Did you know it’s possible to reduce cancer risk every day just by making healthy dietary changes? Opting for foods loaded with cancer-fighting nutrients can protect the body’s cells from deterioration and damage, keeping your senior loved one happy and healthy for years to come. Consider these dietary changes to fortify your loved one’s natural defenses against cancer.

Fill Up on Superfoods

Red bell peppers – These bright and surprisingly sweet vegetables contain almost three times more vitamin C than oranges. Foods rich in vitamin C prevent cancer-causing nitrogen compounds from forming. Other vitamin C–packed foods include dark leafy greens, broccoli, berries, and papayas.
Peanut butter/nuts – Nuts are loaded with vitamin E, which has been connected to the regulation of cell reproduction. The antioxidant properties in nuts also destroy free radicals, preventing cell damage.
Wild salmon – Wild salmon is rich in vitamin D, which studies have shown prevents the formation of new blood vessels that promote tumor growth. Vitamin D also prevents the proliferation of precancerous and cancerous cells.

If your loved one needs help adopting healthier lifestyle habits to prevent cancer and other serious conditions, a home caregiver can be a wonderful asset. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Frederick, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

Consume Cancer-Fighting Drinks

Tea – Tea drinkers are shown to have a significantly reduced risk of developing cancer. The catechin compounds found in tea, especially green tea, can prevent the full-blown development of cancerous cells by blocking growth and cellular mutations.
Milk – Some studies show populations with high calcium intake have a reduced risk of cancer thanks to calcium’s ability to neutralize carcinogens.

Home caregivers can help seniors maintain optimal health and prevent a variety of illnesses. Elder care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.

Implement Other Dietary Changes

Avoid carcinogens – Avoid sugars in sauces and marinades when grilling, and eat as little processed food as possible. Minimize exposure to carcinogens when grilling meat by cooking it until it’s done, not well done.
Start juicing – Just about everyone can agree a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer. The multitude of organic compounds found in fruits and veggies destroy harmful toxins and protect the body. Juice dark leafy greens rich in carotenoids, red grapes loaded with resveratrol, and cruciferous vegetables packed with sulforaphane, which prevents the growth of cancer cells.

If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Frederick families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs professional care, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.