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On a sunny weekend, 53-year-old Uncle Chen decided to take his tent and go camping on the grass in the suburbs.
Uncle Chen is a retired librarian who has a wealth of reading and unique insights into life, but is obviously not skilled enough to deal with the natural environment.
He wanted to experience the tranquility and beauty of nature through this camping, but soon after, he suddenly felt itchy all over his body and seemed to be allergic to some kind of grass plant.
With no signs of improvement, Uncle Chen had to end his camp and drive to the nearest hospital.
Upon arrival at the hospital, he was greeted by Yang Zhi, an experienced doctor.
After the initial examination, Dr. Yang opened with a sentence that impressed Uncle Chen: "Many elderly people are not concerned about their eating habits, but the impact of proper dietary adjustment on health is huge. ”
During the examination, the doctor inquired about Uncle Chen's eating habits and found that he had a habit of eating too much fish, and fish was indispensable in almost every meal.
Dr Yeo explained that while fish is a source of high-quality protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and extremely beneficial for heart health, excessive intake may not be ideal for seniors over 50 years of age.
He suggested that older people should reduce their fish intake and instead eat more legumes, nuts and berries, which can provide more comprehensive nutritional security for the elderly.
Doctors emphasize that legumes are not only a great source of plant protein, but also rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, which are extremely important for gut health in the elderly.
In addition, despite the high calorie count of nuts, they are rich in healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Berries are known as superfoods due to their high content of antioxidants, which can help fight aging and boost immune function.
Dr. Yeo further explained that according to a study of 10,000 older adults, those who consumed legumes, nuts five times a week and plenty of berries had better overall health, particularly in cardiovascular health and cognitive function, than those who were predominantly fish and meat.
Inspired by this, Uncle Chen decided to re-evaluate his diet.
He began to reduce his fish intake, eating only two to three times a week, while increasing the ratio of legumes, nuts and berries.
After a few months, he felt a significant improvement in his physical and mental state, and the results of the physical examination showed good blood lipid and blood sugar levels.
Dr. Yang also shared several similar cases in which the elderly were able to improve their health and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases by adjusting their eating habits.
This further strengthened Uncle Chen's belief in a healthy lifestyle.
Through this experience, Uncle Chen not only improved his own health, but also launched an initiative on healthy eating in the community, encouraging more peers to pay attention to and optimize their eating habits.
At this point in the article, we raise a question: for those older people who are accustomed to a high-protein diet, how to balance protein sources to better adapt to the needs of old age?
In answering this question, we need to understand that older adults can supplement essential amino acids with a variety of plant-based protein sources, such as legumes, whole grains, and nuts, while reducing animal protein.
Not only does this reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, but it also increases nutrient uptake and utilization through food diversity, which can more effectively support the health and vitality of older adults.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!