After retiring at the age of 63, Uncle Zhang enjoyed a leisurely life. He didn’t have to help take care of his grandson, and he had plenty of time to enjoy his hobbies – playing chess, occasionally traveling, which made his peers envious.
However, a recent physical examination brought a shadow over Uncle Zhang. The results showed that his blood lipids were high, and there were signs of atherosclerosis. After the examination, the doctor prescribed corresponding medication and instructed Uncle Zhang to take it on time when he returned home.
Initially, Uncle Zhang could adhere to taking the medication regularly, but over time, he began to worry about the side effects of the medication. So, he started looking for various remedies, hoping to lower his blood lipids and soften his blood vessels through natural therapies.
One day, a friend mentioned to Uncle Zhang about the habit of “not eating after noon,” saying that it could help lower blood lipids without any side effects, so Uncle Zhang decided to give it a try.
Unfortunately, a follow-up examination six months later showed that Uncle Zhang’s blood lipids not only did not decrease but he also developed gastritis. Faced with this result, the doctor explained after the consultation, “Long-term fasting after noon is not beneficial to health and may instead bring a series of health risks. Your gastritis is likely caused by long-term fasting after noon.”
Uncle Zhang had intended to maintain his health by changing his eating habits, but he unexpectedly encountered new health problems. In fact, for middle-aged and elderly people, long-term fasting after noon may pose many potential risks.
Can skipping dinner really remove plaque and soften blood vessels? Revealing the truth about this dietary habit
In recent years, skipping dinner has become a popular dietary habit, with some claiming that this method can clear arterial plaques and soften blood vessels, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases. So, does skipping dinner really have such miraculous effects?
I. Origin and popularity of skipping dinner
Skipping dinner as a dietary habit originated in ancient times when people lived a simple life, and dinner was often the least important meal of the day. With the development of the times, skipping dinner gradually became a way of preserving health, with many believing that it can reduce the burden on the stomach and benefit overall health. In recent years, this dietary habit has rapidly spread on the internet, attracting a large number of health-conscious individuals.
II. Can skipping dinner really clear plaques and soften blood vessels?
1. Skipping dinner and plaque removal
Plaques are fatty substances deposited on the walls of blood vessels. Prolonged accumulation can cause narrowing, hardening of blood vessels, and even trigger cardiovascular diseases. Whether skipping dinner can clear plaques depends on the nutritional composition of the diet.
Skipping dinner means reducing calorie intake from dinner, thereby lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. To some extent, this helps reduce plaque formation. However, skipping dinner cannot directly clear already formed plaques. To remove plaques, a proper diet structure, medication therapy, and appropriate exercise are needed.
2. Skipping dinner and softening blood vessels
Arteriosclerosis is a natural aging process that occurs with age. Whether skipping dinner can soften blood vessels mainly depends on the nutritional components in the diet.
Skipping dinner can reduce the calorie intake during dinner, thereby reducing the burden on blood vessels. However, skipping dinner cannot directly soften blood vessels. To soften blood vessels, adequate intake of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, etc., is necessary. In addition, proper exercise can also help soften blood vessels.
Watch out for these health hazards for middle-aged and elderly people who skip dinner for a long time – Revealing the truth about missing dinner
As life pace accelerates, many middle-aged and elderly people choose to skip dinner for health maintenance or weight loss. However, is this practice really correct? What health hazards might middle-aged and elderly people face by skipping dinner for a long time?
I. Insufficient nutrient intake
Dinner is an important source of nutritional replenishment during the day. Skipping dinner can lead to the following hazards:
1. Nutritional deficiency: Dinner usually contains various nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, etc. Skipping dinner makes it difficult for the body to obtain sufficient nutrients, leading to malnutrition.
2. Decreased immunity: Lack of nutrients affects the immune system function, weakening the body’s defense against diseases.
3. Muscle loss: Inadequate protein intake can lead to muscle loss and decreased bodily functions.
II. Impact on the digestive system
1. Excessive stomach acid: Skipping dinner for a long time can lead to excessive stomach acid secretion, irritating the gastric mucosa, causing gastritis, gastric ulcers, and other diseases.
2. Disruption of gastrointestinal function: Skipping dinner can result in gastrointestinal dysfunction, leading to symptoms like constipation, diarrhea.
III. Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases
1. Lipid abnormalities: Skipping dinner for an extended period can cause lipid abnormalities, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. High blood pressure: Not eating dinner can cause blood pressure fluctuations, easily leading to hypertension.
IV. Decline in sleep quality
The energy intake from dinner helps maintain normal metabolism during the night. Skipping dinner can lead to:
1. Insomnia: Being empty stomach at night can easily cause insomnia, affecting sleep quality.
2. Sleep apnea: Skipping dinner for a long time may lead to sleep apnea, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
V. Emotional fluctuations
1. Irritability: Skipping dinner for a long time can cause blood sugar fluctuations, making a person prone to emotional fluctuations such as irritability, anxiety, etc.
2. Depression: Malnutrition can affect brain function, leading to psychological problems like depression.
Delaying vascular aging, adhering to four things, and keeping blood vessels young
With advancing age, blood vessels gradually age, an inevitable process of nature. However, through scientific lifestyle adjustments, we can slow down vascular aging, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
I. Balanced diet, supplementing vascular nutrients
1. Eat more foods rich in antioxidants: Berries such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries contain abundant antioxidants that help counteract free radical damage to blood vessels.
2. Increase dietary fiber intake: Foods rich in dietary fiber such as oats, brown rice, legumes can lower cholesterol levels, reduce fat accumulation in blood vessels.
3. Moderate intake of foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids: Foods containing unsaturated fatty acids such as deep-sea fish, nuts, olive oil, help protect blood vessel walls, lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
4. Control salt intake: Excessive salt consumption can raise blood pressure, increasing the burden on blood vessels. It is recommended to limit daily salt intake to no more than 6 grams.
II. Regular exercise, improving vascular elasticity
1. Aerobic exercise: Long-term adherence to aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, can enhance cardiopulmonary function, improve vascular elasticity.
2. Dynamic stretching: Regular dynamic stretching exercises like yoga, Pilates, help relax blood vessels, increase vascular flexibility.
3. Resistance training: Adequate resistance training such as weightlifting, squats, can strengthen muscle strength, improve blood vessel wall elasticity.
III. Maintain good sleep habits, reduce vascular pressure
1. Ensure adequate sleep: Lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is recommended to ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
2. Avoid staying up late: Prolonged staying up late disrupts the circadian rhythm, affecting normal blood vessel function.
3. Control emotions: Significant emotional fluctuations like anger, anxiety, sadness can cause high blood pressure, aggravating the burden on blood vessels.
IV. Regular check-ups, timely detection of vascular issues
1. Regular blood pressure measurements: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, regular blood pressure measurements help detect abnormal blood pressure promptly.
2. Check blood lipids: High blood lipids can lead to fat accumulation inside blood vessels, increasing the burden on blood vessels. Regularly checking blood lipids, understanding lipid levels, and adjusting lifestyle in time are essential.
3. Electrocardiogram examination: An electrocardiogram can assess heart function, detect early signs of cardiovascular diseases.
In conclusion, to slow down vascular aging, we need to focus on aspects like diet, exercise, sleep habits, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, regular check-ups are crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases. By adhering to these four things, we can maintain youthful blood vessels. Let’s strive together for good health!
