It’s official: we’ve entered the season of sweet treats! From snowman cookies to amazing pies to candy canes and alcohol-laced cocoa, it’s really difficult to overlook the variety of amazing sweets that bombard us, and the wonderful stories they bring to mind, especially close to the holidays. But what end result does this surge in sugar consumption have on senior health care?
Sugar’s addictive qualities are well recognized. It releases dopamine while activating the reward part of the brain, and when too much is consumed, we establish a tolerance to these effects, requiring even more sugar – a vicious cycle.
As if that weren’t concerning enough, added sugar (compared to naturally-occurring sugar) has been labeled as a toxin that boosts inflammation and increases risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and maybe even breast cancer. For more mature adults, a large amount of sugar can increase cognitive impairment and contribute to difficulties with the chronic conditions that so many struggle with.
We clearly don’t wish to steal the holiday joy from seniors. Nevertheless, it’s important to consider that there are healthier, yet still festive alternate options. Call on Independence-4-Seniors Home Care for help with producing nourishing, appetizing dishes that conform to dietary plans without compromising a senior’s health.