If you are responsible for the elderly care of an aging loved one with high blood pressure, you might be concerned about their diet. It is a given that certain foods, such as foods high in sodium, are bad for someone with high blood pressure, but which foods are actually good for them?
We have the answer!
The following foods have been shown to help lower high blood pressure. Sometimes this is due to their high potassium content, which can help to regulate sodium in the body, or it can be due to other properties that can improve blood flow or keep your body healthier in other ways. Let’s take a look at which foods are best for your loved one’s diet:
- Skim milk – Skim milk is a great, low-fat alternative to regular milk. The calcium can help your body and bones stay healthy, and skim milk itself has been shown to lower blood pressure, as has yogurt, which has many of the same properties.
- Oatmeal – Oatmeal is a great, filling food for breakfast or an afternoon snack. It is high in fiber, but low in both fat and sodium, which makes it a great alternative to other, more “junky” snacks.
- Leafy greens – Leafy greens like kale, spinach, collard greens, and romaine lettuce are all great sources of potassium. Potassium helps the body to regulate salt by encouraging the kidneys to release more sodium in the urine, which keeps it out of the bloodstream.
- Berries – Berries like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are great additions to any diet because they have many properties that can help lower blood pressure and prevent other ailments. Try adding them to your loved one’s cereal or oatmeal, or having a bowl in the fridge that everyone can graze from whenever they feel peckish!
- Bananas – Bananas are another food that is high in potassium. If your loved one doesn’t like bananas on their own, try adding them to their cereal or oatmeal too, or even freezing them to eat as a popsicle-like treat!
- Fatty fish – Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel contain fatty acids, which can provide a large array of bodily benefits. Some of these benefits include reducing inflammation, lowering triglycerides, and, of course, lowering blood pressure.
- Garlic – Garlic is known as a vasodilator, which means that it opens up your arteries so that blood can flow through better. Garlic is a big part of the Mediterranean diet, which is perhaps why people who live in the Mediterranean are known as some of the healthiest people in the world!
- Herbs and spices – Herbs and spices on their own probably don’t do a lot for blood pressure. But, they are a great substitute for salt in flavoring food. If the food has a strong flavor on its own, you won’t be tempted to add more salt to try to improve it, and you will thusly eliminate a surge of harmful sodium in the body.
If your loved one has high blood pressure, try adding these foods to their diet. Make regular trips to their primary care physician for check-ups.
Source:
http://www.healthline.com/health/foods-good-for-high-blood-pressure#foods-to-try2
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.