Elderly people should eat less meat and more vegetables? Nutritionist: Nonsense, these are the things that should not be touched
Aging is an inevitable part of everyone’s life development. Everyone has a young age and will experience aging one day. Generally, as people get older, they easily reminisce about youth, partly due to youthful memories and partly due to the state of the body when young. Categorizing our bodies based on physical condition, there are four stages: the development stage, the golden stage of the body, the aging stage, and the complete aging stage. As age increases, especially after middle age, various bodily functions gradually deteriorate, organ activity noticeably decreases, and many aspects may feel more difficult, even eating.
Regardless of age, nutrition is crucial for maintaining health. Only with adequate nutrition can organs remain active, and physical fitness not decline significantly. However, as people age, digestive metabolism slows down, limiting the types of food that should be consumed. Indulging in excessive eating and unhealthy eating habits can burden the digestive system and lead to various health risks.
Should elderly people eat less meat and more vegetables?
Elderly people’s digestive abilities weaken, and they generally have lower physical and energy consumption. Therefore, many suggest that older individuals should eat less meat, focusing on vegetables, which aligns with a light diet standard and helps prevent obesity. However, to ensure normal bodily functions, all essential nutrients are necessary. Proteins and fats are key for cell vitality, while vegetables mainly consist of vitamins, fiber, and various minerals. Therefore, it is important for the elderly to consume meat in moderation, considering the type of meat and cooking method, preferably opting for boiled or lightly cooked fish and chicken with low fat content.
Elderly people should eat less of these things
Pickled vegetables (Zha Cai)
Most elderly people have experienced material scarcity in the past, which is why, despite living in more affluent times, they tend to maintain a simple lifestyle and enjoy a variety of pickled vegetables. Pickled vegetables are preserved with a lot of seasonings, especially salt, which can lead to uncontrolled blood pressure if consumed frequently. High salt intake can burden the liver and even damage liver cells, so it’s advisable to consume pickled vegetables and similar preserved foods sparingly.
Broths
With age, people generally become more health-conscious, especially when it comes to nutritional supplements, often choosing broths as their preferred nourishment, such as chicken or pork rib broth. They believe that after prolonged cooking, the nutrients dissolve into the soup and are easily absorbed by the body. However, prolonged heating during broth preparation can destroy the nutrient structure, and the high purine content in meats like chicken or pork may lead to elevated uric acid levels if consumed frequently, potentially triggering gout.
Rice Porridge
There’s a common belief that eating porridge protects the stomach. Therefore, as people age, they may feel their digestive system is not as strong and resort to drinking porridge for maintenance. Some intentionally prolong the cooking time, making the porridge thick. However, thin porridge does not effectively maintain stomach health; it just requires less digestive effort. Long-term consumption of thin porridge can lead to a rapid decline in stomach function. Moreover, thin porridge is easily absorbed by the body, converts quickly into sugar, raising blood sugar levels rapidly, making it unsuitable for the elderly.
