You may have heard that caffeine is bad for people, no matter what. However, the truth is that as long as people aren’t drinking too much caffeine, there may be some benefits for consuming it. If you are taking care of your elderly loved one, knowing the information mentioned below about the benefits of caffeine, can help you and their in-home care aides to know whether it is good for them.
Source of Antioxidants and Nutrients
The first thing to note about caffeine is that it is found in coffee beans. Research has shown that coffee beans have some essential nutrients and vitamins. These nutrients and vitamins can help to lower the risk of certain diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. If your elderly loved one is going to consume caffeine in moderation, it may not be that bad for them. In fact, it may even help to boost their immunity, as well.
Boosting Metabolism
Does your elderly loved one seem to have little to no energy? Do they have a difficult time losing weight? If so, caffeine may actually help your elderly loved one. Research shows that caffeine can boost a person’s metabolism. When someone has a higher metabolism, they can usually lose weight much better than those who have a slower metabolism. This is why many weight loss products have caffeine in them. If your elderly loved one is struggling to lose weight or they just need that extra bit of energy in the early afternoon, a small amount of caffeine may not be such a bad thing.
Improving Mental Health
How is your elderly loved one’s mental health? If they suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, caffeine might be able to help them. Research shows that caffeine can boost a person’s serotonin and dopamine levels. When these levels are increased, they can help to reduce symptoms associated with mental health issues. Some of the things that might get better for your elderly loved one when they have a bit of caffeine include memory, alertness, and concentration. Having a bit of caffeine in the morning could help your elderly loved one to be in a better mood throughout the day, as well.
In-Home Care can Oversee their Consumption
These are some of the ways that caffeine might be good for your elderly loved one. With this being said, if your elderly loved one has heart health issues, it would be best for you or a in-home care provider to take them to the doctor to talk about caffeine use. In addition, even if caffeine can be good for your elderly loved one in some ways, they should not drink an excessive amount of caffeine.
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10914439/