Diet focuses on fresh vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, seafood, and legumes. Sweets, red meats, and cheese are used sparingly.
The other reason the Mediterranean Diet may be more appealing to your mom is that a small glass of red wine each day is allowed. It comes off as less restrictive than many diets, which makes it easier to follow.
The Keto Diet
While many people enjoy success at losing weight on the Keto Diet, your mom shouldn’t rush into it without talking to her doctor. The goal of the diet is to put the body in a state of ketosis, which means it starts burning fat for energy. In the process, the body may increase urination and lose electrolytes, which can be a problem for your mom.
The Flexitarian Diet
This is another diet worth discussing with her doctor. Your mom would switch out some of her weekly meals with vegetarian or vegan meals. It can help her save money on weekly groceries, but she needs to carefully plan her new diet to make sure she’s getting enough protein.
She needs to have protein for muscle health. If she’s prone to falling or weaker muscle tone, she would need to have help coming up with weekly menus that provide the protein she needs. Working with her doctor or a nutritionist could help her.
Is your mom struggling to prepare healthy meals on her own? Have you talked to her about home care services? It’s a good time to hire caregivers to prepare her meals, help her with grocery shopping, and offer other services that help her around the house. Call a home care agency to get started.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in Bowie, MD please contact the caring staff at Just Divine Home Care Agency today at (301) 219-1585.