A National Institutes of Health-AARP study found older Americans who ate large amounts of red meat over a 10-year period were more likely to die sooner than those who consumed smaller amounts. Seniors should maintain healthy diets, which may include reducing their red meat intake. Understanding the potential risks your elderly loved one can face may encourage him or her to make some dietary adjustments.
Cardiovascular Disease
Red meat is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can contribute to heart disease. However, the risk doesn’t stop there. Red meat also contains a compound known as carnitine. When the digestive system breaks down this compound, it turns into trimethylamine N-oxide. This substance has been linked to atherosclerosis, which creates plaque buildup in the arteries and causes them to harden and become less elastic. Both of these factors increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
By making healthier lifestyle choices, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional homecare. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Colon Cancer
One U.S. study of nearly 150,000 seniors aged 50 to 74 showed those who consumed large amounts of red meat had significantly higher incidences of colon and rectal cancer. Those who ate primarily fish and poultry instead had a much lower risk. In fact, long-term consumption of these other proteins appeared to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s
Scientists at UCLA have uncovered a possible link between Alzheimer’s disease and iron accumulation in the brain. When these scientists studied the brains of 31 people with Alzheimer’s, they discovered high levels of iron buildup in the parts of the brain damaged by the disease. Red meat is extremely high in iron and could contribute to the accumulation of iron in your loved one’s brain tissue.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Pearland Assisting Hands Home Care provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our caregivers help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives.
Indeterminate Effects from Added Substances
Unless your loved one buys organic, most meats he or she purchases have been pumped full of antibiotics and steroids, which is done primarily to ward off disease. The Food and Drug Administration has approved these substances individually. However, there are no studies that look at the long-term effects of these substances on humans when used in combination. We also don’t know how they react in conjunction with other chemicals and substances people consume on a daily basis.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Pearland families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. To learn more about our premier in-home care plans, call us today.
