There is an elderly person at home who is a treasure. Due to weakened digestion, the elderly person has poor gastrointestinal health and does not digest many things. It is especially important to care for and maintain the health of the elderly. So how do we do it specifically?
In summer, how can the elderly maintain their health?
(1) The elderly should have staple food in their three meals a day
However, the carbohydrates contained in rice, noodles, and potatoes are not the same. Some are easy to digest and can provide energy to the body in a short period of time.
Some digest slowly but can stabilize blood sugar levels, making it harder for people to feel hungry.
In general, it is best to eat easily digestible steamed bread products for breakfast, such as steamed buns, mantou, etc.
Rice and noodles can be eaten for lunch.
For dinner, low-calorie potatoes and sweet potatoes are a good choice. The dietary fiber they contain can promote intestinal peristalsis and ensure smooth bowel movements the next day.
For breakfast, it is suitable to eat cereal, fruits, and yogurt.
Bread and steamed buns should be softer in texture, making them easier to chew and avoiding gum damage.
In addition, it is important to change the taste regularly, such as turning steamed buns into scallion oil buns, sweet buns, etc., to prevent the elderly from losing their appetite due to a monotonous taste.
Although there have been reports emphasizing the benefits of coarse grains, the taste of coarse grains is slightly worse, so the elderly do not have to force themselves to eat them every day.
Alternatively, coarse grains and refined grains can be mixed in a ratio of 1:3 to improve the taste.
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn all contain rich vitamins, so they should not be steamed or cooked for too long. 15-20 minutes is enough.
(2) Don't "eat early" in the morning
As people age, not only do major organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys gradually decline, but digestive functions also significantly weaken.
If dietary regulation is not taken into account, especially the quality of breakfast, it will inevitably affect health and longevity.
In the past, it was believed that older people should eat breakfast early if they wake up early, but this is not the case.
When people are asleep, most organs have been fully rested.
However, the digestive organs are still digesting and absorbing the food that remained in the gastrointestinal tract from the previous day, gradually entering a state of rest by morning.
If breakfast is too early, it will inevitably disturb the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, keeping the digestive system in a state of fatigue for a long time.
Therefore, it is best for the elderly to have breakfast after 8 o'clock in the morning.
Drinking some warm water before breakfast is very beneficial to the body's health.
Why is this? It turns out that after a night's sleep, a large amount of water is excreted from the urine, skin, and respiration, and when you wake up in the morning, you are in a state of physiological dehydration.
If water is not replenished in a timely manner, it will not be conducive to the metabolism and excretion of the liver, kidneys, and metabolic waste products, nor will it be conducive to the absorption of breakfast food.
It may also cause constipation, induce cerebral thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and kidney diseases.
Therefore, immediately after waking up in the morning, drink 1-2 cups (200-400 milliliters) of warm water. This not only cleanses the organs inside the body of the elderly, but also has great benefits in improving organ function and preventing the occurrence of age-related diseases.
