Elderly people with chronic diseases, what should they pay attention to during Tet?

'I am 67 years old and have high blood pressure and diabetes. What should I pay attention to in my diet to avoid getting sicker during Tet?' (N.An, in Ho Chi Minh City).

Specialist Doctor 1 Dinh Tran Ngoc Mai, Department of Nutrition - Dietetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, answered: There are many nutritional issues that the elderly need to pay attention to during Tet as follows:

• Eat on time.
• Never skip meals.
• Limit foods high in animal fat and saturated fat such as cold and processed foods like meat jelly, pork head sausage, Chinese sausage, as well as traditional dishes like banh chung, etc.

There are many nutritional issues that the elderly need to pay attention to during Tet.

• Limit salt and foods high in salt such as pork in fish sauce, beef in soy sauce, pickles, pickled vegetables, etc.
• Limit sweets such as cakes, jams, dried fruits, etc.
• Avoid eating too much as it can affect digestion, and don't be too abstinent or you will lose your joy during the holidays.
• Increase vegetable intake to help with digestion and avoid constipation.
• Prioritize soft, easy-to-chew, easy-to-digest foods. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
• Make sure to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water per day, including filtered water, soup, water in fruit...

Habit of reheating food many times

According to Dr. Ngoc Mai, reheating leftover food is not safe for health and can easily cause food poisoning.

Not to mention that Listeria is a type of bacteria that can grow at low temperatures. They are found in smoked meats, fish, cheese, pasteurized yogurt, ice cream, pate, sausages and cold cuts (ham, ham, etc.). Listeria is one of the common causes of illness: digestive disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc. The immune system of the elderly is often weaker than that of normal people, so attention should be paid to food safety issues.

Reheating leftover food is unsafe for health and can easily cause food poisoning.

Food stored in the refrigerator should be divided into just enough quantities for one meal. When taken out, it should be reheated immediately and used.

Perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans should be cooled quickly and not left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Divide the food into small containers for one meal at a time. If you feel that you have a lot of leftover food and cannot use it within 3 days, you can divide it into several small containers and can store it for 1-2 months. Food must be stored in a container with a lid or food wrap to ensure the taste and quality of the food.

When reheating food, make sure leftovers are boiled. If reheating in a microwave, stir or turn the food while reheating to ensure even heat distribution. Once the reheating time is up, do not remove it immediately, leave it in for about 3 minutes before removing it.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bac-si-24-7-nguoi-lon-tuoi-benh-man-tinh-can-luu-y-gi-trong-dip-tet-185250127200445827.htm