To maintain your aging parents’ good health as their bodies change in their golden years, many health professionals recommend a healthy diet. One of the various changes you can make to ensure the longevity of your aging parents’ health is to introduce soy-based products into their diet. Soy-based products offer a plethora of benefits for the elderly to remain in good health, the following being just a few.
Soy-Based Products Are a Great Calcium Source
Calcium is a nutrient that you cannot forego when meal planning for your aging loved ones, due to how serious of a concern bone health is for the elderly. For example, 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, and that’s not even including the remaining 44 million with low bone density, making them vulnerable to suffering from this condition as well. Due to the reduction in bone strength and mass that aging adults typically experience, it proves calcium’s importance in one’s diet during their retirement years. A cup of cooked soybeans provides 13.5% of adults’ recommended calcium intake, enabling your loved ones to consume enough to see health benefits with ease.
Soy-Based Products Act as a Non-Animal Protein Source
Protein is a vital part of any diet, preventing joint pain and low energy in one’s daily lifestyle. However, due to reasons such as special dietary requirements, some may not be able to receive protein from animal sources. One relevant example would be the recent rise in Vegan diets in the US. In such cases, the soy-based product tofu can be a godsend. Tofu is frequently utilized as a substitute for meats such as chicken, due to its texture and nutritional properties. Tofu is incredibly rich in protein, with one cup of firm tofu providing more than 20 grams of protein.
Soy-Based Products Promote Cardiovascular Health
Older adults 65 years and above experience a higher likelihood of suffering from a form of cardiovascular disease, which can hinder daily living and independence greatly. Furthermore, cardiovascular disease is also a leading cause of mortality for this age group. Soy-based foods can help your aging parents prevent such diseases by promoting heart health. Soy products contain nutrients such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which strengthen the blood vessels. As a result of these properties, soy-based products help to reduce your loved ones’ risk of suffering life-threatening heart problems such as coronary artery disease.
Soy-Based Products Promote Restful Sleep
The elderly experience a plethora of sleep disorders that can lead to other dangerous health issues when gone unchecked, the most common being insomnia. Thanks to soybeans being rich in magnesium, your loved ones will be less likely to experience such sleep issues, having restful slumbers instead that’ll leave them in high spirits. This is because magnesium is linked to raising the quality and duration of one’s sleep, leading to healthier sleep patterns in the elderly. Thus, encouraging your aging parents to enjoy a glass of soy milk before bed can go a long way.
Discovery Village At Boynton Beach is a retirement community full of other similarly-aged, like-minded elderly individuals that enjoy a high-quality lifestyle as we guide them to better health. To learn more, consider our senior living options.
