Our aging care professionals in Frisco understand that it’s not easy to make the right nutritional choices for a heart-healthy diet when guidelines appear to constantly be changing. We were told that saturated fats from sources including butter, red meat and fried food were detrimental and could influence a person’s chances of developing heart issues, but later research suggested there isn’t enough evidence that those who gave up these delicacies improved their heart health. Therefore, many went back to our previous ways of opting for butter over margarine.
However, as outlined in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers clarify that the lack of evident results in limiting fatty foods is likely linked to equally poor nutritional choices selected in the place of those fats – like refined carbs. In the study, those who exchanged fatty foods in their diet with healthier options, including olive oil (a polyunsaturated fat) and whole grains did lower their heart disease risk up to 25%.
As stated by Adela Hruby, one of many researchers in this study, “We know that people don’t just drop 10% of their calories…and not replace them with other things. What they’re adding in to replace what they’re not eating is really important.”
The research, led by Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, was amazingly extensive, tracking the results of almost 130,000 subjects of both genders over 30 years. Keeping track of dietary choices and any heart-related conditions, it was concluded that both women and men who consumed carbohydrates in place of fatty foods experienced almost equal risk of cardiovascular disease – a statistic overlooked in older studies that had determined there was no benefit to reducing the level of saturated fat in a heart-healthy diet.
So what might be the takeaway from this report? Better heart health may be attained by not simply reducing the total amount of saturated fat in a meal plan, but also by selecting healthier items instead of an abundance of sugary or processed flour-based foods.
Heaven at Home Senior Care is always available to plan and prepare heart-healthy meals that are not just nutritious, but appetizing, helping older individuals reduce their risk for heart attacks and disease. We are able to also assist aging adults with:
- Making wise dietary choices and picking up groceries so that fresh, healthy foods are always on hand
- Medication reminders
- Carrying out physician-recommended activity programs
- Safe transportation to doctor appointments as well as other outings
- And many others
You can reach us at 972-245-1515 to learn more about our senior home care in Frisco and the nearby areas.