Recently, temperatures have been soaring, and the heat is intensifying, making it difficult for many elderly people to cope. To prevent illness in the elderly during the summer, it is essential to understand some basic principles of summer health preservation. What should the elderly pay attention to for summer health? What should they eat during the summer?
Elderly Summer Dietary Taboos
The elderly should eat less meat and sweets in the summer, and drink fewer cold drinks. They can eat more loofah and sweet potatoes.
Eat less meat
The diets of many elderly people contain a lot of meat or fatty foods, which is not good for their health. This can lead to nutritional imbalances and metabolic disorders in the body, and also increases the risk of developing diseases like high blood pressure or high blood lipids. In severe cases, it can even lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
The hot weather in summer makes it easy to get "heatiness" from eating too much meat. Therefore, the elderly should focus on eating more foods that strengthen the spleen and relieve summer heat, such as bitter melon, tofu, mung beans, and corn. They should also try to avoid foods that are hard to digest, too greasy, or too spicy, as these can easily harm the spleen and stomach function.
Eat less sweets
Many elderly people tend to eat more sweets in the summer, such as ice cream or cooling drinks. Sweets contain a lot of sugar, which generates a lot of heat. If middle-aged and elderly people eat too many sweets, it can easily lead to "heatiness" and affect the spleen and stomach function, resulting in decreased appetite and indigestion.
In addition, if the elderly eat too many sweets, the sugar cannot be fully absorbed by the body and gets stored, leading to obesity. This is followed by an increase in blood lipids, a decline in cardiopulmonary function, and in severe cases, it can endanger life and health.
Drink fewer cold drinks
The digestive and absorption abilities of the spleen and stomach in middle-aged and elderly people are gradually declining. Due to the unbearable summer heat, the function of the spleen and stomach can decrease. Eating too many raw or cold foods or drinking cold drinks can cause significant damage to the spleen and stomach. Although cold drinks can effectively relieve summer heat, they have an adverse effect on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, slowing down peristalsis and even causing cramps and stomach pain. Middle-aged and elderly people should drink fewer cold drinks and raw foods, and should not drink overly strong tea.
Eat more eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein and lutein for the human body and can prevent cataracts. Scientists have found that eating more eggs can also prevent blood clots and greatly reduce the risk of embolism, stroke, and heart attack.
Eat more loofah
Loofah is often favored by the elderly. Stir-fried loofah or loofah with edamame is a favorite "summer cooling dish" among the elderly. In addition to clearing heat and detoxifying, loofah also has the effects of unblocking meridians, resolving stasis, and dissipating nodules. It is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly women, as regular consumption can help prevent hyperplastic breast disease.
Eat more sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are not only nutritionally balanced but also have medicinal value. According to ancient texts like "Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica," sweet potatoes have the effects of "nourishing deficiency, replenishing energy, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and reinforcing kidney yin," making people "long-lived and less ill." Modern medical research suggests that sweet potatoes have effects on weight loss, relieving constipation, cancer prevention, heart protection, and improving insulin sensitivity.
Eat more potatoes
Potatoes, though unassuming, are actually a highly nutritious food that can be both a staple and a vegetable. For the elderly, potatoes have various disease-preventing effects, so they might consider eating more potatoes during the hot summer.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that potatoes have the effect of "harmonizing the stomach, regulating the middle, strengthening the spleen, and replenishing qi," making them a good food for nourishing the spleen and stomach. Research has found that potatoes contain a special antimolecule that can treat stomach ulcers. Compared to antibiotics, it not only prevents stomach ulcers but does not produce drug resistance or any side effects. Additionally, potatoes can help prevent stroke, constipation, control blood pressure, and fight aging.
Elderly Summer Health Preservation Notes
In addition to diet, the elderly should also pay attention to their daily lives, such as getting enough rest and preventing heatstroke.
Pay attention to rest
Plan household chores reasonably, balance work and rest, and ensure adequate sleep at night and a midday nap. A midday nap in the height of summer is very important for the elderly. The nap should not be too long, as it can affect blood supply to the heart and brain; it should not be too short, or fatigue won't be relieved. An hour or so is ideal.
Pay attention to preventing heatstroke and cooling down
The elderly have poor tolerance to high temperatures, so they should try to reduce going out during the day. At home, pay attention to opening doors and windows for ventilation to keep the air fresh. Frequently mop the floor with cool water to maintain air humidity and cool the room. If there is air conditioning, the temperature should not be set too low to avoid a large temperature difference that can cause "air conditioning sickness."
Keep skin clean
In the hot and humid summer, excessive sweat causes the skin's epidermal cells to swell, easily blocking sweat pores and glands. Trapped sweat can cause heat rash. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to solar dermatitis. Organic substances in sweat provide nutrients for bacterial growth, making it easy to develop suppurative skin diseases. In the summer, the elderly should bathe and change clothes frequently to keep sweat glands clear and the skin clean.
Replenish body fluids in a timely manner
High summer temperatures lead to excessive loss of body fluids, which is a major cause of various diseases in the elderly. The most common issue is slow blood flow, which can easily cause high blood pressure, leading to cerebral hemorrhage, thrombotic stroke, or myocardial infarction. Severe dehydration can even cause poisoning due to an imbalance of acid-base levels in the body, all of which can be life-threatening. Therefore, don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water. Replenish fluids in a timely manner, and keep a glass of cool water by the bed at night for immediate consumption.