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In the topic of health preservation, we often hear such voices: eat more vegetables and fruits, and drink less alcohol, so that you can be healthy and live a long life. Today, however, there is an experienced doctor who makes a surprising statement and puts forward a completely different point of view: when you are old, you would rather drink a moderate amount of alcohol every day, and you should not eat more fruits and vegetables.
This remark is undoubtedly like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples at all levels. What's going on here? Is our long-standing concept of health going to be turned upside down? Let's take these questions and walk into today's health science articles together to uncover the mystery.
1. Amazing words from doctors: Drinking alcohol in moderation may be beneficial
When it comes to drinking, most people's first reaction is "harmful to health". Indeed, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a range of health problems such as liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and more. However, the doctor pointed out that for older people, drinking in moderation may not be useless.
According to several studies, there is a link between moderate alcohol consumption (generally no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one drink a day for women) and cardiovascular health. Moderate alcohol intake can increase blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, commonly known as "good cholesterol") while reducing the formation of blood clots, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Drinking alcohol in moderation also boosts blood circulation, relieves stress, and has even been found to be associated with a reduced risk of diabetes in some studies.
This is not to encourage people to drink alcohol in moderation. Doctors stress that moderation is key, and excessive alcohol consumption can still bring many health risks. When choosing "moderate drinking", we should pay more attention to other factors in our diet, especially the intake of certain fruits and vegetables.
2. Uncover the mystery: four kinds of vegetables and fruits, eat less when you are older
Since moderate drinking is reasonable under certain conditions, what are the four fruits and vegetables that make doctors so cautious and even advise older people to eat less?
Persimmons: Delicious traps
Persimmon is a much-loved fruit, especially in autumn, where its sweet taste is addictive. However, the doctor reminded everyone that older people should eat less persimmons, especially on an empty stomach. This is because persimmons contain a lot of tannin and pectin, which are prone to the formation of gastric stones under the action of gastric acid, which can lead to indigestion, stomach pain and even stomach bleeding.
The risk is even greater for older people whose gastrointestinal function is already weakened.
The sugar in persimmons should not be ignored either. Although natural fructose has little effect on healthy people, for diabetics or older adults with poor blood sugar control, excessive consumption of persimmons may cause blood sugar fluctuations, which is not good for health.
Spinach: Although iron supplementation is good, oxalic acid is a problem
Spinach is recognized as a "model student" and is rich in many nutrients such as iron and vitamin K. However, doctors pointed out that spinach has a high content of oxalic acid, which can be a hidden health threat for older people.
Oxalic acid combines with calcium in the body to form calcium oxalate, which affects calcium absorption and may also lead to the formation of kidney stones. For older adults at increased risk of osteoporosis, excessive intake of oxalic acid is undoubtedly worse. Although spinach is rich in nutrients, the elderly should eat it in moderation and try to reduce the oxalic acid content by blanching and other methods.
Mango: A high-sugar challenge in a tropical setting
Mango is loved by people for its unique sweetness and rich nutritional value. For older people, the high sugar content in mangoes is a problem that cannot be ignored.
The sugar content of mangoes is mainly concentrated in the pulp, especially ripe mangoes, which have a higher sugar content. Excessive consumption of mango may lead to an increase in blood sugar and may also increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. For diabetics or the elderly with poor blood sugar control, it is even more necessary to consume with caution.
Mango also contains some allergens, which is also a potential threat to the elderly with allergies.
Tomatoes: sweet and sour, but acidic irritation should be noted
Tomatoes are a regular at the table and are loved by people whether they are eaten raw or cooked. However, doctors have reminded older people to eat less tomatoes, especially on an empty stomach.
This is because tomatoes contain a lot of organic acids, such as citric acid, malic acid, etc., which may irritate the gastric mucosa in an empty state, resulting in stomach pain, excessive stomach acid and other uncomfortable symptoms. For the elderly whose gastrointestinal function has weakened, eating tomatoes on an empty stomach is undoubtedly a burden.
Certain components in tomatoes may also affect calcium absorption, which can also be a disadvantage for older adults who are at increased risk of osteoporosis.
3. Doctor's advice: Balanced diet, health is king
After revealing the "secrets" of these four fruits and vegetables, the doctor emphasized that the key to a healthy diet is balance and moderation. Whether it's alcohol, vegetables and fruits, there is no absolute good or bad, the key is how to make a reasonable combination according to your physical condition and needs.
For older people, drinking alcohol in moderation may have some health benefits, but it's more important to keep your diet varied and balanced. Eat foods rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits (in addition to the four things to watch out for), and reduce your intake of foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
The doctor also reminded everyone that in addition to diet, moderate exercise, adequate sleep, and maintaining a good attitude are also important factors in maintaining health. Only by combining multi-faceted efforts can we truly achieve the goal of healthy and long life.
4. Conclusion: The road to health needs to be carried out cautiously
In today's article, we hear a different voice: when you are older, you would rather drink a moderate amount of alcohol every day than eat more fruits and vegetables. This idea undoubtedly breaks with our traditional perception of healthy eating, but it also reminds us that health is not a static dogma, but an art that needs to be flexibly adjusted to the individual's physical condition and needs.
On the road to pursuing health, we need to keep an open mind, keep learning new knowledge, and make reasonable choices based on our actual situation. Only in this way can we enjoy the happiness of health while enjoying food.
Let's remember the doctor's advice: eat a balanced diet, health is king. May every reader have a healthy and happy old age!
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