As people enter old age, they usually experience a decline in energy, weakened resistance, and decreased physical strength. Therefore, many elderly people pay special attention to diet therapy and health preservation, and traditional Chinese medicine recommends that the elderly pay attention to the following three periods of health preservation.
Morning: Nourish the Stomach From 7 to 9 in the morning is when the yang energy is strongest during the day. A nutritious breakfast can provide the stomach with abundant materials, thereby playing the role of "reception and digestion of food and cereals". However, the following three points should be noted: First, breakfast should consist of hot food. Intake of cold food can lead to stagnation of qi and blood, "damaging the spleen and stomach and giving rise to various diseases". Second, have a balanced diet. Include grains, eggs, soy products, lean meat, fruits, and vegetables. Third, avoid greasy food. Eating too much meat or greasy food can burden the gastrointestinal tract. Choose congee, soy milk, oatmeal, sesame paste, etc.
Noon: Nourish the Heart From 11 to 13 o'clock is the time when the body's yin and yang alternate and the qi and blood exchange. It is suitable to nourish the heart meridian. There are two ways to do this: First, take a nap. Take a short rest after lunch and sleep for about 30 minutes during this time. Second, tap the heart meridian. The pericardium meridian starts from the periphery of the heart, reaches three inches below the armpit, and stops at the middle finger along the inner side of the arm. Regularly tapping the pericardium meridian has the effect of relieving depression and stress. In addition, when nourishing the heart meridian, the heart should not be overly "excited". Tea, coffee, and alcohol should be consumed in moderation; obese and hypertensive patients should eat less high-sugar and high-fat foods.
Evening: Nourish the Meridians Going to bed from 21 to 23 o'clock nourishes the meridians, which allows for full energy the next day. You can do three things before sleeping: First, use your ten fingers as a comb and comb your hair for more than 3 minutes, which can improve blood circulation in the head. Second, soak your feet in warm water, which has a kidney-tonifying effect. Third, ask a family member to gently pat your back at a speed of 60 to 80 times per minute, within 20 minutes.
