Having high cholesterol is a health risk for your loved one. If your loved one’s doctor has said she has high cholesterol, she has probably recommended several ways to work on lowering those numbers. Medication can always help, but lifestyle changes, especially in the foods we eat, are one of the best ways to manage and even reduce cholesterol levels.

If your loved one has 24-hour home care, that team can be of great assistance in helping your senior make the appropriate diet changes guided by her doctor. A 24-hour home care team will all be on the same page as far as the dietary needs of your loved one and can be the best resource out there to make sure your loved one not only eats what the doctor recommends but also finds it delicious and satisfying. Your loved one won’t need to worry about where to find the recommended foods, or how to prepare them when her 24-hour home care providers are always there, ready to prepare meals for you or help her choose a good snack between meals.

Here are the top foods your loved one should look at incorporating into her diet to manage her cholesterol levels.

High-fiber foods like oatmeal and oat bran

The soluble fiber in oatmeal reduces low-density cholesterol or the bad cholesterol that your loved one needs to reduce. It can also reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed into the bloodstream. Other great sources of soluble fiber are kidney beans, bananas, apples, and pears. Having your loved one’s 24-hour home care team prepare her a bowl of oatmeal with a banana or berries on top is a great way to start her day.

Tree nuts like almonds

Almonds and other tree nuts like walnuts can reduce cholesterol. Some nuts like walnuts also work to protect the heart by providing omega-3 fats. Since nuts are fairly high in fat and calories, just a handful for a snack once a day is all your loved one needs to help manage her cholesterol levels.

Fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids

It might seem counterintuitive to have your loved one consume more fatty fish to improve her cholesterol, but the omega-3 fat in many fish can reduce triglycerides, a kind of fat that is found in the blood. While Omega-3 fatty acids don’t lower the bad cholesterol, what they do is increase good cholesterol, helping the body to be in better balance. Two servings of tuna, herring, salmon, or trout should do the trick.

Avocados

The fiber from avocados might improve HDL cholesterol levels and the quality of LDL cholesterol. By simply adding two servings of avocado per week to a heart-healthy diet, your loved one can also reduce her risk of heart disease. Stay away from chips and guacamole, and instead ask your 24-hour home care team to add slices of avocado to sandwiches, salads, and soups.

With regular exercise, the proper medication, and a whole new menu plan of meals, your loved one will be able to get her cholesterol levels under control in no time.

If You Or An Aging Loved One is Considering 24-Hour Home Care in Commerce City, CO, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 720-780-7755.