Home Care Assistance - Toronto/york Region, a Leader in In-home Care, Weighs in On Importance of General Nutrition for Healthy Aging
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) January 20, 2014 -- Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region (HomeCareAssistance-Toronto.com), the leading provider of non-medical in-home senior care in the Greater Toronto Area, is weighing in on the importance of general nutrition for healthy aging.
According to a groundbreaking study recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, just 9.4% of Canadians have ideal cardiovascular health. The study shows that the vast majority of the population needs to adopt a healthier lifestyle or risk cardiovascular disease, the second leading cause of death in Canada. (Source: Maclagan, L.C., et al., “The CANHEART health index: a tool for monitoring the cardiovascular health of the Canadian population,” Canadian Medical Association Journal web site, December 23, 2013; http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/12/23/cmaj.131358.)
“A great way to strengthen heart health is with healthy lifestyle choices, including a proper diet, at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, and avoiding tobacco and second-hand smoke,” says Lester Fix, executive vice president of Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region. “Because age and weight are two significant risk factors for heart disease, it’s important that those over 65 take proactive lifestyle steps to decrease their chances of suffering from a cardiovascular condition.”
General nutritional concepts remain constant throughout life: regardless of age, everyone needs to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat proteins, and healthy fats. For a number of reasons, however, it can be difficult to maintain a balanced nutritional diet as people get older; according to Fix, that’s because sensory changes as we age can influence appetite. On top of that, the elderly find there are some nutrients that are more difficult to consume and their bodies have a harder time absorbing. In addition, not maintaining a proper diet means that medication is less effective, making it more difficult to recover from an illness.
“At the other end of the scale, excess weight in the elderly is linked to an increase in a number of health issues, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, and osteoarthritis,” he adds. “According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 67% of Canadian men and 54% of Canadian women are overweight or obese.” (Source: “Statistics,” Heart & Stroke Foundation web site; http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3483991/k.34A8/Statistics.htm, last accessed January 17, 2014.)
Lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, are critical when it comes to being healthy and remaining independent, as those who have a healthy diet and remain active have fewer health problems. As Fix explains, caregivers from Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region are trained in the company’s proprietary Balanced Care Method, which places an emphasis on a healthy diet, including seven superfoods rich in Omega-3; beta-carotene; amino acids; vitamins B6, B12, and C; folic acid; potassium; and antioxidants.
“The Balanced Care Method also includes physical activity, cognitive exercises, social connections, and calmness and purpose,” he concludes. “By working with specific lifestyle behaviours, Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region’s caregivers extend and enhance the lives of seniors, helping them live longer, happier, and more balanced lives.”
Serving the Greater Toronto Area, Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region provides older adults with high-quality, consistent care, helping them live happier, healthier lives in the comfort of their home. In an effort to fully address its mobile and homebound clients’ lifestyle needs, Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region provides both hourly home care and live-in home care. On top of that, Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region is so certain its customers will be 100% satisfied with its services that it doesn’t require a long-term contract. To learn more about Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region, visit the company’s web site at http://www.HomeCareAssistance-Toronto.com or call Home Care Assistance - Toronto/York Region at 905-597-5825.
Lester Fix, Home Care Assistance, http://homecareassistance-toronto.com/, +1 905-266-0350, [email protected]
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