Senior Care News

Calcium – An Important Nutrient For Your Elderly Loved One

Elder Care in Bethlehem PA: From a young age, we are told that drinking milk can help to build strong bones. There is definitely truth to that statement, but it is not advice that is just for the young.

Elder Care in Bethlehem PA

From a young age, we are told that drinking milk can help to build strong bones.  There is definitely truth to that statement, but it is not advice that is just for the young.  In fact, all adults lose bone density as they age, especially women.  Bone loss can put elderly adults (again, especially women) at risk for osteoporosis, an incurable bone condition that leads to weak bones and back pain.  With osteoporosis, an elderly adult is more susceptible to broken bones and fractures which are serious injuries that can require long and difficult recoveries.

 

Did you know that the bones in the body get broken down and built up almost constantly?  It’s true!  The body needs a proper balance of calcium in the blood.  If the body does not get enough calcium from food, it will pull it from the bones.  Similarly, if it has an abundance of calcium, it will go back to the bones.  So, if your loved one consistently lacks calcium in their diet, their bones will get weaker and weaker. For these reasons and more, it is very important to ensure that your elderly loved one gets plenty of calcium in their diet.  One misconception is that calcium is found only in dairy foods and you must drink milk in order to get enough.  The truth is, calcium can be found in many non-dairy foods, as well.  Read on for a list of foods that are healthy and rich in calcium that you can include in your loved one’s diet.

 

Dairy Foods

Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, and cheese are all great sources of calcium.  Be sure that your loved one chooses low-fat options so that they are getting their calcium in a healthy way.

 

Leafy Greens

Greens such as spinach, collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens are great sources of calcium as well as many other nutrients that your loved one needs.  Green leafy vegetables are always a great choice when it comes to preparing healthy foods.

 

Tofu

Tofu is often used as a meat substitute and is made from soy.  It is very versatile and it is an excellent non-dairy source of calcium that is great for elderly adults to incorporate into their healthy diet.

 

If you are considering elder care in Bethlehem, PA, contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Allentown. Call today at (610) 200-6097.

 

Source:  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=45

Stephen Sternbach

Recent Posts

Categories

Contact Us About Home Care

Skip to content