Medical research suggests that after the age of 50, the secretion of parathyroid hormone in the body increases excessively, while the production of sex hormones decreases, leading to impaired calcium absorption. At the same time, the elderly often have inadequate calcium intake in their diet, resulting in continuous loss of calcium from bones and leading to osteoporosis, brittle bones, and increased risk of fractures. Therefore, it is important for the elderly to pay attention to calcium supplementation.
Milk is widely recognized as an important source of calcium due to its rich nutrients, high calcium content, and high absorption rate by the body. For many years, many elderly people have chosen to drink more milk to supplement their calcium intake.
However, recent research by foreign scientists has found that excessive consumption of milk by the elderly may not be beneficial due to its association with age-related cataracts. This is because milk contains 5% lactose, which is broken down into galactose by lactase. Galactose easily accumulates in the lens of the elderly and affects its normal metabolism. Additionally, proteins in milk can undergo denaturation, resulting in reduced transparency of the lens and the development or aggravation of age-related cataracts.
Therefore, to prevent calcium deficiency, the elderly should not rely solely on milk as their source of calcium supplementation. They can choose calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, vitamin D supplements, as well as calcium-rich foods such as shrimp, prawns, fish, shellfish, eggs, meat bones, seaweed, snails, celery, soy products, sesame seeds, red dates, and black fungus. Natural foods are the best choice for calcium supplementation.
