According to the CDC, one person dies of heart disease every 33 seconds.
Cardiology specialists have long looked into risk factors for cardiovascular issues. Heart disease prevention is a priority.
Experts find that antioxidants are a great way to decrease the risk of chronic heart disease and stay healthy. Here, we'll talk about:
Read on for some important cardiovascular heart tips for seniors!
When you have a healthy metabolism, your body produces something called "free radicals." Free radicals are naturally occurring molecules in the body that have unpaired electrons. They're unstable because of this.
Your body forms free radicals through oxidation or the gaining of oxygen.
This frequently happens when you:
Free radicals try to neutralize themselves by stealing electrons from other healthy molecules that your body needs. Those molecules become damaged because the lack of an electron destabilizes them, too.
This process can cause cellular damage as free radicals disrupt cell membranes. Cells may not be able to function normally anymore.
It also can cause oxidative stress, which happens when there are so many free radicals in the body that it can't neutralize them.
Oxidative stress is linked with many chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease.
That's where antioxidants come in!
These molecules protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. They can fight them off and neutralize them, which nips oxidative stress in the bud.
Basically, an antioxidant purges free radicals from your body. This works toward heart disease prevention by addressing a root cause at the source.
There are several ways that oxidative stress correlates with cardiovascular disease, including:
When you neutralize free radicals, you decrease the likelihood of developing these health issues. Since these health problems can be life-threatening, getting antioxidants should be a priority.
To understand antioxidant benefits, knowing exactly how they neutralize free radicals is important.
Harvard Health describes antioxidant molecules as sacrificial. They give up their own electrons to the free radicals, which neutralizes them. The free radicals don't need to steal any more electrons from the molecules your body needs to stay healthy.
This disrupts the chain of oxidation so that other molecules in your body don't see negative impacts.
This prevents changes to your heart's function. You don't need to worry about molecules that contribute to cardiovascular function becoming destabilized.
Hypertension and arrhythmia are also less likely because your body doesn't need to overcompensate for the damaged molecules in your bloodstream.
Some people take antioxidant supplements to get antioxidant benefits. However, this is usually unnecessary since tons of vitamins and minerals will give you these antioxidants more naturally.
A lot of expert cardiology advice emphasizes that healthy diets can decrease cardiovascular risks. Look for foods with antioxidant vitamins and minerals like:
Antioxidant properties are extremely common in fruits and vegetables. Some of the most antioxidant-rich foods include:
Some herbs and spices contain antioxidants:
You can add these to any dish for both flavor and health!
Cardiology specialists cite protein sources as great sources of antioxidants, including:
Many fiber-rich foods and whole grains also are antioxidant-rich:
You can even get antioxidants when it's time for dessert! Many sweets contain fats that have oxidants in them, but you can easily substitute your usual desserts for those containing dark chocolate.
Johns Hopkins publications show that dark chocolate reduces the risk of blood clots. They also state that it makes blood circulation to the heart more effective. The antioxidants that cause this reduce the risk of heart disease!
Antioxidants are even more important for older adults than they are for others. Those in senior living communities often need to be very mindful of consuming them. This is because heart disease risks increase greatly with age.
According to information published by Memorial Hermann:
There are several reasons for this, including:
Since age is a risk factor for heart disease, following cardiovascular health tips is especially important for older Americans.
The best Bellefontaine senior living communities work to promote health and wellness in older adults. Our wellness programs aim to:
Residents won't be left on their own to try and clobber together a healthy diet. They'll have guidance and advice to fall back on.
Now that you know why cardiology specialists encourage seniors to have an antioxidant-rich diet, it's time to decrease the risk of heart disease with senior living wellness programs.
Campbell Place Assisted Living is committed to helping older adults in Ohio thrive. We offer chef-prepared meals to residents so they can enjoy fresh foods with natural ingredients. Our wellness plans also strive to promote senior health.
Our commitment to keeping residents in top shape sets us apart, so contact us to learn more about our community!