Text: Dr. Xu
Edited by Chi You
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On a sunny weekend, Liu Jun had just finished his week's shopping list at the supermarket, happily pushing a truckload of ingredients and groceries to the cash register.
After checking out, the cashier handed him a raffle card.
Liu Jun thought to himself: "Anyway, there is nothing to lose, just try it." ”
Unexpectedly, he actually won a valuable full-body physical examination card.
Liu Jun is a dedicated middle school history teacher, and in addition to teaching and preparing lesson plans, Liu Jun rarely has time to pay attention to his health.
The unexpected prize made him decide to use the weekend to go to the medical examination center for a comprehensive examination.
The elderly should touch apples and bananas less
When the results of the physical examination came out, the doctor took off his glasses and said seriously: "Your physical condition is generally good, but there is one thing to pay attention to.
I advise you to touch apples and bananas sparingly, and there are two 'side dishes' that can be of great health benefit if eaten in a reasonable way. ”
Liu Jun was stunned, he never thought that healthy foods like apples and bananas would be recommended by doctors to reduce consumption.
What makes him even more curious is what exactly are those two "side dishes" and why do they bring health benefits?
Doctors explain that although apples and bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals, for some people, eating too much may lead to elevated blood sugar levels and indigestion.
2 kinds of "food" are eaten reasonably and have many benefits
As for the two "side dishes", they refer to tofu and spinach.
Tofu contains high-quality plant protein and calcium, while spinach is rich in iron and vitamin K, which is very beneficial for maintaining bone health and blood circulation when consumed in moderation.
Liu Jun was surprised to hear this, and he eats apples and bananas almost every day, which he thinks is the standard for a healthy diet.
Tofu and spinach occasionally appear on his dinner table, but he never pays special attention to their health value.
The doctor went on to share some specific cases
For example, a patient suffered from excessive consumption of fruits with high sugar content for a long time, which caused excessive fluctuations in blood sugar, which caused diabetes in the long run.
There is also an elderly person who does not pay attention to the balance of his diet and lacks the necessary protein and mineral intake, which causes the problem of osteoporosis and anemia.
Doctors emphasize that no food is absolutely good or bad, and the key lies in how to mix it reasonably and eat it in moderation.
He suggested that Liu Jun could try tofu and spinach as part of his regular diet, while reducing the intake of high-sugar fruits to maintain stable blood sugar levels and promote overall health.
Liu Jun felt very benefited, and he realized that his previous understanding of healthy eating was too one-sided, and decided to replan his diet when he returned home.
In addition, the doctor also mentioned a point that surprised Liu Jun:
Proper sun exposure is extremely beneficial for health.
He explains that the right amount of sunlight can help the body synthesize vitamin D, which is important for maintaining healthy bones.
Although this view may seem unrelated to food, in fact, proper sun exposure combined with a reasonable diet can greatly improve the body's absorption and utilization of calcium and other minerals in food.
According to a large number of research data, modern people are generally deficient in vitamin D due to excessive indoor activities, which not only affects bone health, but can also cause heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Therefore, doctors recommend 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure every day to meet the body's vitamin D needs.
Liu Jun was deeply touched by this, and he decided that in addition to adjusting his diet, he should also increase the time spent outdoors to enjoy natural sunlight and promote physical and mental health.
Through this check-up and communication with doctors, Liu Jun not only received valuable health advice, but also gained a new understanding of his lifestyle.
He realizes that healthy living is not only about eating the right food, but also about living with reasonable habits and a positive attitude towards life.
So, ask a derivative question:
How effective is sun exposure in improving the body's absorption of calcium from food, and by what mechanism?
Vitamin D is indispensable for the body's absorption of calcium, and sunlight is nature's main source of vitamin D.
When human skin is exposed to sunlight, subcutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted to vitamin D3 by UVB rays, which in turn converts it into the active form of vitamin D (i.e., 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) in the liver and kidneys.
This active form of vitamin D promotes intestinal absorption of calcium and increases the concentration of calcium in the blood, thereby promoting healthy bone growth and maintenance.
In addition, vitamin D is also involved in regulating the concentration of phosphorus in the blood, which further affects the mineralization process of bones.
Therefore, proper sun exposure not only helps the body synthesize enough vitamin D, but also plays a positive health role by increasing the body's absorption rate of calcium from food.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!