Have you ever suddenly noticed that you are eating more slowly, more picky, or digesting worse after eating? Every time you eat a simple meal, it seems to become a big project? If so, don't worry, it may not be that you are "eating too much", but that you are gradually aging.
When it comes to aging, the first thing that comes to many people's minds is obvious changes such as wrinkles, gray hair, memory loss, etc. But in fact, our bodies quietly give signals as early as the trivial matter of eating before we get old.
There is no appetite for eating
I have worked in the hospital for many years, and I often meet some middle-aged and elderly people who come for check-ups, and one of the most common symptoms is "loss of appetite". Many people don't realize it at first, thinking that it's just a "bad appetite", but as time goes by, the problem gets worse.
For example, there is a male patient in his 50s, he is a middle-level person in the company, and he usually has a lot of pressure at work, at first he felt that his loss of appetite was due to too much overtime, and even began to rely on fast food, and occasionally had stomach pain. But later, the situation became more and more serious, not only poor appetite, but also frequent problems such as bloating and indigestion after eating.
You may think that this is just a sign of too much stress, yes, but it is also telling you that as you age, your digestive system gradually weakens, and the peristalsis and absorption capacity of the stomach and intestines decreases. Medical studies have shown that the older you get, the less gastric acid you secrete, and the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract will gradually decline, which may lead to loss of appetite, gastrointestinal diseases and even malnutrition in the long run.
So, if you find yourself starting to stop enjoying the delicious taste of food and eating becomes "a little troublesome", it may be the body that is sending warning signs of aging. At this time, try to pay attention to adjusting the diet structure, eat more foods that are easy to digest, avoid greasy and heavy foods, and maintain a good lifestyle to help the stomach and intestines rejuvenate.
Chewing is getting harder and harder
Not only does it have a poor appetite, but some people find themselves with a problem when they start eating: they chew more often and even feel more and more difficult to bite into food. It's not that there is a problem with our teeth, it's that the efficiency and speed of chewing gradually decreases with age.
A few years ago, I met a female patient in her 60s who usually likes to eat some hard foods, such as nuts and whole grains, but recently she always feels that she can't chew, can't bite hard, and even feels that her teeth are sore. This condition is very common, mainly because the saliva secretion in the mouth decreases as we age, and the chewing function of the teeth gradually deteriorates.
One study showed that as people age, the amount of saliva produced in the mouth decreased, making it difficult for food to moisten sufficiently in the mouth and more difficult to chew, which in turn affected appetite. Tooth wear and ageing can make eating difficult and nutrient absorption can be problematic.
In fact, chewing slowly is not a simple small problem, it may indicate that our body is aging faster. For the elderly, the digestion and absorption of food depends on the health of the mouth, and if the food cannot be chewed effectively, the stomach and intestines will be more burdened, and as the chewing time increases, people tend to feel tired, affecting the amount of food they eat.
In this case, I recommend that you try to soften the food or choose foods that are easier to chew to reduce the burden on your teeth, and at the same time, regular dental check-ups to ensure that your teeth are healthy can also help alleviate this problem.
After eating, indigestion comes to the door
Many people may feel that as they get older, indigestion after meals seems to become more and more common, and just after a meal, the stomach starts to feel upset, gas, nausea, and even stomach pain.
Why do some people always feel uncomfortable after eating, and even the stomach and intestines seem to sound the alarm? I once met an elderly man in his seventies who always complained of bloating after a meal and even began to wonder if he had some gastrointestinal disease. After examination, it was found that his problem was not stomach disease, but that the digestion and absorption capacity of the stomach and intestines decreased significantly as he aged.
As we age, the acid-base environment and peristalsis function of the stomach and intestines change, resulting in a slowdown in the digestion of food and an increase in the length of stay in the stomach. Studies have shown that the secretion of gastric acid in the elderly gradually decreases, and the activity of digestive enzymes also decreases, which directly affects the digestion speed of food, which in turn leads to symptoms such as bloating and indigestion.
The appearance of these symptoms, although they may seem insignificant to young people, can be a sign of aging for older people. In order to alleviate the discomfort after eating, you can appropriately reduce the intake of greasy foods and avoid large fish and meat. At the same time, eating more fiber-rich vegetables and fruits can increase the peristalsis of the stomach and intestines and help food pass through the intestines faster.
Always like to eat light food
Some people suddenly find that they prefer bland foods, even the spicy, greasy foods that they once loved to eat, and the reason behind this dietary change is another manifestation of aging.
As we age, our sense of taste becomes less acute, and many older people begin to find that spicy, heavy foods are no longer palatable, and the stomach and intestines cannot tolerate foods that are too harsh. I have treated a female patient in her seventies who used to be particularly fond of heavy foods, especially chili peppers and fried foods.
But as she got older, she found that after eating these foods, not only did they taste too spicy, but her stomach also became upset, causing her to choose more and more light dishes. In fact, this is a natural physiological phenomenon, as the body's metabolism slows down, the tolerance of the gastrointestinal tract decreases, and the strong irritating food is naturally no longer easy to digest.
The process of aging does not happen overnight, it can be glimpsed from our usual eating habits. If you're experiencing any of these signs of aging, your body is changing. But don't worry, these phenomena can't be avoided, but we can slow down the pace of aging by adjusting our diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you can pay attention to these details from today, eat reasonably, and adjust your daily routine, you may be able to maintain a better health in the years to come.