Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!
Caregivers must understand nutritional health practices when caring for loved ones. As a daughter, nurse, and caregiver, nutrition was a major focus in the care of my mother. My dissertation centered on nutrition behaviors based on cognition. I was curious to explore and understand the research behind nutritional health practices. Did you know that what one knows does not translate into what one does? What I learned created nutritional behavior changes.
For loved-ones that have chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, prescribed medications(e.i., blood thinners), and some cancers just to name a few, knowing how to prepare meals that do not exacerbate a health condition is vital. Fresh food over canned foods are always best when preparing meals. Baking, broiling and steaming over frying is a win-win cooking practice. Moreover, reading nutritional food labels, paying particular attention to the amount of sugars, salts, and fibers can additionally help when preparing meals for those under your care. Nutritional health matters when you care for others.
