Elderly people's health and longevity require eating more whole grains. It's often only after reaching old age that one realizes the importance of good health, and thus pays great attention to health preservation. So, do you know what dietary considerations there are for the elderly? The diet for seniors is generally light, and it is important to have regular meals and a balanced nutrition. Whole grains are an indispensable part of an elderly person's diet.
Millet: Also known as foxtail millet, it is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach. It is suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach heat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and for those who are weak after childbirth or illness. When millet is boiled into a congee, the delicate, viscous layer that floats on top is commonly known as "milk oil." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the nutritional value of millet oil is extremely rich, its nourishing power is the strongest, and there is a saying that "millet oil can replace ginseng soup."
Rice: Also known as japonica rice, it is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, and relieving vexation and thirst. In winter, indoor heating is quite strong and the air is dry. Drinking rice congee in the morning and evening can keep you away from the annoyance of a dry mouth and tongue. A special reminder for diabetic patients is that different cooking methods for rice have different effects on blood sugar. Studies have shown that an equal amount of rice cooked into dry rice has a smaller impact on blood sugar than congee. Therefore, diabetic patients eating dry rice for breakfast is beneficial for blood sugar control.
Wheat: It is sweet in taste, neutral in nature and slightly cool. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the kidneys, nourishing the heart and calming the mind. For those with vexation and insomnia, wheat can be cooked with rice and red dates to make a congee for consumption. In addition, wheat bran is high in dietary fiber, which has a preventive effect on hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hemorrhoids, senile constipation, and colon cancer.
Corn: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen to dampness, whetting the appetite and benefiting intelligence, and calming the heart and activating blood. The linoleic acid in corn oil can prevent cholesterol from depositing on the blood vessel walls and has a positive effect on preventing hypertension and coronary heart disease. In addition, it has the effects of promoting urination and lowering blood sugar, making it especially suitable for diabetic patients. American scientists have also discovered that eating corn can stimulate brain cells and enhance human memory. The lutein and zeaxanthin contained in corn can prevent the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration in the elderly.
Job's tears: Also known as coix seed, its protein content is much higher than that of rice and flour, and it is easy to digest and absorb, which is beneficial for reducing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and enhancing physical fitness. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Job's tears are sweet and light in taste, slightly cold in nature, and have the effects of strengthening the spleen, replenishing the lungs, clearing heat, and promoting urination. Modern research has proven that Job's tears have effects such as anti-tumor, enhancing immunity, and lowering blood sugar. Cooking Job's tears with rice or adding rock sugar can increase appetite in cancer patients and reduce the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition, the coixenolone in Job's tears has an inhibitory effect on striated muscles, which can reduce wrinkles. Beauty-conscious people might as well eat more.
Soybeans: Soybeans are neutral in nature and sweet in taste. They have the effect of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi. They are suitable for people with a weak spleen and stomach to eat often. Various soy products made from soybeans, such as tofu and soy milk, also have medicinal properties: tofu can relax the middle and replenish qi, clear heat and dissipate blood, and is especially suitable for those with phlegm-heat cough and asthma, external contraction of wind-heat, and swollen and sore throat.
Sorghum: Sorghum is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. For children with indigestion, sorghum can be taken, stir-fried in a pot, hulled, and ground into powder. Take 2-3 grams each time to be taken with water. However, sorghum is warm in nature and contains tannic acid, which has an astringent effect to stop diarrhea, so it is not suitable for people with constipation.