Cooking for Caregiving

10/12/2011

It turns out that a gene that seems to determine our susceptibility to heart disease is itself susceptible ... to eating vegetables. Good evidence that healthy nutrition has a strong impact on chronic disease. http://bit.ly/p3Uqj7

A long-held mantra suggests that you can't change your family, the genes they pass on, or the effect of these genes. Now, an international team of scientists, led by researchers at McMaster and McGill universities, is attacking that belief.

10/11/2011

Wondered about this ... turns out that veggie chips are not necessarily a whole lot healthier than potato chips. Some are lower in salt, but not all. Pretty much the same amount of fat and oil. And the nutrients that are in (less processed) veggies and veggie dishes are likely to be long gone by the time they are totally fried. What do you think?

These potato chip alternatives have been cropping up on market shelves everywhere. But are veggie chips a healthy snack pick?

10/11/2011

Caring for someone with arthritis? Good section from Joy Bauer on eating to reduce inflammation and pain. http://www.joybauer.com/arthritis.aspx

Many people with arthritis don't realize how much their food choices can worsen their pain or, on the flip side, improve the way they feel.

10/08/2011

Just to be in the season ... but seriously, pumpkin (and pumpkin seeds) are very good sources of a wide range of nutrients. If you can find some recipes that are light on the sugar, try them out!

http://jennifermurray.suite101.com/health-benefits-of-pumpkin-a153140

Popular during fall holidays, the pumpkin is one of the most nutritious fruits available. Packed with disease-fighting nutrients, it offers numerous health benefits.

09/24/2011

We've shared Ellie Krieger's tips before, and here's a great review of her new book, which is very useful for caregivers. How often have you wished for a healthier version of your caree's favorite dish?

Publishers Weekly is the international news website of book publishing and bookselling including business news, reviews, bestseller lists, commentaries and more.

09/24/2011

We found this interesting resource: "The Physician’s guide to Nutrition in Chronic Disease Management for Older Adults" - which provides a quick one-page profile and nutritional recommendations for a variety of chronic diseases. A bit dated (2002) but might be useful ... sorry for the long URL!

web.archive.org/web/20050325184926http://www.aafp.org/PreBuilt/NSI_newbookletSMALLER.pdf

09/24/2011

We just found a very interesting site with loads of information on how to cook for someone in a caregiving situation. Developed by the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging in Duluth, Minnesota.

http://www.careincontainers.com/

Care in Containers -Providing Meals for Elderly

09/24/2011

Looking for healthy snacks for your caree? Most energy bars you buy off the shelf are loaded with salt and sugar. Here's a VERY healthy recipe from Ellie Krieger that also looks delicious.

09/24/2011

This is a new topic for us, but it has a lot of resonance. Dental health is increasingly seen as affecting total health and a variety of chronic conditions. Here's an article on what foods you might want to discourage, in order to help protect your caree's teeth.

Tooth enamel is the bodys hardest substance, but some foods are stronger. Get the facts about the worst foods for tooth enamel loss and acid erosion in teeth.

09/24/2011

Wonderful guide to various whole grains (it's Whole Grain Month!) with lots of recipes. You've heard it here before, but shifting to whole grains from refined flour products (bread, rolls, muffins, donuts, etc. etc.) is critical to your caree's health.

Don’t know barley from bulgur? Here’s a guide to versatile grains, from amaranth to wheat berries.

09/24/2011

An article that makes a good point about fruit juice: although we think it's healthy because it's made from fruit, most juices and particularly juice drinks have no fiber, little nutrition, and lots of sugar. Try to encourage your caree to eat fruit and avoid sodas and fruit drinks.

Although fruits are thought of as healthy foods, fruit juice drinks fall into a different category; they are often concentrated sources of sugar without any

09/16/2011

Is your caree at risk for strokes? Apples may keep strokes away.
Also pears, bananas and cauliflower ... we're talking cutting the risk in half. Very interesting study!

Did You Know? These are informational paragraphs about basic science.