Because the digestive function of elderly people decreases, there are varying degrees of changes in the cardiovascular system and other organs. Therefore, there are special requirements for the diet of elderly people. To maintain good health, the following ten aspects should be paid attention to:
1. Delicious and fragrant food: Elderly people have poor taste and appetite, and often feel that food lacks flavor. Therefore, when cooking for the elderly, attention should be paid to color, fragrance, and taste.
2. Good quality: The metabolism in elderly people is mainly focused on decomposition and metabolism, and they need more protein to compensate for the consumption of tissue proteins. It is recommended to eat more chicken, fish, rabbit meat, lamb, beef, lean pork, and soybean products. These foods are all high-quality proteins, rich in nutrients and easy to digest.
3. Eat in moderation: Research shows that overeating is harmful to health. Elderly people should eat until they are 80-90% full, especially for dinner.
4. Eat more vegetables: Fresh vegetables are the friends of elderly people's health. They not only contain abundant vitamin C and minerals, but also have a lot of dietary fiber, which plays an important role in protecting the cardiovascular system, preventing cancer, and relieving constipation. The daily intake of vegetables should be no less than 250 grams.
5. Diversify the diet: Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water are the six essential nutrients for the human body, which are widely present in various foods. To balance nutrient absorption and maintain good health, it is necessary to eat a variety of foods. If possible, the main and side dishes should include about 10 different kinds of food every day.
6. Avoid excessive salt intake: Some elderly people have a heavy taste, but they may not know that excessive salt intake can increase the burden on the heart and kidneys and can lead to high blood pressure. In order to maintain health, elderly people should generally consume 6-8 grams of salt per day.
7. Soft and tender food: Elderly people often have loose and missing teeth, weakened chewing muscles, decreased secretion of digestive juices and enzymes, and reduced gastrointestinal digestive function. Therefore, the food should be cooked soft and tender.
8. Eat fruits: Various fruits contain abundant water-soluble vitamins and trace elements, which play a significant role in maintaining the acid-base balance of body fluids. To maintain health, it is recommended to eat fruits after each meal.
9. Warm diet: Elderly people have poor resistance to cold. Eating cold food can cause the blood vessels in the stomach wall to contract, reduce blood supply, and reflexively reduce the blood circulation of other internal organs, which is not conducive to health. Therefore, the diet of elderly people should be slightly warm to facilitate eating.
10. Eat slowly: Some elderly people have a habit of eating fast, swallowing food without fully chewing, which is not beneficial to health in the long run. It is recommended to chew thoroughly and eat slowly to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and promote digestion. In addition, eating slowly is also easier to produce a feeling of fullness, which prevents overeating and affects physical health.
