These 7 habits you thought were "healthy" might be wrong!

my country's population has gradually shown an aging trend. The health of the elderly is an important symbol of social civilization and progress, and it is also a major issue of concern to the whole society.

Everyone will age. In this aging era, what does it mean to be a “healthy elderly person”?

Recently, the National Health Commission officially implemented the "Chinese Healthy Elderly Standards", which clearly defined 9 requirements for "healthy elderly".

What exactly is a “healthy elderly”? What requirements must be met?

The "China Healthy Elderly Standards" (hereinafter referred to as the "Standards") states that healthy elderly people refer to those who are 60 years old or above and can take care of themselves or basically take care of themselves;

Healthy elderly people tend to be in a state of mutual coordination and harmony in physical, psychological and social aspects.

Previous measurement criteria viewed health more as an ideal condition.

According to the 2013 assessment standards, less than 5% of elderly people meet the health standards.

The new "Standard" further improves the measurement indicators and understands the meaning of health in a more elderly-friendly way, hoping to convey a more positive life concept - it is normal for elderly people to live with illness, and as long as it can be effectively controlled, they are healthy or basically healthy elderly people.

The new "Standard" stipulates that the health standards of Chinese elderly people should meet 9 requirements. See how many you meet:

1. Able to take care of oneself or basically take care of oneself;

2. Age-related changes in important organs do not lead to obvious functional abnormalities;

3. Risk factors affecting health are controlled within a range appropriate to their age;

4. Good nutritional status;

5. Cognitive function is basically normal;

6. Optimistic, positive and self-satisfied;

7. Have certain health literacy and maintain a good lifestyle;

8. Actively participate in family and social activities;

9. Good social adaptability.

7 habits you thought were "healthy" may all be wrong!

01

People don't accept old age

Some elderly people feel that they are not sick and are still strong, so they engage in high-intensity physical exercises such as mountain climbing, swimming, running, and playing ball, which can easily cause muscle injuries, fractures, etc.

There are also some elderly people who continue to work hard after retirement, which can easily lead to illness due to work fatigue.

Recommendation: As we age, the human body undergoes many degenerative changes, and muscle, bone and organ functions weaken.

The elderly should understand this rationally, exercise within their ability, and choose a form of exercise that suits them, such as walking, Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Wu Qin Xi, etc.

It is a good thing to make use of your remaining energy after retirement, but if you have a chronic disease, you should work just enough so as not to feel tired.

02

Frugality is too good

Many elderly people are reluctant to throw away leftovers, leftover rice, or even moldy food. They believe that as long as the leftovers are not spoiled, and moldy food can be eaten as long as the moldy parts are removed.

Suggestion: Leftovers are prone to breed bacteria, and eating them can easily lead to gastroenteritis;

Some overnight vegetables that are repeatedly heated contain more nitrite, and eating them frequently may cause cancer.

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Therefore, it is best to eat leftovers within one day, and leftover vegetables within 5 to 6 hours. Cold dishes and green leafy vegetables are best eaten as one meal. Before eating leftovers, they must be heated and sterilized at high temperature.

Moldy foods such as peanuts, corn, soybeans, nuts, etc. are prone to produce aflatoxin, which may cause acute poisoning or even death after consumption. Long-term low-dose consumption will also increase the risk of cancer.

Moreover, washing and cooking processing temperatures cannot destroy it. Even if the moldy areas are removed, the harm of mold cannot be avoided, so moldy food cannot be eaten.

03

Avoid eating oil and salt to lower blood pressure and blood lipids

Studies have found that a diet high in oil and salt will increase the risk of high blood pressure and high blood lipids, so some elderly people with a "strong health consciousness" simply stop eating oil and salt to eliminate the risk.

Recommendation: Excessive salt restriction will cause insufficient sodium intake, resulting in an imbalance in osmotic pressure inside and outside the body's cells, prompting water to enter the cells and causing edema.

Edible oil is also a necessity. Not consuming any edible oil at all may lead to deficiencies in some nutrients.

The elderly should learn to properly control oil and reduce salt. The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) recommends that the daily salt intake per person should be less than 5 grams, and the amount of cooking oil should be between 25 grams and 30 grams.

04

The more calcium you take, the better

The concept of calcium supplementation is deeply rooted in people's minds. Many elderly people think that the more calcium they supplement, the more they absorb, and the stronger their bones will be, so they take large amounts of calcium supplements.

Recommendation: In fact, if the calcium intake far exceeds the body's needs, it will be counterproductive, pose a threat to health, and may even cause disease.

For people over 60 years old, it is recommended to consume 1000 mg to 1200 mg of calcium per day.

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The safest and most effective way to supplement calcium is to eat more calcium-rich foods such as dairy products and soy products in your daily diet. You should also quit smoking, exercise moderately, and reduce bone loss.

05

Eating more tonic medicine can help you live longer

With the improvement of living standards, many elderly people, in order to stay healthy and prolong their lives, will not hesitate to buy nourishing products such as ginseng, deer antlers, and ganoderma lucidum at high prices. They regard them as magic weapons for prolonging life and consume them in large quantities.

Recommendation: As we age, our body functions gradually weaken. Appropriate supplementation can slow down the decline of physiological functions and delay the aging process.

However, the intake of tonics should be based on the physical condition. If you take tonics indiscriminately without considering your physical condition and symptoms, it may instead cause certain diseases.

Therefore, you should ask a professional doctor to identify your individual constitution and symptoms, and take targeted supplements to strengthen your body.

Generally speaking, a balanced diet is sufficient to meet the body's nutritional needs, and no additional supplements are needed. Even if supplements are needed, foods that can be used as both medicine and food are preferred.

06

It is a waste to fill your teeth when you are old

Due to the lack of attention to tooth protection, many elderly people lose their teeth early, but no one takes it seriously.

Many elderly people think that tooth loss is normal and no big deal, and that getting dentures or dental implants is a waste of time and money.

Recommendation: Missing teeth lead to decreased chewing function, increase the burden of gastrointestinal digestion of food, and are not conducive to adequate nutrition intake through diet.

Failure to pay attention to oral hygiene can also lead to problems such as tooth decay and alveolar bone atrophy.

Therefore, the elderly should pay attention to oral hygiene, brush their teeth in the morning and evening, rinse their mouths after meals, and wash their teeth regularly. If there are missing teeth, they should be repaired in time to maintain chewing function.

07

The earlier the morning exercise, the better

Some elderly people have poor sleep, so getting up early is the norm. They may even get up before six in the morning to exercise, and they believe that the earlier they exercise, the better.

Recommendation: Morning exercises should not be done too early.

Because before 6 o'clock in the morning, the photosynthesis of green plants is not completed completely, a large amount of carbon dioxide accumulates in the air, and there is less fresh oxygen in the air, which makes it particularly easy to cause colds and joint diseases.

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In addition, the coronary artery tension is high in the morning, and the sympathetic nerves are more excited, which makes it easy to have sudden cardiovascular diseases. The elderly should not do morning exercises before 6 o'clock in the summer, and later in the winter, and should wait until the sun comes out before doing morning exercises.

Drink some water and eat a good breakfast before going out to avoid hypoglycemia. Suitable locations are parks or squares with open views. Do not exercise near roads with heavy traffic.

Source: CCTV Life Circle

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