Recently, the term 'the more coarse grains older people eat, the better' has become a hot search topic. So, is this statement scientific? How should elderly people eat coarse grains? The reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed relevant experts on this matter. Excessive intake of coarse grains may burden the digestive system of elderly people. In outpatient clinics, we often see elderly patients suffering from indigestion due to excessive consumption of coarse grains. ”Du Yufeng, the head of the Second Department of Geriatrics of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, told reporters that the elderly who fell into this dietary error were mostly diabetes patients and constipation patients. They believe that coarse grains are low in calories, can control sugar, and promote bowel movements, so they should be consumed in large quantities. Many elderly people pursue staple foods that are as coarse and diverse as possible, and their diet mainly consists of brown rice, whole wheat flour, and sorghum rice for a long time, completely abandoning the consumption of polished rice and white flour. Huang Huifang, chief physician of the Department of Nutrition at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, explained that as people age, their digestive enzyme secretion decreases, gastrointestinal motility slows down, and their chewing and absorption abilities decrease synchronously. Excessive dietary fiber is difficult to fully decompose in the gastrointestinal tract. Excessive consumption of coarse grains not only causes discomfort such as bloating and decreased appetite, but also squeezes the intake space of high-quality proteins, fats, etc. Even for elderly people who suffer from constipation, if they only eat coarse grains without hydration, the problem of constipation will become more severe due to dry dietary fiber. ”Huang Huifang added. How should we eat coarse grains? Coarse grains are not to be eaten, but to be able to eat and eat in moderation. ”Huang Huifang said. From a nutritional perspective, the intake of coarse grains for healthy elderly people should be determined based on age. For elderly people aged 60 to 69 with relatively stable physical function, coarse grains can account for 1/3 to 1/2 of the total staple food; Elderly people aged 70 to 79 with weakened digestive function should reduce their consumption of coarse grains to 1/4 to 1/3; Elderly people over 80 years old or bedridden with disabilities have extremely weak gastrointestinal activity, and the proportion of coarse grains consumed should never exceed 1/4 of the total staple food. Coarse grains are only used as nutritional supplements. Elderly people with underlying diseases need to pay more attention when consuming coarse grains. Guo Jianjin, chief physician of the Department of Geriatrics of Shanxi Bethune Hospital, said that for elderly patients with diabetes who have relatively stable blood sugar and normal gastrointestinal function, it is generally recommended that the proportion of coarse grains in the staple food should be controlled at 1/3 to 1/2, and the specific proportion should be adjusted under the guidance of doctors or nutritionists. If patients with diabetes have gastric ulcer, gastroparesis and other problems, gastrointestinal motility is weak, and coarse grain intake should be appropriately reduced. The interviewed experts unanimously believe that the benefits of coarse grains are beyond doubt, but blindly overconsumption can actually harm the body. In daily diet, elderly people should abandon the extreme idea of "the more coarse grains, the better" and "the coarser the main food, the better". Elderly people should combine their physical condition, age, and underlying diseases to achieve a balanced intake of coarse and fine foods. (New Society)