Cruciferous vegetables. These are the vegetables that tend to smell unpleasant when cooked. They include vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, rutabaga, and turnips. Of all the vegetables for your parents to eat, cruciferous vegetables should be top of the list. This is why science is strongly for these vegetables as you age.
Why Cruciferous Vegetables Have Their Scent?
Cruciferous vegetables contain a high percentage of glucosinolates. These are the compounds that give off that sulfurous smell when they're cooked. They're there when the item is raw, too, but they're not as pungent until they're cooked.
How Much Should Your Parents Eat and Why?
Nutritionists recommend between one and a half to two and a half cups of cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens like spinach and kale every week. If you can handle them daily, that's even better.
Vegetables alone are lower in calories and often low in sugar and sodium. They're high in fiber and antioxidants. They also have minimal, if any, fat. Those are all reasons doctors say half your plate should be covered in vegetables rather than grains, meats, or carbs.
The compounds in cruciferous vegetables are believed to help with cell health. In lab animals, they help protect cells from damage to the DNA strands. They have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. They help stop the formation of blood vessels in developing tumors causing those cells to die. Finally, they stop carcinogens from causing damage to cells.
Some studies link them specifically to helping lower the risk of several common cancers. Breast, colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancers are among them. If there's a chance there's a lower risk by eating broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and many others, adding them to the daily diet is a good idea.
Are Your Parents Skipping Meals or Getting Too Much Takeout?
Some older adults have a hard time making nutritious meals. It may be difficultly holding a knife when prepping vegetables and meats. It can also be that your parents find it hard to scale down recipes for one or two people instead of a family. They'll skip them or get takeout to make it easier. Elderly care aides help by cooking balanced meals for your parents.
Elderly care services cover more than meals and menu planning. Caregivers can also provide companionship during meals, clean the kitchen after, and take them grocery shopping. Talk to a specialist to discuss rates and schedules.
Sources:
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/cruciferous-vegetables
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/cruciferous-vegetables-fact-sheet
If you are considering hiring elderly care in Morgan, UT, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Ogden, UT. Call today 801-821-4535.