Why Should Beans Be An Important Part Of Your Dad’s Diet?
Nine out of ten older adults believe that beans can help you be healthier. Yet, only five out of ten eat them. Does your dad eat beans? If not, it’s time to look at the importance of this affordable, beneficial legume. His in-home care provider can incorporate them into the meals being prepared for him.
The Sodium Content is Minimal
Canned beans can contain sodium, but you can choose low-sodium or salt-free options. If you want to save money and use the canned beans with salt, rinse them off before using them.
Your dad can be on a low-sodium diet and easily stick to those guidelines with dried beans. They don’t have added salt. Soak them and use them in low-salt soups, casseroles, salads, stews, or veggie burgers.
Beans Contain Plenty of Protein and are High in Fiber
Beans are high in protein, and it’s a plant-based protein, which is ideal. Lentils are one of the best choices with around 18 grams of protein per cup of lentils. Chickpeas have 15 grams of protein per cup.
An adult’s diet should be high in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. When it comes to fiber, beans are an excellent source. A cup of black beans has 15 grams of fiber. Lentils have almost 16 grams of fiber.
A Serving of Beans Contains Many Vitamins and Minerals and is Low on the Glycemic Index
Beans are also high in many vitamins and minerals. They contain iron, magnesium, and potassium. Beans are a good source of folate, calcium, and zinc. One cup of chickpeas has 80 milligrams of calcium and close to 5 mg of iron.
When you eat a food, the sugars within that food can cause your blood sugars to spike, which impacts insulin release. For someone with diabetes, blood sugar spikes are not ideal.
Beans have a low-glycemic index, meaning they won’t cause the same spikes as white rice, pasta, or other carb-rich foods. They’re ideal for snacks and meals. If your dad is feeling hungry, some roasted chickpeas are a nutritious snack that won’t boost his blood sugar levels as much as a handful of crackers would.
They’re Versatile and Inexpensive
Beans are also one of the most cost-effective foods. A one-pound bag of dried beans is often under $2. That bag of beans can feed your dad for days.
As they’re versatile, your dad won’t have to eat the same foods over and over. He could have baked beans one day and a chicken chili the next.
Hire In-Home Care Providers
Diet is something you and your dad have to discuss as he ages. The risk of malnutrition is high, especially if he has a difficult time preparing meals and snacks. Instead of having him order takeout a lot, call an in-home care agency. Hire an in-home care aide to cook meals and help him with other household chores.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893613/
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/100/suppl_1/437S/4576589
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care Services in the Overland Park KS area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City, today. Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in Missouri as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322.
Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.
Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.
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