Blog > Five Tips for Helping Your Senior to Get More Fiber Every Day

Five Tips for Helping Your Senior to Get More Fiber Every Day

Higher fiber diets can help your elderly family member to manage cholesterol levels, keep blood sugar in check, and improve blood pressure levels.

Eating more fiber may also help your senior to stay healthier in other ways, like helping her to stick to a diet rich in nutrients.

Double Check with Her Doctor How Much Fiber Is Right for Her

Your senior may have health conditions that mean she doesn’t need a lot of fiber but does need some. Her doctor is the best source of information for how much fiber is just right for your elderly family member. Once you’ve got a target, that’s something to aim for, not something she has to start eating right away.

Fiber Helps Your Senior Feel Fuller, Longer

One of the ways that fiber helps your senior is that it can cause her to feel a little fuller for a greater amount of time. This is helpful if she finds herself eating randomly during the day just because she’s not getting enough nutrients. Combining higher fiber foods with other foods that are rich in nutritional value gives her a double win.

Foods with Higher Fiber Content

Some of the foods that are higher in fiber content might surprise your senior. Avocados are rich in healthy fats and in fiber, for instance. Berries, particularly raspberries, are very high in fiber as well as antioxidants. Flaxseed meal and chia seeds are also high in beneficial fiber. Whole grains, beans, and whole wheat pasta are other good sources of fiber.

Your Senior Needs to Drink Plenty of Water

Because fiber adds bulk to your senior’s diet, she needs to make sure that she’s drinking plenty of water on a regular basis. This helps to ensure that the fiber is able to move through her system properly. This can be a great way to help her to get into the habit of both eating more fiber and drinking more water.

Add Increased Amounts of Fiber Gradually

It’s really important to increase the fiber content gradually in your senior’s diet. Some people find that their systems get overwhelmed if they start eating too much fiber too soon. The last thing you want is for your senior to be uncomfortable while she’s eating healthier.

Making dietary changes can feel complicated to your elderly family member, especially if she’s been avoiding cooking and that’s why her diet hasn’t been as healthy as possible. Bringing in a caregiver to help with the senior diet gives your senior help in the kitchen, which can make all the difference.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Elderly Care inLafayette, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.