During the summer, the hot weather makes the relationship between diet and health extremely close. With a proper diet, one can get through the summer smoothly, but if one is not careful, it is possible to contract diseases and damage one's health. For the elderly, how can they maintain their health during the hot summer?
First, pay attention to food hygiene. In the summer, high temperatures can easily cause leftovers to be contaminated by bacteria, so it's best not to eat them. If you do, they must be reheated to a high temperature. Fruits and vegetables to be eaten raw should be washed and peeled. When making cold dishes, the vegetables must be thoroughly washed, and it's best to blanch them in boiling water. Knives and cutting boards used for cooked food should be separate from those used for raw meat and vegetables. When making cold dishes, add minced garlic and vinegar, which not only increases appetite and aids digestion but also has a bactericidal and detoxifying effect, preventing the occurrence of intestinal infectious diseases. When making cold drinks, use boiled water, not raw water. In the summer, the elderly should avoid eating food from street stalls to prevent food poisoning.
High summer temperatures often leave the human nervous system in a state of tension, and the function of certain glands is also affected. This often leads to weakened digestion and loss of appetite. Therefore, one should appropriately eat more light and easily digestible foods, such as bean products, eggs, dairy products, chicken, fish, fresh vegetables, and fruits, and eat less greasy food. The human body loses more water and salt in the summer, so one should drink more water and also drink some light saltwater in moderation. However, avoid drinking too much water to avoid overburdening the heart and digestive system. It is better to drink small amounts frequently. For example, regularly drinking mung bean soup or red bean soup can prevent heatstroke, clear heat, detoxify, and whet the appetite. Regularly drinking health teas can relieve summer heat and refresh the body and mind. Common health teas include: Salt Tea: Use 6 grams of salt, 5 grams of tea leaves, add 500 ml of boiling water, steep, and drink when cool. It has the effects of relieving heat, quenching thirst, replenishing fluids, and relieving thirst; Chrysanthemum Tea:
5 grams of white chrysanthemum, steeped in 500 ml of boiling water, and drunk when cool. It can clear heat and detoxify.
In addition, use 500 grams of winter melon, cut into pieces, boil to make 3 bowls of soup, season with a little salt, and take 3 times a day. Use 250 grams of fresh lotus root with an appropriate amount of rock sugar, boil them in water together, and drink one dose daily. If consumed regularly, this can help prevent heatstroke in the elderly who are frail or suffer from multiple illnesses.