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"Aunt Wang, I haven't seen you for so long, you seem to be in good spirits! However, remember that the body is the capital of the revolution, and never forget this. ”
In a supermarket in the city center, Dr. Liu, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, smiled and said to Aunt Wang, who was picking nuts in front of him.
Aunt Wang, 66, is a retired secondary school history teacher.
Since her retirement, she has been very focused on healthy eating, especially after hearing that whole grains can help improve high blood sugar, she decided to give up white rice altogether and eat a variety of whole grains.
Aunt Wang said to Dr. Liu, "Since the last check-up, I have tried to change my eating habits according to your advice.
But I didn't just eat whole grains, I stopped eating rice altogether. Do you think it's appropriate to do this? ”
Dr. Liu smiled and replied, "Aunt Wang, the change in eating habits is indeed good for health, but it is too much.
Replacing it all with whole grains is also not the best option, as each food has its own unique nutrient profile, and a balanced diet is key. ”
After a pause, he continued: "Actually, although coarse grains are good, they can't completely replace rice.
The trace elements and vitamins contained in rice are also needed by the body. ”
After hearing this, Aunt Wang was slightly surprised: "Really? I thought that whole grains would meet the needs of the body. ”
Dr. Lau took his phone out of his pocket, opened a health app, pointed to the data on the screen and said, "Look, according to recent studies, relying solely on coarse grains can lead to insufficient intake of certain trace elements.
For example, although dietary fiber in whole grains can help digestion and reduce the rapid rise in blood sugar, they usually do not contain enough vitamin B1, which may affect the function of the nervous system in the long run. ”
Aunt Wang listened attentively, and she suddenly realized that her extreme dietary change might not be the best choice.
Dr. Lau went on to add, "Also, did you know? Total dependence on whole grains may also lead to inadequate iodine intake, which is very detrimental to the maintenance of thyroid function. ”
This gave Aunt Wang a new understanding of the balanced intake of whole grains and rice.
Dr. Lau advises, "You can try to include some rice in every meal with whole grains to ensure that you have enough fiber and don't lack the necessary nutrients." ”
They chatted for a long time, and Dr. Liu also mentioned a case that he had recently been concerned about.
This case is about an elderly man who suffered from osteoporosis due to his complete dependence on whole grains, which resulted in a severe vitamin D deficiency that affected bone density.
Dr. Liu explained in detail the importance of vitamin D for the bone health of the elderly, and advised Aunt Wang to get regular sun exposure and supplement vitamin D if necessary.
At Dr. Liu's suggestion, Aunt Wong decided to readjust her diet and planned to go for a comprehensive check-up next month to see if her physical condition had improved.
With this unexpected encounter in the supermarket, Aunt Wang not only learned how to arrange her diet more scientifically, but also re-realized the importance of a balanced diet.
She thanked Dr. Lau for his patient guidance and happily left the supermarket with a full shopping basket and a new health plan.
Based on the above, the question that arises is: what are the specific risks of nutritional deficiencies if the elderly eat only whole grains and do not eat rice for a long time?
Whole grains are generally rich in dietary fiber, B vitamins, and minerals, but they may not be as complete as refined grains in some nutrients.
For example, not getting enough iodine for a long time can lead to thyroid dysfunction, especially in areas where iodine intake is already insufficient.
At the same time, lower levels of vitamin D and calcium in whole grains may have a negative impact on bone health.
In addition, vitamin B1 deficiency may affect the normal functioning of the nervous system.
Therefore, while choosing coarse grains, the elderly should pay attention to these possible nutritional deficiencies and consider appropriate supplementation or adjustment of dietary structure to avoid potential health problems.
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