Summer Health Preservation: Eat Fruits Selectively
Summer is approaching, and fresh fruits are gradually hitting the market. Eating a moderate amount of fruit daily can greatly benefit health preservation for the elderly. However, seniors should not eat fruits casually.
Peking University Third Hospital's Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Director and Chief Physician Ye Youzhi, stated that foods produce "cold, heat, warm, or cool" effects once they enter the human body. Dr. Ye recommends that elderly people choose fruits according to their constitution for proper combination.
Summer Health Preservation: Eat Fruits Selectively It's not true that more fruit consumption is always better—during peak summer, many believe eating plenty of delicious fruits can replenish nutrients; especially some women who think eating only fruit three times a day can achieve both weight loss and beauty enhancement simultaneously.
Cold Constitution
Seniors with a cold constitution tend to have paler skin than normal, rarely feel thirsty, and dislike cold things. When eating fruits, they should opt for warm or hot-natured ones, such as oranges, kiwifruit, lychees, pomegranates, chestnuts, cherries, and coconut juice.
Real Heat Constitution
In contrast, seniors with real heat constitution generate excessive internal heat, often experiencing flushed faces, dry mouth and tongue, and constipation. These individuals should consume more cooling fruits like pears, watermelons, bananas, mangoes, tomatoes, sweet melons, and pomelos. Additionally, fruits with neutral properties such as apples, grapes, pineapples, papayas, and olives are also suitable for seniors.
Diabetes, Nephritis
Dr. Guo Xiaobin, attending physician in the geriatric department at Peking University Third Hospital, advises that seniors with diabetes or nephritis should avoid eating apples, pears, and bananas, which contain high levels of fructose;
High Stomach Acid
Seniors prone to gastric acid should avoid fruits rich in organic acids, such as hawthorns and lemons; those with heart disease or edema should refrain from eating watermelons, coconuts, and other high-water-content fruits to prevent increased cardiac burden and worsening edema.
Nephritis, Edema
Seniors suffering from nephritis or edema should avoid fruits high in potassium salts, such as bananas and cantaloupes. Additionally, pineapple contains bromelain, and frequent consumption may cause allergic reactions in certain seniors; persimmons contain large amounts of tannins, and overconsumption by seniors may worsen constipation.
As elderly people’s internal organs age and physiological functions decline, they should avoid consuming large quantities of fruit at once. Instead, they should eat small meals frequently, preferably one hour before meals or two to three hours after meals.