Spearmint is a member of the mint family that’s indigenous to Europe and parts of Asia. While the most common place people in America see spearmint is in chewing gum, there are many ways this mint can be incorporated into your senior loved one’s diet. It’s great when used in soups or salads, but you can also prepare spearmint tea at home or add it to your loved one’s favorite smoothie recipe. There are many reasons family caregivers may want to incorporate spearmint into their senior loved ones’ diets, including the four outlined below.
1. Oral Health
Spearmint is particularly useful for promoting healthy mouth and gums because of its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Incorporating it into your loved one’s diet can protect his or her mouth and throat from harmful infections. It also stops bad breath caused by dry mouth or certain medications.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional in-home care. Senior Stride Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Digestive Health
Seniors with upset stomachs and gastrointestinal issues often find that consuming spearmint alleviates the symptoms, especially the bloating and cramping caused by flatulence. Many seniors find chewing spearmint leaves or even spearmint gum relieves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome as well.
If your loved one needs help planning and preparing nutritious meals, a home caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust Oshkosh elder care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives.
3. Circulation Health
Just a single leaf of spearmint contains 100 percent of the daily recommended amount of iron. Therefore, it’s very effective at helping seniors with anemia. It also promotes faster blood circulation throughout the body, which can help your loved one get more oxygen and feel more energetic overall. Additionally, the increased circulation can promote quicker healing after sustaining a scrape or bruise.
4. Heart Health
Spearmint promotes a healthy heart because of its high potassium levels. That’s why seniors who incorporate spearmint into their diets are less likely to have recurrences of strokes. This is because eating spearmint relieves stress on arteries and veins and may even break up the plaques in arteries that lead to stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
Ensuring an elderly relative maintains a nutritious diet is often an arduous task for family members. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Oshkosh, WI, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Senior Stride Home Care. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. To create a customized care plan for your loved one, call us at 920-717-1767 today.