For a long time, the powers that be seemed to go back and forth about eggs and whether they’re healthy to eat. National Egg Month is the perfect time to learn just how healthy eggs are, especially for your aging family member. Eggs are a powerhouse of nutrition and they can be delicious, too. Here’s how eggs can benefit your senior, and how elderly care providers can help them enjoy them regularly.
Eggs Are Nutrient-dense
Eggs contain a lot of nutrients. And the nutrients that they contain are essential for good health. Eggs are also low in calories compared to other sources of these same nutrients. The protein in eggs is necessary for maintaining muscle strength, which is important for seniors. Eggs are also high in choline, which is essential for cell health, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are crucial for eye health.
They’ve Got Vitamins, Too
Lots of people don’t realize that eggs are high in several vitamins that are also essential. Vitamin B12 is crucial in forming red blood cells, but it’s also important for neurological health. Eggs are also a natural source of vitamin D, which is vital for keeping your senior’s bones healthy. Eggs are also a good source of folate, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and selenium.
Egg Safety Is Important
Preparing and handling eggs properly is really important. The Egg Safety Center recommends refrigerating egg dishes within two hours of preparation to keep the food from spoiling. Tasting egg dishes before they’re fully cooked is a bad idea and when you do cook eggs, make sure that both the yolk and the white of the egg are firm. Practice good hygiene in general when handling raw eggs.
Eggs Are Often Easy to Eat and Easy to Cook
One of the biggest reasons that your senior might want to eat eggs more often, besides the nutritional benefits, could be that they’re easy to cook and very easy to eat. Even when fully cooked, most people are able to eat eggs without much difficulty. This can be extremely helpful if your aging family member is finding it difficult to keep up with cooking more complicated dishes. Another option is to hire elderly care providers to take over cooking tasks for your senior, even the easy ones like eggs. That way you know she’s eating healthy meals on a regular basis.
Regardless of how your senior enjoys eating her eggs, she may find that they’re a much healthier addition to her diet than she realized.
