Preface
Auntie Xu is a retired primary school teacher who has always been very health-conscious.
Since she made up her mind to lose weight, she has completely avoided meat food.
In her opinion, as long as she doesn't eat meat, she can easily get rid of the fat on her body and become a slender and healthy "girl".
More than a month has passed, but Aunt Xu's physical condition has deteriorated.
At first, she just felt a little dizzy and tired, and thought it was because she had been working too hard lately, so she didn't pay much attention to it.
But gradually, the discomfort became more and more intense, and she even felt wobbly when she walked.
Aunt Xu's daughter, Xiao Li, is a nurse who is keenly aware of her mother's abnormality.
On this day, Xiao Li specially asked for leave and accompanied Aunt Xu to the hospital for examination.
In the hospital, Aunt Xu was lying on the examination bed, looking dazed.
The doctor carefully inquired about her eating habits and medical history, and then sighed: "Aunt Xu, all the indicators of your body show that you suffer from sarcopenia. This has a lot to do with your long-term vegetarian diet and severe protein intake. "
"Sarcopenia? what is that?" Aunt Xu asked suspiciously.
The doctor patiently explained: "Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by a decrease in skeletal muscles.
Our body's muscles are lost as we age, and if we don't eat enough protein, muscle loss will accelerate.
When skeletal muscles are reduced to a certain extent, it will lead to weakness and weakness, and even falls and fractures, affecting the quality of daily life. "
"However, isn't there a study abroad that says that eating a vegetarian diet is healthier?
"It's true that there are studies that show that vegetarians have a lower risk of certain chronic diseases.
But vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets, can easily lead to malnutrition if they are not paired properly. "
The doctor continued, "Things like beans, dairy, eggs, etc., are all sources of high-quality protein.
As long as you eat more of these foods, supplement enough high-quality protein, and exercise moderately, you can prevent sarcopenia and maintain good health. "
Aunt Xu suddenly realized, and nodded again and again.
Should the elderly eat more or less meat?
In a study by Tsinghua University's School of Pharmacy, scientists found that mice on a high-fat diet showed better metabolic stability and less multi-organ atrophy in late aging.
This dietary pattern is not just about eating more meat, but also about reducing the overall food intake while reducing the proportion of carbohydrates and increasing the intake of fat, so as to achieve a balanced state of calorie control.
Another large-scale study covering 11 countries showed that older people who consume enough protein (more than 40 grams per day) have significantly lower mortality rates than those who do not consume enough protein.
The study also showed that older adults on a high-protein diet had a lower risk of cancer and lived longer than those on a vegetarian diet.
Meat is an important source of protein, vitamin B12, fat-soluble vitamins, calcium and iron.
As we age, the body's muscle mass naturally decreases, and the high-quality protein in meat can help slow down muscle aging and prevent muscle loss (sarcopenia).
In addition, moderate meat intake can also help slow down the aging process of the brain.
Older adults should consider animal-based foods such as eggs, milk, poultry, red meat, fish and shrimp when choosing protein sources, as the protein content in these foods is usually higher than that of plant-based foods.
3 possible threats of eating too much meat
1. Promote obesity
While red meat doesn't always look greasy visually, its fat content is not to be underestimated.
In fact, there is about 30% fat in every 100 grams of red meat.
Most of these fats are saturated fats, which are easily converted into body fat after digestion, leading to weight gain.
Therefore, there is a direct link between the overconsumption of red meat and obesity.
2. Threats to vascular health
The high content of saturated fat in red meat not only contributes to weight gain, but may also have an impact on cardiovascular health.
Excessive intake of saturated fats increases bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, which can lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
This condition causes blood vessels to harden and become less elastic, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Increased risk of multiple diseases
Excessive consumption of red meat has also been linked to an increased risk of several diseases, including heart disease, certain respiratory diseases, diabetes, and stroke, among others.
Although red meat is an integral part of many people's diets, adjusting its proportions to ensure a variety of food sources is essential for long-term health.
5 Bad Eating Habits to Get Rid of as Soon as Possible
1. Unbalanced nutrient intake
Studies have found significant differences in dietary intake between people with dementia and healthy people.
Men with dementia eat an average of 30 more calories a day, mainly from grains, meat and vegetable oils, while women are generally deficient in seaweed and yellow-green vegetables.
This nutritional imbalance may exacerbate the risk of dementia.
2. Frequent consumption of pickled foods
Pickled foods such as pickles and cured meats often contain high levels of nitrite, which reacts with chemicals in the body and may accelerate the aging process of the body and cause damage to the gastric mucosa.
Long-term consumption of preserved foods can also lead to enteritis, impaired kidney function, and an increased risk of dementia.
3. Excessive carbohydrate intake
A high-carbohydrate diet can lead to insulin resistance and reduce the efficiency of glucose metabolism.
When the brain doesn't get enough sugar, it can trigger inflammation and increase the likelihood of dementia.
Balancing carbohydrate intake with other nutrients is key.
4. Eat foods containing aluminum
Excessive intake of aluminium can pose a threat to human health, including affecting the body's hematopoietic system and immune system, and may also cause Alzheimer's disease.
Everyday foods such as jellyfish and vermicelli contain a lot of aluminium and should be consumed in moderation.
Try to avoid using aluminium cookware to reduce your aluminium intake.
5. Excessive alcohol consumption
Heavy alcohol consumption can cause permanent damage to the brain, especially the atrophy of the hippocampus, which is a very important part of the brain responsible for memory and learning functions.
Studies have shown that consuming more than 140 ml of alcohol per week significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease in middle-aged adults.
epilogue
Whether it is weight loss or health preservation, we must follow the principle of science and step-by-step, don't forget the pain of the scar, blindly follow the trend, and hurt your body will outweigh the loss.
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(The story in the article is purely fictional, intended to popularize medical and health knowledge, if there are similarities are purely coincidental, the body is not suitable to seek help from a doctor in time)