You might not have thought that sodas could present a health problem for your senior, but you really should get to know whether she’s drinking them often or not. In-home care providers can help your elderly family member to track what she’s eating and drinking to help sort out whether there are changes that might help her live a healthier life overall.
Carbonation Can Be a Problem
The bubbly action of soda is because of the carbon dioxide that gets pumped into the sweet drink. For a lot of people, carbonated drinks aren’t a big deal. But that may change at some point for your senior, for a couple of reasons. First, carbonation can cause bloating. If that’s already something your elderly family member is battling, then sodas can make the situation worse. Second, if your senior has any lung issues, the carbonation can make it more difficult for her to breathe. According to the American Lung Association, carbonated drinks can be a big problem for people who have trouble breathing already.
Sugar Content Is a Big Problem
Another big problem is the sugar content in most sodas. Sure, your elderly family member could opt for carbonated water, but it’s most likely that she loves the sweet taste of her favorite soda. It’s entirely possible that your elderly family member is getting many times the recommended amount of sugar just from drinking soda if she’s having more than one per day. Those calories would be better for her if they came from nutritionally dense foods instead.
So Is the Caffeine
Depending on the type of carbonated beverages your elderly family member drinks most often, she might not be getting caffeine from them. But dark sodas and colas tend to have plenty of caffeine that is easy to overlook. That can cause problems when your senior is ready to get some shuteye, especially if she’s drinking these beverages later in the day. Caffeine can also be dehydrating for some people, so water is a better beverage.
Soda Can Damage Teeth
Many people don’t realize that soda is acidic. That means that drinking a lot of soda can cause tooth enamel to weaken, and if your elderly family member already has problems with her teeth she may start to have more. Then, because of added sugar, she may even start to develop tooth decay. Remembering to brush at least twice a day can help a little bit, but it’s not a solid solution to the problem.
Cutting Back Can Feel Impossible
With all of these potential problems, you might think it’s easy for anyone to leave the sodas behind. But it really isn’t. They’re tasty, easy to access, and they may also just be a habit for your senior. In-home care providers can be a huge help during the day, reminding your elderly family member to swap out at least one or two sodas per day with a glass of water. Caregivers can help your senior in other ways, too, bumping up the nutrients in her daily meals and helping her to establish better routines for overall health.
Your elderly family member may not have to get rid of sodas entirely, but if she’s drinking several a day she may want to talk with her doctor about whether that’s a good idea for her or not.
Source
https://www.webmd.com/diet/drinking-cola-good-for-you
If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home care in Tye, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call 325-244-0877
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Childress County, Cottle County, King County, Stonewall County, Fisher County, Nolan County, Hardeman County, Foard County, Knox County, Haskell County, Jones County and Taylor County in Texas.
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