Though there is a great deal of conflicting information regarding just how healthy it is for seniors to drink wine, the key to gaining the benefits of this beverage is moderation. Your elderly loved one might even notice some positive changes in his or her health just from drinking a small amount of wine each day. Mississauga home care experts have put together a list of a few of those potential advantages.
Boosts Heart Health
The antioxidants found in wine can help protect your loved one’s heart and arteries against many things, including saturated fats. By drinking one or two glasses of wine per day, your loved one can prevent cardiovascular disease. Flavonoids and saponins are also found in wine, particularly red wine, and these two compounds can increase your loved one’s good cholesterol levels. This helps prevent heart disease and the formation of blood clots by reducing the risk of damage caused by bad cholesterol.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, can reduce your loved one’s risk of cancer by killing cancerous cells in his or her body. Used alongside radiation therapy, resveratrol penetrates cancerous cells and induces apoptosis. When this happens, the cancerous cells die, dissolve, and are then removed by the white cells in the immune system. Even without radiation therapy, resveratrol can still attack cancerous cells, inhibiting their ability to function.
Promotes Dental Health
When your loved one drinks wine, it helps harden the enamel in his or her teeth and reduces the risk of tooth decay. When the enamel hardens, it becomes more resistant to bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans, which live on the teeth and cause decay. The polyphenols in red wine can also help reduce gum inflammation and prevent gum disease.
Prevents Brain Damage
The antioxidants found in wine can help protect your loved one’s brain from free radicals, unstable molecules that weaken cell walls and damage brain cells. The free radicals your loved one produces through his or her body’s oxygen use can be disabled, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related conditions.
In addition to drinking wine, there are many other ways your loved one can promote his or her health. You can learn about other strategies by reaching out to the senior care experts at Home Care Assistance in Mississauga. Our part-time and live-in caregivers are expertly trained in helping seniors prepare nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and perform many other important tasks. We also offer specialized Parkinson’s, stroke, and Alzheimer’s home care Mississauga families trust. For more information on our in-home care services, please call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers today at 905-337-1200.