A 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found the risk of a person’s death increased by 13 percent for each additional daily serving of red meat and by 20 percent if the meat was processed. Since making sure your senior loved one maintains a healthy diet is an important aspect of providing high-quality home care, encouraging him or her to eat less red meat may be a good idea. Here are some of the ways eating red meat can have a negative effect on your loved one’s health.
Heart Disease
To reduce the risk of heart disease, your loved one should replace his or her servings of red meat with other foods that are rich in protein. Consuming red meat can trigger a chemical reaction that leads to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Red meat can clog the arteries with fatty substances and contribute to a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can cause heart disease and lead to strokes and heart attacks.
By making healthier lifestyle choices, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of homecare. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
Colon Cancer
Seniors are at higher risk for developing colon cancer than any other age group. Those who eat diets high in red meat increase the odds of being diagnosed with this disease. If your loved one eats red meat and the meals don’t include ample amounts of fiber, it will take a long time to clear the red meat from his or her intestines. This allows carcinogenic compounds to cause a great deal of damage to the lining of the intestine walls. Therefore, your loved one should consume more fish and chicken instead of red meat.
Diabetes
Nearly 26 percent of seniors over the age of 65 are living with diabetes, which is the highest percentage for any age group. Eating red meat increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The toxins in red meat are absorbed into the tissues and can cause inflammation and increase fat oxidation in the cells. Bacon, hot dogs, and bologna are just some of the red meats that can have a negative impact on your loved one’s health and lead to diabetes. If your loved one develops diabetes, he or she could face serious long-term issues that impact the eyes, gums, teeth, heart, nerves, and kidneys.
Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Tucson seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Complications with Digestion
As your loved one ages, he or she will be at greater risk for a variety of digestive disorders, and red meat could make the situation worse. Due to the high protein and fat content in red meat, it could take your loved one a few days to digest the meat. The toxins in red meat destroy bacterial cultures in your loved one’s body, and the accumulation of amines can cause digestive problems, including constipation, hemorrhoids, and stomach cramps.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior home care. Tucson Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (520) 276-6555 today.