Uncle Wu (pseudonym) is a retired old man in his seventies, he has always had a good appetite and likes to eat all kinds of food. Recently, however, he has been feeling unwell and often suffers from stomach upset and indigestion. Worried that something was wrong with his health, he decided to see Dr. Sun.
- Author: Starfish
After carefully inquiring about Uncle Wu's eating habits and physical condition, Dr. Sun told him: "As we age, the digestion and absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract will gradually decline, and excessive satiety may have adverse effects on our health. Therefore, in old age, it is necessary to pay more attention to the health and reasonable combination of diet. ”
Dr. Sun advises Uncle Wu to adopt some healthy eating habits, such as eating regularly every day, eating a variety of foods, chewing slowly, etc. And told him: "Moderate control of the amount of food and drink, keeping seven to eight points full, can help reduce the burden on the stomach, prevent indigestion and other problems, and even prolong life to a certain extent." ”
Uncle Wu asked with a little worry: "Then I used to eat a lot of food before, will it have a great impact on my body?" ”
Dr. Sun patiently explained, "Yes, long-term overeating may lead to health problems such as obesity and digestive disorders, but as long as you adjust your eating habits in time, it can still be improved." ”
After listening to Dr. Sun's advice, Uncle Wu decided to improve his eating habits and pay more attention to his health. By adjusting his diet, he gradually regained his stomach health and realized the importance of developing healthy eating habits.
With the passage of time, people's lifestyles and eating habits are constantly changing. Especially as we age, our physical health needs to be taken care of more carefully. The digestion and absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract gradually declines with age, which means that we need to pay more attention to our eating habits. Although many people think that being able to eat in old age is a blessing, chronic overeating can lead to more health problems for the body.
Effects of gastrointestinal decline
With age, the digestion and absorption function of the human stomach and intestines gradually declines, which is one of the natural processes of aging. Compared to younger people, the digestive system of the elderly is more fragile and their digestive capacity is gradually weakened. As a result, older people often eat less and their appetite may also decrease. However, despite the decline in gastrointestinal function, it is not wise to overeat for a long time, and oversaturation can have negative effects on the body in many ways.
Obesity: Excessive food intake can lead to a surplus of energy that exceeds the body's actual needs. This extra energy is often not consumed in time and is eventually converted into fat and stored, leading to obesity problems. Obesity is closely related to a variety of serious diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Increase the burden on the stomach and intestines: Excessive food intake will bring a heavy burden to the gastrointestinal tract, leading to indigestion, gastrointestinal disorders and other problems. In the long term, these problems may further develop into gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastric ulcers and gastritis.
Effects on liver health: Excessive diet can lead to a large fat intake, which is beyond the liver's capacity to handle, and has adverse effects on the liver. This can lead to diseases such as fatty liver and liver damage.
Accelerated aging: Excessive eating can lead to more energy intake, which in turn increases the production of free radicals. Free radicals are one of the main factors that lead to cell damage and aging, and long-term accumulation may accelerate the body's aging process.
Therefore, although the amount of food eaten may be reduced in old age, overeating can still have a negative impact on physical health. Maintaining a proper diet and controlling the amount of food you eat is one of the important measures to maintain good health and delay aging.
Healthy eating habits
Varied food intake: Maintain a varied diet with nutrients from a variety of food groups. Eat at least 12 different foods a day, and try to reach more than 25 per week, to ensure that your body is getting a complete range of nutrients.
Moderate intake: Don't overeat and don't starve. Try to keep each meal to the point where you are seven to eight full. Seven points full means that the stomach does not feel full, but the enthusiasm for food has decreased, while eight points full means that the stomach feels full, but can still eat a few more bites. Maintaining a moderate amount of food and drink can help maintain good health.
Eat at regular intervals: Keep the interval between meals 4 to 6 hours to avoid overburdening your stomach or leaving it empty for too long. Reasonable meal time can promote digestion and absorption, and maintain gastrointestinal health.
Chew slowly: Chew slowly when eating, so that the food is well mixed with saliva, which is conducive to digestion and absorption. In addition, chewing slowly will also allow you to enjoy the taste of food better and avoid eating too quickly that can lead to excessive food intake.
Rest after meals: It is recommended to rest for half an hour after meals and engage in light activities such as walking or standing. Avoid strenuous exercise or lying down to rest right away, as this will help digest food and reduce the burden on your stomach.
As we age, our body needs more love and care, and a reasonable diet is one of the keys to maintaining good health. By properly controlling the amount of food we eat, diversifying our food intake, eating regularly, chewing slowly, and resting after meals, we can effectively prevent obesity, digestive diseases, and other health problems, improve quality of life, and prolong life. Health is the greatest wealth, may each of us enjoy a healthy and happy life!