How Can You Help Your Parent Reduce Salt When Cooking?
Elderly Care in Somerset County NJ
Reducing the amount of sodium that your aging parent eats on a regular basis is one of the most important things that they can do to help keep their congestive heart failure under control. Less
sodium can mean lower blood pressure, less chance of swelling, also known as edema, and less strain on the heart. As a family caregiver it is your responsibility to help your aging parent not only understand the importance of this dietary restriction, but also to find ways to integrate it successfully into their daily life. The average diet contains a very high amount of sodium, which means that this change might be very hard on your parent. Finding ways to reduce salt while also allowing your parent to still enjoy many of their favorite foods is important to keeping them as compliant as possible.
Some of the ways that you can help your aging parent reduce salt when cooking so that they can remain compliant with their reduced-sodium congestive heart failure diet include:
- Follow recipes. Find recipes that are designed for those with congestive heart failure or a low-sodium diet. These will have already been modified to contain an appropriate amount of sodium so you will not need to guess or make any adjustments to them. Encourage your aging parent to follow these recipes exactly.
- Put salt and salty ingredients out of reach. Many people add salt to their foods when cooking mostly out of habit and rarely measure in any way. Put salt and salty ingredients out of reach when your aging parent is cooking so that they do not do this out of force of habit. When they do need to add salt because of the recipe, insist that they measure it out exactly. They will likely realize that they have been putting far more into their food than they thought they were.
- Boost flavor. The hardest part about adopting a salt-reduced diet is that their food will taste different. They are likely to complain that it is bland or tasteless because they have been accustomed to such high sodium levels. Boost flavor in their food without adding more sodium by adding in flavored vinegars, spices, and herbs. Be sure to check any herb mixtures or vinegars to ensure that they do not contain sodium.
If your aging parent is suffering from congestive heart failure, starting elderly care for them can be a fantastic way to help them manage their health, stay more in control of their condition, and live a better quality of life throughout their later years. This elderly home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they get the personalized care, support, assistance, and encouragement that they need. This can include providing them with safe and reliable transportation to the grocery store, assisting them with selecting the foods that are right for their body, getting into the kitchen with them to help them prepare their meals and snacks, and offer meaningful reminders to help them to stay compliant with their medications and other guidelines set forth by their doctor. This not only helps your parent to maintain a more independent and fulfilling lifestyle, but can give you peace of mind knowing that even when you are not able to be with them they are still getting the level of care that they deserve.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elderly care in Somerset County, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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