Not long ago, the World Health Organization's expert panel on nutrition proposed new dietary standards for the elderly. Specifically:
Fat Should account for 15% of the total diet, including 0-10% saturated fatty acids and 3-7% unsaturated fatty acids. Main food sources include rice bran oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, etc. Fat intake should not be excessive, as it is detrimental to health.
Protein Should account for 10%-15% of the total caloric intake. The remaining 85%-90% of calories should be provided by fat and carbohydrates, of which complex carbohydrates should account for 50%-70%. These are mainly found in foods such as millet, corn, and mung beans.
Trace elements Zinc is also essential. The elderly should moderately increase their intake of zinc-rich foods, which include sardines, carrots, beef, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, brown rice, etc.
Free sugars Primarily refer to refined sugars extracted from sugar beets and sugarcane. Naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables, and milk are not included. The upper limit for total free sugar consumption is 10% of the total food intake.
Dietary fiber A daily intake of 16-24 grams is recommended. Foods rich in dietary fiber include sesame, toon, beans, bamboo shoots, radishes, and seaweed, and these can be consumed in appropriate amounts.
Salt The upper limit for daily intake is 6 grams, with no lower limit.
Dietary cholesterol The upper limit for daily intake is 300 milligrams, with no lower limit.
Nutrition experts believe that if the elderly can reasonably arrange their diets according to these new dietary standards, they can achieve the goal of healthy longevity.