The saying goes, "Eat until full, and illness will come knocking," "Eat a little less, and live to ninety-nine." For the elderly, eating too much can be even more harmful. With weakened digestive function, overeating can put excessive strain on the body, leading to a series of health problems.
1. Obesity: Overeating regularly can cause premature aging of internal organs, compromised immune function, and excess calorie intake leading to conditions such as hypertension, fatty liver, and diabetes.
2. Stomach problems: Constant feelings of bloating can lead to gastric inflammation, digestive problems, and even gastric ulcers.
3. Intestinal disorders: Fatty deposits in the intestines can cause blockages, resulting in black or bloody stools.
4. Dementia: Japanese scientists have found that approximately 30% to 40% of dementia patients had a habit of overeating during their younger years.
5. Osteoporosis: Long-term overeating can lead to excessive calcium loss from the bones, significantly increasing the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.
6. Acute pancreatitis: Eating excessively and consuming excessive alcohol during dinner can easily trigger acute pancreatitis.
7. Insomnia: Overeating during dinner causes the distended stomach and intestines to exert pressure on surrounding organs, spreading excitatory waves to other areas of the cerebral cortex, thereby inducing or worsening insomnia in the elderly.
We recommend that elderly individuals eat until they are 80% full and chew their food slowly. Firstly, establish regular meal times to avoid eating too much too quickly when feeling very hungry. Allow at least 20 minutes for each meal to give the brain enough time to receive signals and respond. Chew each mouthful of food at least 30 times. Use a small spoon instead of chopsticks to slow down eating speed. Include more raw and fresh vegetables, as chewing them takes more time. Consume foods high in dietary fiber to increase satiety.
