Guidelines for Healthy Eating

Nutrition is vital in order for us to maintain optimal health.  Good dietary habits cannot be reinforced enough in the health care setting.  Making healthy food choices and controlling our weight are both important steps in promotion of our own health to reduce our risk factors for disease.  Total Home Health nursing professionals understand how important nutrition is so that your body can function at its best.  While involved in your care, our nurses will encourage favorable nutritional choices and will serve as informational resources for you regarding guidelines for healthy eating. 

Following are some dietary guidelines that will be followed by Total Home Health if your condition warrants.  You and your loved ones should take into consideration these guidelines:

•   Balance your energy intake with your energy expenditure by selecting a wide variety of foods, you should limit saturated and transaturated fat, sugars, sodium, and alcohol.

• Exercise routines will be established to promote your heart health, muscle strength and endurance, and psychological well-being
•   Consumption of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables should be consumed at a minimum of five servings per day in order to decrease risk factors for certain cancers.
•   Choose to consume the good types of fats by eating fish, lean meats, nuts, and vegetable oils. 
•   Limit your intake of sugar and starchy foods to decrease risk of dental problems.
•   Consume less than 1 teaspoon of salt per day by limiting canned and processed foods.  Preparing foods without salt is also a plus.
•   If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.  Moderation means drinking up to one drink per day for women and two per day for men. 
•   Follow all food safety guidelines when preparing, cooking, and storing your food.  Avoid consuming raw eggs and milk or juice that is unpasteurized.

Although those guidelines may sound extensive and prove to be rather difficult to follow, we understand at Total Home Health that your dietary changes are not going to happen overnight.  We are willing to move at your pace, but only forward.  Care of each client will be individualized and dependent upon their specific health condition(s).  Our nursing professionals will have a close working relationship with other members of your health care team, allowing you to be a part of the best home care service possible.

Within our guidelines of healthy eating that we work hard and strive to follow are also strategies for the promotion of specific areas of your health as follows:

•   Guidelines to a healthy heart:

Ø  Limit intake of saturated fat and cholesterol

Ø  Limit intake of sodium to help lower your blood pressure

•   Guidelines to a healthy nervous system:

Ø  Make sure to consume adequate amounts of B-complex vitamins in your diet, especially thiamin, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12.

Ø  Consume the recommended servings from the grain and dairy food groups in order to intake adequate calcium and sodium that are both important regulators of nerve responses.

•   Guidelines to healthy bones:

Ø  Consume the recommended amount of dairy servings that is necessary for bone formation, and also for the vitamin D.

Ø  Remember that weight bearing activity, even if you just go for your daily walk, is essential to decrease your risk of osteoporosis.

•   Guidelines for good bowel function:

Ø  Normal bowel functioning depends on an adequate intake of fluids and fiber.

Ø  Fruits, vegetables, and grains will provide you with the essential nutrients to maintain a healthy bowel function.

•   Guidelines for cancer prevention:

Ø  Maintenance of a well-balanced diet and a healthy weight are important.

Ø  You should work to increase your intake of high-fiber, plant-based foods.

Ø  Emphasize intake of foods such as nuts and fish to get plenty of the “good” fats.

Ø  Limit your intake of sodium.

Ø  Avoid any excess alcohol intake.

Ø  Include regular physical activity.

Total Home Health undoubtedly has a program that is right for you and your condition.  Our professionals will all work closely together to determine what diet is recommended just for you.  We will educate you on what you should include in your diet, along with what you should work to avoid.  Our passion is helping you stay healthy and lead a productive, independent life for as long as possible.  Is it really worth it to wait any longer?  Enroll today!