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In the scorching summer, the sun is like fire. 68-year-old Uncle Li sat on a bench in the community, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead while sipping a cold beer in his hand.
When Aunt Zhang beside him saw it, she couldn't help but persuade: "Uncle Li, don't drink cold beer on this hot day!" Not good for the body. "
Uncle Li waved his hand disapplausively: "It's okay, my body is hard!" What is this beer? With that, he took another big sip of it.
Aunt Zhang wanted to speak and stopped, but finally shook her head and walked away. She thought to herself: "This old Li, he just doesn't listen to persuasion." I just read the news a few days ago that dog days are coming, and the elderly should pay more attention to their diet, but he doesn't seem to care at all. "
Who knows, just that night, the siren of an ambulance suddenly sounded in the community. Residents poked their heads out one after another, only to see the ambulance parked downstairs at Uncle Li's house.
After a while, Uncle Li was carried into the ambulance. This scene made the residents in the community talk a lot, and also made us have to re-examine the food problem in the dog days.
Dog days, as the hottest time of the year, not only test our tolerance, but also pose a serious challenge to our physical health.
Especially for the elderly, dietary choices during this period are particularly important. So, how exactly should the elderly eat during this special season? What foods should be extra vigilant?
First, let's take a look at the "culprit" of cold beer. While a cold beer can indeed provide a temporary cooling sensation on a hot summer day, it can be a potential health hazard for older adults.
The Chinese Journal of Geriatrics once published an article titled "Precautions for Drinking in Summer for the Elderly".
"Drinking cold beer in hot weather in the elderly can easily lead to gastrointestinal disorders and may even lead to cardiovascular disease," he said. "[1]
This is because the gastrointestinal function of the elderly is already weak, and the sudden intake of a large amount of cold liquid can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
What's more, cold beer can cause sudden constriction of blood vessels, which can trigger angina pectoris or even myocardial infarction.
Next, let's turn our attention to another resident of the community, Grandma Wang. As a retired middle school Chinese teacher, Grandma Wang has always focused on health preservation.
But just the other day, she also became unwell from eating inappropriate food.
It turned out that Grandma Wang heard that eating cold food could cool off the heat, so she ate a lot of watermelon. Who knows, there were symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea that night.
An article by the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine "Dietary Guidelines for the Elderly on Dog Days" mentions: "Although watermelon has the effect of clearing heat and relieving heat, it is cold, and excessive consumption by the elderly can easily lead to spleen and stomach dysfunction." "[2]
This reminds us that even common "summer foods" should be consumed by the elderly with extra care.
In addition to the above two foods, there are also some foods that also require extra attention from older adults on dog days. Like what:
1. Raw and cold food: such as cold cucumber, cold skin, etc. This type of food can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract and lead to indigestion.
2. Barbecue food: In hot weather, barbecue food is more likely to breed bacteria and increase the risk of food poisoning.
3. High-fat foods: such as fatty meats, fried foods, etc. This type of food is not easy to digest and tends to increase the burden on the heart.
4. Irritating foods: such as chili peppers, coffee, etc. This type of food accelerates the loss of water in the body, which is not conducive to heat prevention.
So, how should the elderly eat scientifically on dog days? We can start with the following aspects:
1. Drink plenty of water: Maintain adequate water intake, but avoid drinking large amounts of ice water at once.
2. Light diet: mainly digestible foods, such as vegetables, fruits, porridge, etc.
3. Eat in moderation: Don't overeat, it's advisable to be full at every meal.
4. Pay attention to nutritional balance: ensure the intake of protein, vitamins and minerals.
5. Choose the appropriate cooking method: steam, boil, stew, avoid frying and grilling.
Let's go back to the story of the community. After Uncle Li was taken to the hospital, after examination, the doctor diagnosed him with acute gastroenteritis caused by drinking a lot of cold beer.
This lesson made Uncle Li deeply aware of the importance of dog day diet.
After being discharged from the hospital, Uncle Li began to pay serious attention to his diet. He is no longer greedy for cups, but drinks some warm green tea every day.
For lunch, he and his wife cook some light vegetable soup. In the evening, they would take a walk to a nearby park and buy a small portion of fresh fruit salad to enjoy.
Such a change not only made Uncle Li's physical condition significantly improved, but also affected the surrounding neighbors.
Everyone began to exchange health tips with each other, and the community even organized a "healthy life group", held regular lectures, and invited nutritionists to guide everyone on how to eat scientifically on dog days.
Grandma Wang also learned from her own experience. She began to study the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and learned the truth of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter".
On dog days, she will eat some warm foods, such as red dates and goji berries, to regulate her body's balance.
Dr. Chen, a retired TCM physician in the community, saw the enthusiasm of his neighbors for healthy eating and offered to provide voluntary medical treatment for everyone.
He often reminds everyone: "Dog days are all about balance." Neither too greedy nor too warm. It should be moderately conditioned according to the individual's physique. "
Over time, the health of the elderly in the community has generally improved. Uncle Li's blood pressure gradually stabilized, and Grandma Wang's digestive problems were also alleviated.
What's even more gratifying is that everyone has become more intimate because of this common topic, and the atmosphere in the community has become more harmonious.
This story teaches us that on dog days, especially for the elderly, eating really can't be taken lightly. A seemingly simple dietary choice can have a significant impact on health.
But at the same time, we also see that as long as we pay enough attention and learn and practice, we can stay healthy even in the hot summer.
Finally, we reiterate that the dog day diet principles can be summarized as: light, easy to digest, nutritionally balanced, and in moderation.
For the elderly, it is more important to avoid raw, cold, and irritating foods, maintain adequate water intake, and appropriately increase some warm foods to adjust the body's balance.
Let's work together for a healthy, comfortable dog day!
Bibliography:
[1] Li Ming, Zhang Hua. Precautions for drinking alcohol in the elderly in summer[J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics, 2018, 37(8): 1789-1791.
[2] Wang Wei, Liu Fang. Dietary Guidelines for the Elderly on Dog Days[J]. Journal of Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019, 34(7): 1456-1458.
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[This content is a fictional short story, and any name, place name, or other aspects involved in the text have nothing to do with reality (without any implications). If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】