Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition, especially in elderly people. It can cause strokes and even death. However, there are ways you can help reduce atrial fibrillation risk for your elderly loved one.
For instance, you can practice the proper elder care techniques such as implementing a good nutritional plan for your loved one. Some food that you should include in your plan includes white meat, fish, whole grains, and fresh fruits.
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White Meat
Many studies show that people should eat more white meat than red meat. This is because it is much better for their heart. If your elderly loved one wants to, they can still have red meat as a special treat every now and then. In one study, results showed that eating red meat can increase the chances of heart disease. The risks are even greater for those who have high cholesterol levels, which is the case for many elderly adults. When you are creating a nutrition plan for your elderly loved one, try to put something like a chicken breast sandwich in the plan instead of a typical hamburger.
Fish
Other research shows that the polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from fish can help a person's heart recover from distressing heart episodes. For many years experts have been telling people that omega-3 fatty acids can improve the health of the brain and heart. When your elderly loved one’s heart is in distress, it can cause atrial fibrillation. This is one of the many reasons why you should include food with omega-3 in your elderly loved one’s nutrition plan.
Whole Grains
Grains are complex carbohydrates. They are an important component of any healthy diet. However, it is a little confusing to understand what type of grains are good and which ones are not so good. This leads to a good question - is there a difference between whole grains and refined grains? Research shows that refined grains are processed, so they can withstand a longer shelf life. However, this also means they lose some of their nutrients.
Whole grains will offer a better source of magnesium and fiber to your elderly loved one’s diet. It is a good idea to add the following foods to your loved one’s diet plan.
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Buckwheat
- Whole Barley
- Quinoa
These are only a few of the whole grains that can help your elderly loved one with reducing their risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation.
Fresh Fruits
Adding fresh fruits to your elderly loved one’s diet can help them get their recommended vitamins. Some experts say that eating red fruit can improve heart health. They also suggest eating apples instead of simply drinking apple juice can be a great way to reduce cholesterol levels. This also allows them to get the most benefits from the fruit.
It is very important to include foods in your elderly loved one’s diet that will help them reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. However, be sure that you speak with your elderly loved one’s physician in charge of their elder care plan before starting any nutrition plan.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Northville, MI, or the surrounding area, please contact the caring staff at CareOne Senior Care today. Call us at (248) 308-2777.
Sources
Healthline.com
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
