High Blood Pressure: When you have high blood pressure, self-care is essential.
Your parents need to have their high blood pressure checked regularly and follow their doctors’ recommendations on diet and exercise. They may need to go onto prescription medications to lower it.
Diets can be one of the more challenging aspects of care for your parents to follow. They need help coming up with ideas for healthy snacks that don’t require a lot of effort to prepare. Here are some ideas that will fill them up while also being a good choice for high blood pressure.
Pickled Beets
Beets are high in nitrates that help relax blood vessels, which can help lower blood pressure. To pickle them, toss cooked beets in a mixture of distilled white vinegar, bay leaves, cinnamon, allspice berries, whole cloves, and peppercorns.
Greek Yogurt Dip
Serve broccoli, carrots, celery, and cucumber sticks with herbed Greek yogurt. To make it, mix Greek yogurt with garlic, chopped dill, chopped parsley, and minced onion. Stir in black pepper and lemon juice. That dipping sauce goes well with these raw vegetables.
Pumpkin Seeds
Keep roasted, unsalted pumpkin seeds on hand. You can flavor them with no-salt spice blends like onion powder and garlic or chipotle chili powder and black pepper if desired. Pumpkin seeds are high in potassium and arginine, which helps to relax blood vessel walls.
Roasted Chickpeas
Purchase dried chickpeas and cook them per package directions. Drain the cooked chickpeas and spread them on a dishtowel to fully dry. Once dried, toss them in walnut or avocado oil. Bake at 425 for half an hour. Once crispy and golden brown, toss them in a spice blend that doesn’t contain salt.
Spinach and Asian Chicken Wraps
Cook some ground chicken and chopped spinach with ginger, garlic, black pepper, and lime juice. Add grated carrots, green onions, chopped cilantro, and roasted sesame seeds. Let that mixture cool and wrap it by the tablespoonful in lettuce leaves. Keep those in the fridge for ready-to-eat snacks.
Have Caregivers Help Your Parents With High Blood Pressure Care Plans
If they have a hard time remembering to take their medications, professional caregivers can help. Caregivers can arrange follow-up appointments and bring your parents to area stores with blood pressure machines if they would rather check their high blood pressure there than at the doctor’s office.
Your parents will be fully supported by their caregivers with services like meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping, and companionship. Make a call to learn more about schedules and prices.
