is about to celebrate the New Year, Uncle Zhang urged his wife early in the morning, stewed a pot of pork belly for him, and beckoned his son-in-law to come and drink two cups with him. Seeing Uncle Zhang eating meat non-stop, and he also loves to eat fat, his wife couldn't help but remind him to eat less.
My wife explained, "Haven't you read what it says on the Internet? If you eat less meat when you are older, you will get cancer!"
"How did I hear that the less meat the elderly eat, the more they get cancer?" Uncle Zhang was not convinced, "I also read what I said on the Internet!"
"Huh, the less meat you eat, the more cancer you get?" my wife couldn't believe it. What's going on?
1. Is it true that the less meat the elderly eat, the more they get cancer?
For the sake of health, some elderly people have been vegetarian for many years and do not occupy meat. This unscientific way of eating, instead of maintaining health, may also cause stomach cancer.
People who have been vegetarians for a long time may not have enough protein intake in their bodies, and their sense of fullness is not strong, and it is easier to overeat when they eat occasionally.
At the same time, the long-term lack of high-quality protein accelerates the synthesis of nitrosamine carcinogens in the stomach, which can easily cause gastric cancer.
However, this phenomenon does not directly prove that "the less meat the elderly eat, the more cancer they get". There are not many studies that can completely confirm this claim, but there are some studies that can show that eating too much meat in the elderly can cause cancer.
Eating too little meat will mainly cause nutritional deficiencies, such as protein deficiency, B12 deficiency, iron and zinc deficiency, etc., and will also cause anemia, low immune system, Alzheimer's disease, etc., which on the surface does not seem to have much to do with cancer.
But one of the most likely causes of cancer is a long-term and severe deficiency of vitamin B12 and iron.
Vitamin B12 is essential for maintaining the normal function of the nervous system. Some studies have shown that vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and certain cancers.
Because the associated health problems caused by B12 deficiency indirectly increase the risk of cancer.
Iron is a component of hemoglobin and is responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron deficiency may lead to anemia, which can also lead to cancer.
In general, the direct conclusion that "the less meat you eat, the more cancer you get" is not yet fully scientific.
So, what does eating meat itself have to do with cancer?
2. Can eating meat cause cancer?
At present, the scientific community has not reached a clear conclusion on the question of whether meat directly causes cancer, and this statement has been kept controversial.
Judging from the research data provided by the world's authoritative health organizations, as early as 10 years ago, studies showed that some processed meats have the potential to cause cancer, such as beef, mutton and pork that everyone usually eats, especially processed meat foods such as smoked and pickled, and the problem of carcinogenesis is more prominent.
Some of these studies have found that substances such as coke and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced when cooking meat at high temperatures can be carcinogenic. In addition, excessive intake of substances such as saturated fat and cholesterol may also have negative health effects.
But these studies are only observational studies and do not prove causality. Moreover, factors such as individual differences, dietary patterns, lifestyle, etc., may also affect this relationship. Therefore, these studies do not determine that eating meat causes cancer.
From a more scientific perspective, maintaining a balanced diet and moderate intake of various foods, especially foods rich in fiber and antioxidants such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, are beneficial for reducing the risk of cancer.
Against this backdrop, some experts recommend moderate meat control in older adults to help reduce disease. So, should the elderly eat less meat?
3. Should the elderly eat less meat?
In some ways, eating less meat for the elderly has certain health benefits.
The elderly will have some small problems in their bodies every once in a while, such as stomach acid, intestinal peristalsis discomfort, etc., and the older they are, the more "alarms" the body will issue. Especially for the elderly, the intestinal function is relatively poor, and it is not easy to digest and excrete some meat, and it will cause some diseases if it is accumulated in the body for a long time.
For patients with high-fat and high-cholesterol diets and chronic diseases, eating less meat can reduce the likelihood of disease, such as cardiovascular disease in the elderly, and people who eat too much meat are more likely to suffer from this disease, so the elderly are not suitable for eating and drinking all day long.
Eating too much meat can also cause gout. For example, Uncle Li had an old attack of gout, and in desperation, his family accompanied him to the Chinese medicine hospital for examination.
Uncle Li said that during the Chinese New Year, every day is a big fish and meat, forgetting that he still has this old problem, thinking that he will be fine if he takes some medicine, who knows that his blood pressure has been soaring, and his joints are so painful that he can't walk.
After the examination, the doctor told Uncle Li, this is not ordinary gout, you also suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes, but you have eaten a lot of seafood and beef and mutton during the Chinese New Year, these are high-purine foods, which will directly lead to the deterioration of the condition.
Uncle Li was dumbfounded, who knew that eating two more pieces of meat would be such a big crime!
Eating too much meat is also not much good for the bone health of the elderly. Because meat is high in protein, and a high-protein diet can lead to bone acidification, increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
In the case of declining bone density in the elderly, it is important to balance the body's protein intake for health maintenance. Coupled with the aforementioned risk of cancer from eating meat, eating less meat in older people is more helpful for longevity.
So, do all older people have to eat less meat?
Fourth, should the elderly eat more meat or less meat?
Whether the elderly should eat less meat also depends on the specific physical condition. There are people who can never leave the meat.
People with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, osteoporosis, certain cancers, and digestive problems are not recommended to eat more meat. But for older people with higher protein needs, it is appropriate to eat some meat.
For example, some older people have increased protein requirements due to muscle loss or chronic diseases. Meat is a good source of protein and contains all the essential amino acids that the body needs. At this time, eating meat is equivalent to dietary therapy.
Although eating too much meat is not good for bones, it is not good for not eating either. Because meat protein is one of the important components for maintaining bone health.
In particular, collagen-rich meats, such as chicken skin, chicken bone broth, etc., contribute to the health of joints and bones in the elderly. Eating meat in moderation is also good for bones.
Some older people have anemia or nutritional deficiencies, which may require increased iron and vitamin B12 intake. Red meat is a good source of iron and vitamin B12, which helps prevent anemia.
Meat is also rich in nutrients such as zinc and vitamin B6, which are important for maintaining gut health and immune function.
In addition, some older people may lose weight due to illness or other reasons. In this case, meat can provide enough high-quality protein to help maintain weight and nutritional status.
In general, whether the elderly should eat more meat or less meat should vary from person to person, according to their own needs, rather than becoming a vegetarian completely. For specific ways to eat, it would be better to listen to the doctor's advice.
5. The doctor reminds that when you are older, it is healthier to eat meat in this way
First of all, the elderly usually cook meat at home, and should avoid some excessive processing methods such as frying and pickling, and choose steaming, boiling, cold dressing, etc., as much as possible to reduce the loss of meat nutrients, and also avoid excessive fat and calorie intake. In this way, you can enjoy the pleasure of eating meat without getting fat or getting sick.
Secondly, try to choose lean meat when buying and eating meat. The elderly are suitable for eating some chicken breast, tenderloin, lean beef and other meats, such as big fat meat, pork belly, and chicken skin are not recommended to eat more meats with high fat content.
Thirdly, while controlling the intake of meat, the elderly should increase vegetables, fruits, grains and other diversified foods to make nutrition balanced and maintain a balanced overall diet. You can't eat what you like to eat, and you don't touch anything you don't like, so not only will you be out of shape, but you will also be more likely to get sick.
Especially in terms of dietary institutions, it is necessary to pay attention to the supplementation of appropriate dietary fiber, which is very important for the intestinal health of the elderly.
Considering that some elderly people have bad teeth and mouth and have a hard time chewing, it is recommended that when the elderly eat meat, they can use cooking utensils such as pressure cookers to make it easier to eat when the meat is boiled. Or choose tender meat, cut it thinner or make it into minced meat, which is more friendly to the teeth and stomach of the elderly.
Elderly people who love meat should also drink more water, which is often overlooked by many people.
Drinking water dilutes stomach acid and promotes the secretion of gastric juice, which allows for better digestion of proteins and fats.
Eating too much meat can make the stool dry out in the intestines, causing constipation. Drinking water can maintain a moist environment in the intestines, promote the flow of food in the digestive tract, and make stools smoother.
The high protein content of meat may lead to an increase in uric acid levels in the body of older people, and drinking water can dilute the urine and promote urination, thereby reducing the risk of uric acid stones or gout.
Nitrogen compounds in urine are produced in the metabolites of proteins, and eating too much meat may promote urination and cause the body to lack water, so drinking water after eating meat can help maintain water balance and prevent dehydration.
Conclusion
The New Year is approaching, and it is inevitable that there will be big fish and meat on the dinner table of every household, especially from Chinese New Year's Eve to the fifteenth day of the first month, all kinds of gatherings and entertainment are indispensable, and the mouth can hardly stop.
During this period, the incidence of the elderly is also relatively high. The elderly, who are usually not in good health, should pay more attention, and do not get carried away because they are happy, and stuff everything into the stomach. If you don't do it, like Uncle Li, you will go to the hospital directly after eating.
Taking good care of your body, learning self-discipline, and eating a scientific diet with vegetables and meat at every meal are the keys to effective cancer prevention.
Do you have any exclusive tips for health care? Feel free to leave a message in the comment section.