Methods for Elderly People to Take Care of Their Health After Meals
There are four methods for taking care of one's health after meals:
As people age, their bodily functions gradually weaken and their resistance to diseases decreases, making them more susceptible to various illnesses. In order to maintain good health, elderly people should learn these four methods after meals.
First, rinse your mouth after meals
The ancient medical practitioner Zhang Zhongjing pointed out that "after eating, one should rinse their mouth to keep their teeth strong and their breath fresh." Keeping the mouth moist and clean can stimulate the taste buds on the tongue, enhance the sense of taste, effectively prevent and treat oral and dental diseases, and aid digestion.
Second, massage the abdomen after meals
The famous medical practitioner Sun Simiao from the Tang Dynasty once suggested, "after each meal, use your hands to massage your face and abdomen to promote the circulation of body fluids. After eating, take a walk." He also recommended "massaging the abdomen hundreds of times with your hands, tapping the teeth thirty-six times, and making sure your mouth is full of saliva." As long as these actions are performed, one can "eat without encountering any diseases." However, if one lies down immediately after eating a full meal, they may suffer from various illnesses. The specific method is to place the palm of your hand on your abdomen, with the navel as the center, and gently massage in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction 20 times each.
Third, take a slow walk after meals
The book "Shou Shi Bao Yuan" records that "walking a few hundred steps after a meal is greatly beneficial to the body." This means that walking slowly after a meal can promote gastrointestinal motility, help the secretion of digestive fluids, and facilitate the digestion and absorption of food. However, it is important not to walk too fast or engage in vigorous exercise. The best time for a walk is 20 minutes after a meal, not immediately after finishing the meal. However, people with poor physical condition or those suffering from conditions such as gastric prolapse should not walk after meals, but instead lie down for 10 minutes. People with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are also not suitable for walking after meals.
Fourth, listen to music after meals
The book "Shou Shi Bao Yuan" states that "the spleen loves music, and when it hears music, it becomes active and promotes digestion." Taoists also believe in the saying "when the spleen hears music, it becomes active." Listening to soft and fresh music while eating can stimulate appetite and aid digestion. After meals, enjoying music can cultivate one's temperament, restore vitality, and bring joy and forgetfulness of worries.
