For the elderly, the digestive system becomes more sensitive, the function of the gastrointestinal tract decreases, and lettuce and other vegetables, although nutritious, may cause digestive problems and even gastrointestinal discomfort due to some special physiological reasons.

So, why eat less lettuce when you're older? What is the reason for this?

As a long-time physician who has been involved in the treatment of digestive disorders, I have been in contact with countless patients who have suffered gastrointestinal upset from eating lettuce.

In general, lettuce is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable that is suitable for daily dietary adjustment, but ignores the burden it may bring to older people, especially those with weak gastrointestinal function.

For example, I once saw a middle-aged man who used to eat lettuce salad at lunch every day, which not only cleansed his bowels, but also helped detoxify.

However, after a while, he began to experience symptoms of stomach bloating and indigestion, and these symptoms did not improve in the short term, but became more pronounced as he consumed lettuce more frequently.

After a series of examinations, we found that there was no obvious disease in his gastrointestinal tract, but due to his weak gastrointestinal function, coupled with excessive intake of lettuce, a highly fibrous and indigestible food, the burden on the gastrointestinal tract increased.

While lettuce is considered a healthy food in many dietary recommendations, its high fiber content isn't for everyone.

Especially for the elderly who are older and have a deteriorating digestive system, the crude fiber of lettuce breaks down slowly in the gastrointestinal tract, which may cause problems such as flatulence and stomach upset.

Moreover, lettuce itself has a high water content, which can easily lead to poor gastrointestinal motility in the elderly, which in turn causes abdominal discomfort.

In addition, lettuce, as a raw food vegetable, may contain residual pesticides or bacteria, and the risk to the elderly with a weakened immune system itself cannot be ignored.

In particular, some older patients are more susceptible to infection with germs, bacteria or indigestible ingredients in lettuce, which may further exacerbate gastrointestinal discomfort due to decreased gastric acid secretion and decreased gastrointestinal barrier function.

In addition to lettuce, there are several vegetables that seniors should avoid because they can cause some unexpected troubles for older adults with weaker gastrointestinal function.

spinach

Spinach is indeed a highly nutritious vegetable, but it contains a lot of oxalic acid, which may bring some health considerations to the elderly.

Spinach contains a large amount of oxalic acid, which can combine with calcium in the body to form insoluble calcium salts, reducing the absorption of calcium.

One of my patients, he usually has a good diet and eats a lot of spinach every day, but because of the long-term intake of too much oxalic acid, it leads to calcium malabsorption, and eventually has serious constipation problems, and the poor excretion of the gastrointestinal tract makes him often feel abdominal pain and stomach bloating, and even affects his normal life.

For the elderly, especially those who already suffer from constipation, the intake of spinach should be reduced moderately, and attention should be paid to supplementing with adequate calcium and dietary fiber.

Cucumber

Cucumber, as a common vegetable in summer, is cool and delicious, rich in water and nutrients, many people like to use cucumber to make salads or eat it raw, however, for the elderly, raw cucumber is easy to bring moisture and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Cucumbers are cold, and eating too much will cause the elderly with weak spleen and stomach to produce moisture, which will affect digestive function and cause symptoms such as bloating and stomach pain.

Especially for those who have a weak gastrointestinal tract, or a history of gastritis, gastric ulcers, etc., it may not be suitable to eat raw cucumbers, because raw cucumbers have more fiber, which may increase the burden on the stomach and intestines and affect normal digestion.

An elderly male patient with a long-term stomach problem who did not realize it when he consumed cucumbers resulted in an upset stomach and a gradual increase in bloating.

After the examination, I found out that he ate the cucumber raw without any treatment, which caused him to have heavy dampness in his stomach, and his digestive system also suffered, and the discomfort was even worse.

Therefore, for the elderly, especially those who are not very strong in the spleen and stomach, it is best to cook cucumbers when eating, or remove the skin and seeds before eating, which can reduce the irritation of the stomach and intestines and make the digestive system easier.

onions

Onions are quite common on our dinner table, and there are many natural goodies in it, such as antioxidants and dietary fiber, which are very good for the body and can be regarded as a healthy food.

However, onions are more irritating, especially when eaten raw, and they contain a certain amount of volatile substances and sulfur-containing compounds, which may irritate the stomach and intestines, lead to excessive gastric acid secretion, and even cause stomach pain and heartburn.

Because as the elderly age, the secretion of gastric acid gradually decreases, and the self-protection mechanism of the gastrointestinal tract is also declining, and the irritating components in onions are often easy to increase the burden on the digestive system.

I once saw an elderly woman who had been eating onions for a long time, and she added raw onions to salads for a long time, and as a result, she had excessive stomach acid secretion, which caused her to have frequent stomach pain, acid reflux, and even stomach ulcers at one point.

After three months of dietary adjustments, she began to eat less onions, and as a result, her gastrointestinal discomfort was much better, and her symptoms were significantly reduced.

For the elderly, if you want to enjoy the healthy ingredients of onions, it is best to heat them to avoid the irritation caused by eating raw onions.

carrot

It's true that carrots are a treasure trove of nutrients, but older people's digestive systems may not be as strong, especially those with crude fiber, which may not be easy for them to digest.

While the carotene in carrots is beneficial for the eyes, its raw form may not be suitable for older adults with weakened GIs.

I once met a patient who came to the hospital with indigestion and insisted on eating raw carrots every day, but the fiber of the carrots was too hard, which caused a burden on the stomach and intestines, and constipation worsened.

After adjusting the eating habits and stir-frying the carrots before eating, the situation improved. When choosing vegetables, we must not only look at their nutritional content, but also take into account their impact on the stomach.

Therefore, in addition to lettuce, some other vegetables should also be carefully selected in the diet of the elderly, especially those that are high in fiber, irritating or difficult to digest.

The above content is for reference only, if you feel unwell, please consult a professional doctor in time

What do you think about eating less lettuce when you're older? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!

Proofread by Zhuang Wu