What contributes to high cholesterol levels in seniors?
Age: As people age, their bodies start producing more cholesterol.
Genes: A family history of high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing high cholesterol.
Smoking: Excessive smoking lowers good cholesterol.
Obesity: Excess weight increases the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol heart disease.
Poor diet: Diets that are high in fat and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables can also cause high cholesterol.
Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of exercise and movement is also one of the main reasons for high cholesterol levels in seniors.
There are many ways to help your loved ones lower cholesterol. Here are a few effective tips.
Keep an eye on their diet
Make your loved ones eat more fruits and vegetables: leafy greens like spinach and cabbage are especially great at lowering high cholesterol. Add the right kind of fat to their diet; replacing red meat high-fat dairy products and processed foods with olive oil, nuts and avocados. This will help seniors do away with saturated fat and trans fats, the two biggest reasons for high cholesterol.
Give them fluids now and often
As people age, their sense of thirst decreases. But their bodies still need an adequate amount of fluids to stay hydrated and healthy. Whether with a glass of water or a nice bowl of soup or a glass of fresh fruit juice, keep adding more fluids to the diet of your loved ones to keep them healthy and keep their cholesterol levels under check.
Add exercise to their daily routine
While exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining good heart health, so too does in balancing cholesterol levels in seniors. Ensure that your loved ones are getting at least 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise a day. Low-impact exercises like walking, running and gardening can be very effective in helping seniors lower their cholesterol.
Take the assistance of an in-home caregiver
Prepare sensible elder care and diet plans for your loved ones and appoint an in-home caregiver to execute them properly to ensure that they maintain a healthy lifestyle and their cholesterol levels are under check.
Making these lifestyle changes and taking medications that help reduce high cholesterol can help your loved ones avoid serious health issues and enjoy their golden years to the fullest.
