How to improve digestive function in the elderly

　　1. Rinse your mouth with saliva. elderly The weakening of spleen and stomach function is related to the reduction of saliva secretion. Li Wenhai, a professor at Hunan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, explained that saliva contains amylase, which can moisten the mouth and sterilize. Saliva is also an important substance that moisturizes the spleen and stomach, and is closely related to the normal function of the digestive system. Li Wenhai suggested that the elderly can do some oral exercises to promote saliva secretion. First, calm down, close your mouth, lick the roof of your mouth with your tongue, then stick your tongue out of the upper teeth, and stir it up, down, left, and right several times. This method can stimulate the mouth nerve , thereby producing large amounts of saliva. After saliva is produced, keep it in your mouth and do not swallow it. When the amount is enough, you can puff your cheeks and rinse your mouth, and then swallow it slowly, or in two or three times. In this way, do it 3-4 times in the morning and evening every day.

　　2. Do not eat fruit or drink tea immediately after meals. Eating fruit immediately after a meal will be blocked by the food eaten first, causing the fruit to not be digested normally. If you drink tea immediately after a meal, the tannic acid contained in the tea will affect protein absorption and increase the burden on the stomach. Drinking tea after a meal should be done after the stomach has been emptied, about 2 hours after a meal.

　　3. Listen to music. There is a saying in the ancient book "Shou Shi Bao Yuan": "The spleen is good at music, and when it hears the sound, it will move and grind food." ”It means that music can help digestion. Beautiful music stimulates the central nervous system, thereby regulating the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urinary, and endocrine systems. It not only promotes blood circulation, but also increases gastrointestinal motility and digestive gland secretion, which is beneficial to metabolism. If the elderly can listen to some music with a soothing rhythm, beautiful timbre, and pleasant sounds when they rest after dinner, it will help digest better.

　　4. Eat the staple food first. Staple food is a "natural digestive medicine". Chaoyang, Beijing Hospital Nutritionist Song Xin explains that staple foods such as rice and noodles are carbohydrates, which are easy to digest and make people feel full. Eating first can avoid eating too much. It can also help stimulate the secretion of amylase in saliva to digest food, thereby stimulating gastric acid secretion and enhancing the digestive ability of the stomach. Whole grains are the first choice for staple food. They are rich in fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and allow excess fat to be excreted from the body.

　　5. Bend over three times. Doing some moderate bending movements after meals can tilt the stomach forward, allowing food to enter the gastric antrum, promoting emptying and accelerating digestion. Bend slowly at 90 degrees three times a day after meals, for 1-2 minutes each time. It should be reminded that people suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis should not use this method.

　　6. Rub your belly while walking. “Walk a hundred steps after a meal and live to be ninety-nine. ”Half an hour after meals every day, take a walk for 20-30 minutes. Rubbing your belly while walking can promote gastrointestinal blood circulation and gastric juice secretion, and enhance gastrointestinal digestion. When rubbing the belly, put the five fingers together, with the navel as the center, rotate the palms of the two hands to massage the abdomen, massage in a circle with each step, alternating forward and reverse directions, each time for 15-20 minutes, it is better if the belly is red and feels hot. Use moderate pressure when massaging your belly, and try to wear cotton, unbuttoned tops to prevent buttons from blocking the massage or generating static electricity.

　　A regular daily diet can help improve the ability of the digestive system. In fact, both the elderly and young people should have a regular eating habit, so that the body can maintain good health forever. healthy guarantee.