June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. Now is the time to start gardens, if that’s an option, and incorporate fresh produce into daily meals and snacks.
Here are the top six reasons you want your parents to eat more veggies.
-Antioxidants Help With Cell Health
The antioxidants found in vegetables help cells fight off damage from free radicals. This can help lower the risk of certain diseases. At the same time, studies find that antioxidant supplements don’t help. It’s best to get the antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cooking is Not Required
Smoothies, salads, and raw vegetable plates with a dipping sauce don’t require any cooking. For a quick meal or snack, raw vegetables are an outstanding choice. Other than washing dirt and fertilizers off the item and chopping or peeling them, there’s really no effort needed to put a dish together.
Gardening is a Good Form of Exercise for the Elderly
If mobility keeps your parents from taking long walks or being able to work out in a gym, gardening is a good form of exercise. The digging, raking, weeding, and lifting bags of fertilizer and compost help your parent work the muscles.
To make gardening easier for your parents to manage, you can get seed tape that has the seeds already spaced for them. You can also look into items like kneeling pads to make it easier to kneel while weeding or thinning plants.
Good Source of Fiber
Many vegetables are high in fiber. Fiber helps hold water within body waste, which helps people avoid constipation. Fiber is also helpful in regulating blood sugar levels and lowering cholesterol levels.
Low-Calorie Counts
If your parents are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, vegetables are often low in calories. Snacking on vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, celery, and chard adds very little to the daily calorie count.
Veggies May Help Prevent Certain Conditions and Diseases
Studies find that a diet that is high in fresh vegetables can help women reduce the risk of heart disease. Other studies find that cruciferous vegetables (Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) can help prevent certain cancers.
When your parents struggle to cook full meals, it’s time for help. Elder care services cover daily activities like menu planning, food prep, and companionship during a meal. Talk to an elder care agency to discuss these and other services designed to improve your parents’ diets.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Caregiver in Goodyear, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources at (602) 443-4700
Sources:
Lpi.oregonstate.edu
Health.harvard.edu
Mayoclinic.org
Medlineplus.gov
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