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Recently, in the hot summer, the heat wave is really unbearable, and I have lost my appetite for food. In this kind of hot weather, many elderly people feel that their appetite is greatly reduced, and some of them have begun to prefer some seemingly light and protein-rich foods, such as soybeans and their products, such as soy milk and tofu.
Not only do these foods have a soft and smooth taste, but they are also believed to provide essential nutrients for the elderly body. But then again, while this habit may seem healthy, it can actually lurk some problems.
After eating soybean products as the staple food for a long time, the elderly may feel some subtle changes in their body, for example, they may experience gastrointestinal discomfort or flatulence. I thought it might just be a matter of heat, but after a long time, I found that these symptoms did not disappear as quickly as expected.
Soybeans, a seemingly ordinary but nutritious food, are a frequent guest on the table of many families. Especially for the elderly, soybeans are considered to be representative of a healthy diet due to their high-protein properties. However, for the elderly, there are many unknown aspects to the digestion and absorption of soybeans.
Soybeans are high in fiber, which is beneficial for most people because it helps with bowel movements and prevents constipation. But for older people, high-fiber foods are not so easy to digest.
Such foods require more stomach acid and digestive enzymes to break down, while the elderly usually have less gastric acid secretion and lower activity of digestive enzymes, which leads to the fact that soybeans and their products may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating and even cramps during digestion.
Soybeans contain a high content of phytic acid, in which phytic acid can form a complex with minerals such as calcium, thus affecting our own absorption of these minerals. For the elderly, calcium and iron intake is inherently a concern, and osteoporosis and anemia are health problems that many older people may face.
If soybeans are consumed excessively, their phytic acid may further affect the absorption of these important minerals, aggravating or inducing related diseases.
Although soybeans are a good source of protein, because the protein in it is mainly plant protein, its amino acid composition does not fully match the proportion of amino acids required by the human body.
Methionine and lysine, the essential amino acids for the human body, are slightly insufficient in soybean protein, which means that it is not enough to rely solely on soybean protein to meet the nutritional needs of the elderly.
Long-term consumption of soybeans and their products may lead to insufficient intake of these essential amino acids, which in turn affects the muscle maintenance and immune function of the elderly.
Although the isoflavones in soybeans sound like they have a lot of health benefits, you have to be careful, especially for older men. Eating too much estrogen in this plant may cause hormone levels in the body to fluctuate, and sometimes it may cause some hormone-related health troubles. So, although soybeans are good, don't be greedy, moderation is the most important.
While soybeans have many health benefits, they also contain anti-nutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitors, which can interfere with protein digestion and absorption.
In older people, the efficiency of the digestive system is already reduced, and the presence of this anti-nutritional factor may further exacerbate the problem of indigestion.
For the elderly, it is especially important to be careful when picking groceries, as not all healthy-looking fruits and vegetables are suitable for everyone. Especially for those elderly friends with health problems, there are some foods that are perfect for nutrition, but in some cases may not be very suitable.
Next, let's talk about four common fruits and vegetables that may need to be limited under certain conditions. Although these foods are good, sometimes you really have to control how much you eat for the sake of health.
Tomatoes are well-known antioxidant foods rich in vitamin C and lycopene, which have a positive effect on the prevention of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
But for older people with renal insufficiency, the higher potassium levels in tomatoes can be a hidden danger. Therefore, for those older adults who are known to have kidney dysfunction, it is essential to adjust the intake of tomatoes under the guidance of a doctor.
Spinach is a highly nutritious leafy green vegetable, rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K. However, spinach also contains a lot of oxalic acid, which is not a problem for most people, but for people with a history of kidney stones, too much oxalic acid may promote the formation of kidney stones, especially calcium oxalate.
In addition, oxalic acid can also affect the body's absorption of other important minerals such as calcium, which is a disadvantage for older people who are battling osteoporosis.
Grapefruit is rich in vitamin C and fiber, and is one of the fruits that many people love. But some of the special compounds contained in grapefruit, such as naringenin, are known to affect the metabolism of several drugs, especially those used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease.
For those elderly who are taking these medications, whether for health or affection, grapefruit ingestion should be taken with caution and preferably under the advice of a doctor.
Cherries are a fruit rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium, but cherries are also relatively high in sugar, and for diabetics or older people with poor blood sugar control, excessive consumption of cherries may cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which is not conducive to disease control.
In addition, the sugar in cherries may also affect oral health and increase the risk of dental caries, so it is important to limit cherry intake for older people who already have poor oral health.
From the above analysis, it can be seen that even healthy fruits and vegetables, under certain health conditions, can be a potential risk in the diet of the elderly. In their daily diet, the elderly should adjust the intake of fruits and vegetables according to their specific health conditions and doctors' advice to achieve a healthy diet in the true sense.
Rather than blindly pursuing a high intake of a certain food and ignoring the possible side effects that they may bring. Proper dietary modifications can help us maintain a good quality of life and long-term health.
(The above names are pseudonyms) #头条首发大赛#
What do you think about the elderly to stay away from soybeans? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
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[1] Lijie Wang, Yuxiang Liu, Yu Li, Correlation between Dietary Habits, Lifestyle and Dyslipidemia in the Elderly, China Medical Herald, 2022-09-25