As people age, they may experience symptoms of indigestion. However, the dietary habits of the elderly often remain unchanged, which can lead to digestive problems. Therefore, it is important for senior citizens to adjust their diets. Let's take a look at some specific recommendations together!
Elderly People Should Have a Balanced Diet
1. Light and Simple Foods
Elderly people should have a light diet, primarily consisting of vegetables. While meat can be included, older individuals with diminished taste sensitivity should avoid consuming heavily seasoned foods.
2. Easily Digestible Foods
Avoid consuming sticky rice, hard and greasy foods, as well as gas-producing and hard-to-digest foods such as dried beans, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sweets. These should be consumed in moderation to prevent disruptions in gastric motility.
3. Nutritious Foods
Supplement the diet with high-quality proteins, including animal proteins such as eggs, milk, fish, and chicken.
Recommended Foods for Elderly People with Digestive Problems
1. Kiwi
Research suggests that consuming kiwi can increase the digestive capacity of gastric proteases, potentially speeding up the absorption of proteins in the small intestine and improving overall protein utilization in the body. This is mainly due to a natural component found in kiwi called actinidin, which enhances digestion and facilitates the faster and more comprehensive absorption of proteins.
2. Pineapple
Pineapple contains a special enzyme called bromelain, which helps break down proteins in the stomach and supplements insufficient digestive enzymes in the body. Therefore, eating pineapple after a heavy meal can promote digestion.
3. Hawthorn
Hawthorn has a sour and sweet taste and a slightly warm nature. It functions to invigorate the spleen, stimulate appetite, promote digestion, and especially helps with digesting oily and greasy foods. Modern pharmacological research suggests that hawthorn contains lipase and can increase gastric digestive enzyme secretion, thus facilitating digestion.
4. Barley Tea
Barley tea has the effects of soothing the stomach, relieving thirst, aiding digestion, and promoting the digestion of grains. It is beneficial for digestion, helps reduce greasiness, spiciness, and aids in digestion after a heavy meal.
5. Lemon Water
Lemons are rich in citric acid, malic acid, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. Soaking the lemon in water helps release the nutrients. Lemon water is beneficial for digestive health as it stimulates gastric acid secretion, aids digestion, promotes bowel movements, and cleanses the intestines. Therefore, drinking a glass of lemon water after a heavy meal can promote digestion, relieve indigestion, heartburn, and bloating.
