More Herbs Less Salt Day takes place on August 29 and is a holiday that celebrates the health benefits of substituting herbs for salt, encouraging people to do so whenever possible. While using salt in moderation isn’t usually a health concern, if you have an elderly parent with high blood pressure or other health issues, too much salt can be bad for her health. The good news is that there are a lot of flavorful herbs and spices that you can use to liven up your parent’s diet without her feeling like she’s missing out.

The next time your parent goes shopping, have her pick up some herbs and spices to try out in recipes. If your parent needs help shopping, you might consider hiring a home care assistance provider to help make shopping lists and provide transportation for your parent when needed.

Ground Pepper

Pepper is probably the most familiar of these ingredients, and your parent likely already has some on hand. To get the most out of pepper, purchase a pepper grinder with different flavors, such as white pepper or peppercorns. Instead of adding salt to soup or eggs, try a little pepper next time. Pepper also has the health benefit of decreasing inflammation often associated with chronic diseases.

Rosemary

Rosemary can provide an almost homey flavor to meat and vegetables. Your parent might like adding fresh or dried rosemary to soups, stews, roasts, roasted vegetables, dressings, sauces, and loaves of bread. In fact, baking some fresh bread with rosemary is a great way to make the home smell heavenly.

Garlic

Garlic is a strong spice that can boost the flavor of almost any dish without increasing sodium intake. For Italian dishes like spaghetti or lasagna, consider cutting the salt in half and doubling up the garlic. Studies show that garlic is an allium vegetable to boost the immune system and increases brain health.

Lemon (juice or zest)

While not an herb, lemon adds acidity to a dish. Citrus ramps up the flavor in some recipes by bringing out the flavors of the other items. Try drizzling the juice over vegetables, or using it in a meat marinade.

Dill

Dill provides a unique flavor profile to many foods. Also, it will make it so that you don’t miss the salt you’re not using. It’s delicious with fish, vegetables, potatoes, and dips. Buy it fresh or dried for your parent’s pantry.

Sage

Sage is a green herb that has hints of citrus and eucalyptus. Its flavor profile is strong. So, it can add a lot of flavor to a meal and eliminate the need for salt. If cooking and baking are activities your parent loves in the fall, make sure he has some sage around to add to recipes like risotto or sweet potatoes.

It might take a bit of adjustment, but your parent might begin to enjoy using more savory herbs instead of salt in her cooking with a bit of practice. Home care assistance providers can also step in and help with other recipes and ways to ensure your parent’s sodium levels are reduced as needed.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance in Berkeley, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203

Source:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/salt-alternatives

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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