With the advent of an aging society, people are paying more and more attention to health issues, especially for older people. So, what should older people pay attention to in terms of health? Below, I will introduce several common misconceptions about health for older people.
1. Vegetarian diet and avoiding meat completely
Eating only vegetables may lead to malnutrition. Many people try to avoid cholesterol, but the immune system and cell walls in the body require a certain amount of cholesterol. Insufficient intake of protein can lead to muscle atrophy, weakness, constipation, and other digestive problems. For older people, it is important to monitor sugar intake, but it is also not advisable to completely avoid it.
Recommendation: Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Consume high-quality proteins from sources such as fish, meat, milk, and eggs. Eat dried fruits and use oils with unsaturated fatty acids like olive oil. Limit consumption of red meat and eat until 70% full. For those with normal uric acid levels, it is recommended to consume more legumes. This not only ensures sufficient intake of nutrients but also reduces the risk of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver.
2. Neglecting the risk of falling
Many older people are cautious about what they eat, but they neglect the importance of maintaining adequate energy levels. Insufficient energy supply can lead to hypoglycemia in brain cells, affecting cognition and memory, and increasing the risk of dementia. Besides cognitive decline, older people are also more prone to falls. There are various reasons for falls, including osteoporosis, medication side effects, and visual impairments such as cataracts and visual imbalance.
3. Fast running during morning exercises
Some older people like to run fast during morning exercises, but this is not advisable. Running increases the body's oxygen consumption, leading to shortness of breath and oxygen deprivation. Most older people have chronic diseases such as hypertension and bronchitis, making them more susceptible to myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accidents.
Recommendation: For older people, the best choice of exercise is walking. In addition to walking, they can also do some arm swings, shoulder taps, waist rotations, and hip rotations. Moderate jogging can be attempted by those who are physically fit, but warm-up exercises and cool-down exercises are essential.
4. Relying on health supplements
More and more older people rely on health supplements, and some excessively believe in the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients such as ginseng and astragalus root. In reality, all types of health supplements may have drawbacks such as unknown ingredients, inappropriate use, and excessive dosage.
Recommendation: It is best to obtain nutrition from daily food intake, even though the effects may be slower, they are more gentle. For older people with good health conditions, a well-balanced and varied diet is sufficient.
5. More calcium is better
Many older people believe that the more calcium they consume, the better. In fact, excessive calcium intake can pose a threat to health and even lead to diseases.
6. Eating leftover food frequently
Avoid eating reheated or partially cooked leftover food frequently because various nutrients in the food gradually diminish with prolonged storage time. The longer the storage time, the greater the loss. Additionally, the longer the storage time, the higher the probability of the formation of nitrosamines in the leftover food. If the food is not thoroughly reheated, it can also promote the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, leading to gastrointestinal problems.
Recommendation: Older people have more delicate gastrointestinal systems, so it is best to avoid eating leftover food frequently.
7. Exercising immediately after a meal
There is a saying, "Take a hundred steps after a meal, and you will live to be ninety-nine." Many older people take this ancient saying as their fitness motto. However, it is not scientifically sound. From a medical perspective, after a meal, especially a full meal, the workload on the heart increases, and exercising immediately after a meal has a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, older people should avoid exercising within two hours after a full meal.
After reading these misconceptions, do you still think that maintaining good health is easy? Taking care of one's health requires attention to every detail of life and cannot be approached haphazardly. It is important to maintain good lifestyle habits.
