Caregiver Awareness: Understanding the Hidden Dangers in Your Everyday Diet

Caregivers in Natick, MA

When most people think about their health, the first thing that they may think of is germ control. They take extreme measures to prevent catching and spreading germs, believing this will keep them from getting sick. While germ control is an important element of maintaining health, it may not be the most important thing that you do on a daily basis to support your ongoing physical health and well-being. This is because for many people it is not germs that cause health problems. It is actually what they eat.

What you choose to eat on a daily basis makes a tremendous impact on your physical functioning, energy levels, ability to fight off infections and illness, and chances of developing serious health complications. This means that even if you take every step possible to keep germs out of your home, away from your hands, and out of your body, you may still suffer from diminished health and well-being because you are not giving your body what it needs to stay strong, and giving it things that it does not know how to process properly and safely. As a caregiver for your elderly parents, this can have serious consequences for you and for your aging loved ones.

By understanding the hidden dangers in the average diet, you can take steps to improve what you are eating, prevent giving these dangers to your aging loved ones in their regular diet, and protect your health, well-being, and effectiveness throughout your caregiver journey.

Some of the most common hidden dangers in the average diet include:

• Antibiotics. Most people do not like the idea of a doctor prescribing them antibiotics, yet they consume them on an almost daily basis. The meat and poultry industries use antibiotics to prevent the spread of disease through their livestock. Unfortunately, this only encourages the mutation of bacteria so that it is stronger and more dangerous, and the transmission of antibiotics into the people who eat those treated animals. Studies have shown that people who eat diets high in animal products tend to be more resistant to antibiotics and susceptible to illness. Look for meat, poultry, pork, and dairy products that specifically say that they come from animals not treated by antibiotics.

• High fructose corn syrup. Recent campaigns have touted high fructose corn syrup as a perfectly safe sweetener because it comes from corn. The reality is, however, corn syrup acts in your body just like regular sugar. Eating either in excess can lead to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Reduce the number of sweets you and your elderly loved ones consume on a regular basis, and look for those sweetened with agave or stevia, natural sweeteners that do not have the same glycemic effect on the body.

Processed foods are shown to be not only highly addictive, but also leave your body malnourished because they do not contain the nutrients your body needs. This triggers your mind to think it needs to eat more, leading to obesity and other issues. Being the best caregiver you can be means taking care of yourself and supporting your health and well-being while also supporting your parents’ health. Get in touch with your doctor to get advice on changes you can make in your diet to improve and support lasting health and well-being.