6 Benefits Aging Adults Get from Eating More Garlic

The foods older adults eat contribute to the way their bodies function. Garlic is a healthy option that can have a positive effect on your senior loved one’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Seniors who add garlic to their diets can benefit in the following ways.

1. Fights Infections

Eating garlic can boost your loved one’s immune system, helping him or her combat various diseases and infections. It’s common for seniors to develop the flu or a cold during the winter months, but eating garlic can reduce the odds. Seniors who get colds on a regular basis should add garlic to their diets to fight against this issue in addition to other types of infections.  Eating garlic is just one of the many ways aging adults can boost their health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional homecare services. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

2. Lowers Cholesterol

Adults with high cholesterol levels are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular conditions. However, garlic can reduce a senior’s LDL cholesterol by significant amounts. LDL cholesterol is also known as bad cholesterol, and it can lead to heart attacks and strokes in seniors when it isn’t managed. Seniors with lower cholesterol levels can boost their overall health and increase their longevity. 

3. Boosts Bone Health

Falling can lead to severe issues such as broken bones and fractures, but maintaining bone health can reduce the risk of falls. Eating garlic can minimize bone loss, increase flexibility and balance, and alleviate the symptoms of osteoporosis. If your loved one experiences joint pain, add garlic to his or her meals to relieve the pain and strengthen his or her muscles.

4. Increases Energy

Physical and social activities can help seniors boost their mental and physical health. However, seniors who lack energy generally shy away from exercise and social activities. By eating garlic, your loved one can reduce fatigue and enhance his or her physical capacity and exercise performance. Engaging in physical exercise can help your loved one stay in good shape. 

5. Reduces the Risk of Memory Loss

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are two issues that impact seniors as they age, and they’re linked to oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Garlic is full of antioxidants that help elderly people fight the effects of free radicals and preserve their memory. Reducing oxidative stress can stave off dementia and Alzheimer’s as well as other cognitive disorders.  If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Irving seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to.

6. Helps with Weight Maintenance

Garlic is a good source of nutrition for seniors, and it contains very few calories. Your loved one can eat garlic as a seasoning substitute without worrying about gaining too much weight. He or she can lose weight, reduce the odds of being obese, and stave off diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease by adding some garlic to his or her meals. Since seniors can receive the vitamins, fiber, and other nutrients they need without consuming excessive calories, garlic is a good choice to add to their daily diets. It can be challenging to prepare healthy meals for an aging adult, but a professional caregiver can help your loved one maintain a nutritious diet. Irving senior care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. Reach out to us at Home Care Assistance if you need compassionate professional home care for your loved one. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (817) 591-1580 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.