On this day, when Mr. Zhao was bragging with his old friends in the park, he accidentally mentioned that he had been eating walnuts and melon seeds every day recently, and he thought it was a good way to maintain his health.
Unexpectedly, this topic immediately aroused heated discussions among everyone, and one of them, Lao Litou, who had just returned from the hospital, told him with a serious face: "Lao Zhao, after 60 years old, you can't eat more walnuts and melon seeds!" ”
When Old Man Zhao heard this, he was immediately unhappy, "How do you know that you can't eat it?" I've heard it's all good stuff! ”
A debate about whether the elderly should eat less walnuts and melon seeds is so fierce in the park.
In fact, this is not only a small talk of the elderly, but also a common health misunderstanding.
Many elderly people believe that walnuts and melon seeds are rich in nutrients, and it is okay to eat more.
Are walnuts and melon seeds nutritious and should they be eaten more?
01
We have to understand that walnuts and melon seeds are indeed good things, and that's true.
Walnuts, known as the "fruit of the brain", are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have an excellent protective effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Many elderly people choose to eat a few walnuts every day, hoping to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases through dietary therapy.
Melon seeds, especially sunflower seeds, are rich in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps the body resist free radicals and maintain cell vitality, which plays an indispensable role in skin health and immune system stability.
However, the wisdom in the "Yellow Emperor's Neijing" admonishes us: "Eat modestly and live in an orderly manner." "Eating in moderation and regularity is essential for wellness.
The body functions of the elderly have declined compared to when they were younger, and the rate of metabolism is not as fast as before.
This means that the body's ability to digest and absorb food is decreasing.
If you consume too many walnuts and melon seeds, it may be difficult for your body to fully digest and absorb these nutrient-dense foods.
It's like adding weight to an already fully loaded car, which will only make the car more strenuous and may even cause breakdowns.
Not only that, but the doctors also gave warnings from a professional point of view.
They explained that while walnuts and melon seeds are highly nutritious, they are also relatively high in fat.
02
For older adults, consuming too much fat may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Especially those who already have underlying diseases such as high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia need to pay more attention to fat intake.
In addition, the digestive function of the elderly is already weak, and if too much nut food is consumed at one time, it may also cause indigestion, bloating and other problems, bringing unnecessary trouble to life.
Of course, we do not want to completely deny the nutritional value of walnuts and melon seeds, but to emphasize the "degree" of intake.
Older people should pay more attention to a balanced and varied diet, in addition to nuts, eat more fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, so as to maintain good health.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that many elderly people like to eat melon seeds while watching TV or chatting, which is actually not a good habit.
Because melon seeds have a high salt content (especially salty melon seeds), and it is easy to overeat melon seeds when swallowing, resulting in thirst, fire and other problems.
Therefore, the elderly should also pay attention to the amount and frequency of controlling melon seeds when eating melon seeds.
In addition to dietary moderation, the elderly should also pay attention to exercise and regular work and rest.
Proper exercise can help the body burn excess calories and fat, increasing metabolic rate;
A regular routine can help you adjust your physical condition and keep you energized.
These healthy lifestyles and reasonable eating habits complement each other to protect the health of the elderly.
In short, the elderly do need to eat less nut foods such as walnuts and melon seeds after the age of 60.
This is not to say that these foods are bad or have no nutritional value, but rather to emphasize moderation and balance in intake.
Only in this way can we make better use of the nutrients in our food to nourish our bodies and stay healthy; Only in this way can we enjoy our food while avoiding potential health risks.