Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
We’ve all heard the term “heart-healthy,” but what does it mean in practice? How do you shop, cook, and share heart-healthy meals with your loved ones? The experts at U.S. News & World Report offer a handy ranking of heart-healthy diets, starting with a three-way tie for first place with the DASH Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, and the Ornish Diet. Here’s a brief overview of each:
DASH Diet
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension. Since nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein, and fiber are crucial to fending off or fighting high blood pressure, the DASH diet promotes foods with these nutrients. It’s fairly straightforward in that it promotes what you may know as common-sense good eating habits: eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy, while limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sweets and also cutting back on salt.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet continues to be heralded as one of the best heart-healthy eating plans, based on research that indicates people living in countries on the Mediterranean Sea live longer than most Americans and suffer less from cancer and cardiovascular ailments. The diet is low in red meat, sugar, and saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices. Fish and seafood consumption is encouraged a couple of times a week, with poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt in moderation. Sweets and red meat should be saved for special occasions, though this diet allows a splash of red wine!
Living a heart healthy lifestyle
Nutrition along with daily exercise, and engagement in activities that add meaning and purpose to your life are all key to improving heart health. As you age at home, professional caregivers can help launch and maintain a healthy lifestyle to help prevent heart disease or provide comfort and safety to people living with heart disease. Home care isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving. A holistic approach to care can help older adults regain strength, develop healthier eating and exercise habits and improve quality of life.
You don’t need to fight heart disease alone.
Caregivers are trained to support clients as they develop new, healthier behaviors. In-home caregivers can provide heart-healthy meals to help prevent future cardiac events, encourage exercise to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and since high levels of stress are linked to heart issues, they can also work with clients on techniques to promote a sense of calm and wellbeing.
Is your family considering in-home care?
TheKey can help you understand your options and determine the best plan for your family, your budget, and your loved one’s care needs. Give us a call at 239-203-2645 or take our online assessment at TheKey.com/Naples and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
We have the best caregivers ready to help—so you can live well in the home you love. Get in touch with us now to learn more.
The Key
239-203-2645
TheKey.com/Naples
1395 Panther Ln, #210, Napes, FL 34109
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