Health and Longevity: 90 Tips

Author: Meng Xinxin / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
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2. Is alcohol the "longest-lasting medicine"? Alcohol has an inseparable relationship with humans. From ancient times to the present, whether it's joyous wedding banquets or moments of sorrow and separation, people cannot do without alcohol. Some say alcohol is the "longest-lasting medicine," but it is also a cause of diseases. In a certain sense, it can also be called the "longest-lasting poison." Why is alcohol harmful to humans? The key lies in the amount consumed. Brain hemorrhages in people in their thirties and forties are often caused by excessive drinking. So, what is the definition of a moderate amount? Although it varies from person to person, generally speaking, feeling slightly tipsy is appropriate. Taking evening drinking as an example, it is best to drink only one bottle of beer or a small amount of other alcohol. Unlike other foods, alcohol can stimulate the appetite, effectively regulate and improve the body's biochemical metabolism and neural transmission. It is best to have a light drink while eating to reduce the harm of alcohol. The function of alcohol is that a small cup between meals can stimulate the stomach, exciting the brain's appetite center. Alcohol can also be used as a seasoning for food, etc. Alcohol can promote blood circulation, eliminate fatigue, reduce tension, and help people fall into a comfortable sleep. However, this is only the effect when consumed moderately. If consumed in excess, it can cause liver damage or even alcohol poisoning. Although alcohol is a good source of energy, most strong alcoholic beverages contain almost no protein, vitamins, or minerals. Therefore, drinking alcohol without eating is harmful rather than beneficial.
20. Can cooking with a iron pot treat anemia? The causes of anemia are varied, and the treatments are also different. When the body lacks essential nutrients (especially iron) and cannot produce enough red blood cells, anemia (iron deficiency anemia) occurs. Cooking with an iron pot often leaves food with a small amount of iron, so food cooked in an iron pot may be helpful for iron deficiency anemia. However, relying solely on food cooked in an iron pot to treat anemia is not enough. In addition to iron, the necessary components for blood production include copper, folic acid, vitamin A, B12, C, etc. Foods rich in these nutrients include liver, kidneys, eggs, small fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, spinach, nori, carrots, seaweed, beans, and sesame seeds. Anemic patients can squeeze carrot juice and drink a cup with each meal. This is a folk remedy that has existed since ancient times. Alternatively, drinking a couple of glasses of fine wine each night can also be effective. Generally speaking, women are more prone to anemia. Anemia is not a disease to be taken lightly. If left untreated, it can cause problems during pregnancy and childbirth.
21. Is it harmful to eat too much spinach? Spinach has high nutritional value and contains more vitamin C, A, and minerals than most vegetables, and it is also inexpensive, making it an excellent vegetable. However, spinach contains a lot of oxalates. Oxalates combine with calcium in the body to form calcium oxalate, which may be a cause of kidney stones. Therefore, spinach should not be cooked with tofu. Although oxalates are harmful, this is only a matter of dosage. As long as you don't overeat recklessly, eating a moderate amount with each meal is not a concern. After heating, oxalates are destroyed, and if combined with some animal protein, the harm of oxalates is reduced to a minimum. If you add some dried seafood when cooking spinach, you can eat it with peace of mind. As long as you consume it in moderation, it is not only harmless but also beneficial to health.
22. Is pumpkin a good remedy for stroke? Many people say that eating pumpkin on the winter solstice can "prevent stroke" or "avoid catching a cold"; some even believe that eating pumpkin "can never have a stroke." In fact, this claim lacks evidence. However, pumpkin is indeed a valuable source of vitamins A, B1, and C. In the past, due to poor vegetable storage methods and lack of greenhouse cultivation technology, people did not have access to fresh vegetables year-round, so they valued pumpkin more. Generally, vegetables contain the most vitamins when freshly harvested, but as time passes, the vitamin content decreases sharply. Only pumpkin, with its thick skin, retains most of its nutrients. Therefore, it is considered the most ideal vegetable. When a person lacks vitamin A, they not only suffer from night blindness but also have a weakened immune system. Therefore, eating more pumpkin can be beneficial in many ways.
23. Does eating sweet potatoes make you gain weight? Sweet potatoes (also known as white potatoes) originated in Central and South America. In the late 15th century, Columbus brought them to Europe, and they were soon introduced to China and Japan. They can be considered an excellent food for famine relief. Sweet potatoes are inexpensive and have long been a staple food for the poor, but their taste is very popular. Sweet potatoes are mainly composed of starch and also contain a lot of sucrose, glucose, and other sugars. After heating, some of the starch is converted into sugar, making them sweeter. At the same time, sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamin C, so they are considered a healthy food. Many people say that eating sweet potatoes makes you gain weight, but this is too unfair to sweet potatoes. The reason people say this is that they tend to eat them outside of regular meals, leading to an increase in total calorie intake and weight gain. If you are afraid of gaining weight, you can subtract the calories from sweet potatoes from your regular meals, and you won't gain weight. In addition to water, sweet potatoes also contain a lot of soft fiber, which is effective in preventing constipation. As long as you pay attention to the method of consumption, sweet potatoes can not only aid digestion but also improve the skin.
24. Are the sprouts of potatoes toxic? Improved potato varieties are not only rich in starch but also contain a significant amount of vitamin C. During long-distance sea voyages, eating more potatoes can prevent scurvy. Unlike grains, potatoes are an alkaline food, so even if you eat them exclusively, there is no harm. However, the skin and the area around the sprouts of potatoes produce toxic "solanine." The amount of solanine varies with the season and increases significantly during sprouting, so it must be noted. If a large amount of solanine enters the body, it can cause hemolysis and paralyze motor nerves, damaging the digestive system. If poisoning occurs, symptoms may include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disorders, dizziness, and drowsiness. During the sprouting season, if pigs are fed a large amount of sprouted potatoes, it can cause miscarriage. Not only the sprouts and skin but also the layer under the skin contain solanine, so it is best to peel the potatoes thickly. Especially around the sprouts, it is even more important to peel them thickly.
14. Is it more serious for adults to get measles? Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus that exists in the mouth, nose, and throat mucosa of patients. It is highly contagious, so it spreads quickly. However, its resistance is weak, and outside the body, it dies quickly. If the fever subsides after more than ten days, the risk of transmission is almost zero. Children aged two to five are most susceptible to measles. However, after having measles once, immunity is lifelong, and they cannot be infected again. Although there is now a vaccine to prevent measles, it cannot guarantee that a person will never get measles. Some adults proudly say, "I've never had measles." In fact, this is because even if they are infected with the measles virus, they only show mild fever and rash symptoms. Although they do not show obvious symptoms, their bodies unknowingly develop immunity, so they will not get measles again. Although it is rare, there is also what is called adult measles. Adult measles is more serious, but it can recover quickly. Whether children or adults, once they get measles, their resistance is reduced, making them more susceptible to bronchitis or otitis media. If not careful, the condition can worsen. Therefore, patients must be vigilant about complications.
11. Does quitting smoking make you gain weight? The main component of cigarettes, nicotine, is a potent poison. If swallowed, just 40 milligrams can be fatal to adults, and 10 milligrams can be fatal to children (a single cigarette contains 10–12 milligrams of nicotine, and about 10% is absorbed). Nicotine stimulates the peripheral nerves, causes blood vessels to constrict, and raises blood pressure. At the same time, it can affect the stomach lining, disrupting its function and reducing appetite. Therefore, after quitting smoking, the function of the tongue and stomach improves, and appetite increases significantly, often leading to overeating and weight gain. Additionally, after quitting smoking, people may feel "lonely" in their mouths, leading them to chew gum, chocolate, and other snacks, which can also cause weight gain. If you want to quit smoking but don't want to gain weight, you might want to eat less, especially reducing the intake of rice and flour, and avoiding too much candy. If you can do this and combine it with outdoor exercise, it can also help alleviate the anxiety that comes with quitting smoking. Whether quitting smoking or preventing obesity, strong willpower is required.
12. Is it better to eat salt after sweating a lot? When hiking or picnicking in the countryside, you start full of energy, but you often feel quite tired on the way home—this is due to a lack of salt, known as "salt depletion." Sweat contains 0.1–0.5% salt, and if you sweat a lot, a significant amount of salt is excreted from the body. In addition, salt is also present in urine. The body fluids that make up sweat and urine have a certain salt content. If you consume more salt, increasing the salt content, you will feel thirsty and need to drink a lot of water to dilute the body fluids to the appropriate concentration. If salt intake is insufficient, you may crave salty foods. If you sweat a lot and do not replenish salt in time, you may enter a "salt depletion state," where internal organs and muscles cannot function properly, naturally causing fatigue. However, salt is different from protein and cannot be stored in the body in large quantities. The daily recommended salt intake is 5 grams. If the intake exceeds 5 grams, the burden on the kidneys increases, and in some cases, it can even cause kidney disease. Reducing salt intake can be quite effective for high blood pressure, cerebral hemorrhage, heart disease, asthma, and hives. This shows that salt should not be consumed in excess!
13. Is it normal to defecate once a day? There is no standard for the time or frequency of defecation, so it cannot be said that defecating once a day is normal, and more frequent defecation is abnormal. Defecation is not only habitual but also easily influenced by mental state. If you defecate several times a day, it is easy to form a habit. Therefore, during travel or when feeling stressed, you may either have a sudden urge to defecate or suffer from constipation. Defecating once a day is indeed convenient, but each person can develop a habit of defecating at a regular time according to their lifestyle. Generally speaking, the large intestine's peristalsis increases after breakfast, making it the most suitable time for defecation, so it is best to develop a habit of defecating at this time.
14. Do large seasonal changes benefit health? It is said that large seasonal changes can disrupt the rhythm of life, leading to seasonal diseases. Especially elderly people and those who have been bedridden for a long time are more afraid of these seasonal changes. However, always mild and comfortable weather is not ideal either. Why? Because our adrenal glands (the key to health) can secrete more than 30 hormones. They are very sensitive to external stimuli. Once exposed to heat, cold, and humidity, they can fully activate the body's functions and vigorously secrete hormones to enhance the body's resistance. If the climate is always mild and unchanged, the adrenal glands will receive less stimulation, and resistance will decline. Therefore, children who exercise in the cold can strengthen their constitution. However, due to air conditioning and heating, children have a higher chance of catching colds.