For the elderly, the period after a meal is a very important time. Correct post-meal health habits can help seniors maintain good intestinal function, promote comprehensive nutrient absorption, effectively prevent digestive diseases, and strengthen their physical constitution.
1. First, rinse your mouth. Hold mouthwash or water in your mouth, close your lips, and then puff out your cheeks and lips to allow the water to fully contact your teeth. Use the force of the water to repeatedly rinse all areas of the mouth, which will remove food particles and soft plaque left in the gaps between your teeth.
2. Rest for a while. Resting for 30 minutes after a meal helps promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and the secretion of digestive fluids. For elderly individuals with a prolapsed stomach, it is best to lie down for a while after eating. Because a prolapsed stomach is greatly affected by body position, lying down feels a bit better. If you start walking immediately after a meal, it will aggravate the damage of food to the stomach and small intestine, and can easily cause indigestion or abdominal pain.
3. Rub your abdomen. Place the palm of your hand on your abdomen, with your navel as the center, and gently massage in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction for 20 circles each.
4. Listen to some light music. For the elderly, enjoying gentle music after a meal is very beneficial for their health. Polish medical experts once suggested that patients with stomach diseases listen to Bach's music records after meals to help cure their stomach ailments.