As the saying goes: "A summer without illness leaves one three parts deficient." Once the Start of Autumn arrives, although the climate is cool in the mornings and evenings, the "autumn tiger" still rages, making people highly susceptible to fatigue, lassitude, and poor appetite. There has long been a folk custom of "autumn nourishment." All things can be said to follow the principle of "spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest, winter storage." According to the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter, supplementation at this time is very necessary. However, one should not supplement indiscriminately and should pay attention to these ten taboos:
1. Supplementing without illness
This not only increases expenses but also harms the body. For example, an overdose of cod liver oil can cause poisoning, and long-term use of glucose can lead to weight gain, increased cholesterol in the blood, and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Supplementing for fame
Believing that the more expensive a medicine is, the more it can benefit the body. Ginseng is expensive and is considered the king of tonics, so many people take it. However, it should be noted that the indiscriminate use of ginseng can lead to symptoms such as over-excitement, irritability, agitation, high blood pressure, and nosebleeds.
3. Not distinguishing between deficiency and excess
The therapeutic principle of traditional Chinese medicine is to tonify the deficient. Patients without deficiency syndromes should not use tonics. Deficiency syndromes are further divided into yin deficiency, yang deficiency, qi deficiency, and blood deficiency. Only by taking the right medicine for the condition can the body benefit; otherwise, the effect will be counterproductive.
4. The more, the better
Any tonic taken in excess will be harmful. Therefore, supplementation should be in moderation.
5. Using medicine instead of food
Emphasizing medicine over food is unscientific. Food supplementation is more effective than medicinal supplementation.
6. Believing all supplements must be meat
Animal foods are undoubtedly excellent remedies among supplements. They not only have high nutritional value but are also delicious. However, meat is not easy to digest and absorb. For the elderly whose gastrointestinal function has already declined, eating too much meat for a long time can be an unbearable burden. Furthermore, certain "by-products" from the digestion of meat, such as excessive fats and sugars, are often the causes of common and frequently occurring diseases in the elderly, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. A light diet is also a form of nourishment, especially vegetables, which should not be ignored. The modern nutritional view holds that fresh fruits and vegetables contain a variety of vitamins and trace elements, which are essential nutrients for the human body.
7. Using medicine instead of food
Food supplementation is better than medicinal supplementation; emphasizing medicine over food is unscientific. Many people don't realize that many foods also have therapeutic effects. For example, eating more shepherd's purse can treat high blood pressure; eating more radish can strengthen the stomach, aid digestion, regulate qi, and relieve chest tightness, as well as resolve phlegm and stop cough; eating more Chinese yam can tonify the spleen and stomach. Walnuts, peanuts, red dates, hyacinth beans, and lotus root, commonly eaten daily, are also excellent supplements.
8. Emphasizing intake while neglecting excretion
With the improvement of people's living standards, many families have meat dishes every day and greasy meals at every meal. The acidic and toxic substances produced by the metabolism of these foods need to be expelled in a timely manner. However, the accelerating pace of life has led many people to have irregular bowel movements or even constipation. Therefore, health experts have proposed a new health concept in recent years that focuses on "negative nutrition," that is, paying attention to the excretion of waste from the body, reducing the retention and absorption of "intestinal toxins," and advocating that timely and smooth bowel movements should be valued while supplementing.
9. Invariable supplementation
Some people like to take only one type of tonic according to their own taste, which then develops from "unchanged for many years" to "picky eating" or "addiction to certain foods." This is detrimental to health. Because both medicines and foods have health and therapeutic effects, as well as certain side effects, long-term and excessive use can affect the body's nutritional balance. Especially for the elderly, not only do the functions of various organs decline to varying degrees and need comprehensive and systematic conditioning, but there are also different needs for health medicines and foods in different seasons. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust according to different situations; one cannot supplement invariably and stick to it forever.
10. Distinction based on price
Things are precious because they are rare. Those expensive traditional foods like bird's nest and shark's fin actually have no special therapeutic effects, while very ordinary foods like sweet potatoes and onions have remarkable therapeutic value. In addition, all food therapies have specific targets and indications, so medicinal diets should be determined based on needs. What is lacking should be supplemented. Do not judge based on price, especially for the elderly group, who should take practicality and low price as the principles for supplementation.