Nutritional rice noodles for the elderly

Nutritional rice flour for the elderly is neither a "universal supplement" that can cure all diseases, nor is it a "sweet rice cereal" purely for harvesting IQ taxes - for the elderly group who have chewing and swallowing disorders, insufficient daily food intake, chronic disease consumption, or postoperative recovery period, qualified and regular products are a cost-effective nutritional supplement choice.； However, there is no need for the elderly who have a normal diet and adequate nutritional intake to buy it, let alone use it to completely replace meals.

Last week, I went to do a nutritional screening for the elderly with Sister Zhang, a nutritionist from a community hospital. I happened to come across a very typical example: 82-year-old Grandma Li is missing three back molars and cannot chew lean meat and crude fiber vegetables. She usually makes porridge or pickles. She has lost 4 kilograms in three months, and her albumin level has also exceeded the passing mark. Among the adjustment plans given by Sister Zhang was a nutritious rice noodle for the elderly without added sugar, and she was asked to make a cup of it every morning, along with a small handful of original chopped nuts. When we went for a follow-up visit this time, Grandma Li gained two pounds and her face brightened a lot. She told us that the stuff was more fragrant than the lotus root powder she secretly bought before, and she didn’t have acid reflux in her stomach after drinking it.

In fact, the debate about this thing on the Internet has never stopped. Those who say it is an IQ tax are probably because they have been through the pitfalls of inferior products. Those who say it is omnipotent are most likely brainwashed by the promotion of health care products. I have been in trouble before. Two years ago, I bought a certain Internet celebrity "sucrose-free rice noodles for the elderly" for my diabetic grandmother. After drinking it for three days, her blood sugar soared to 9.2 after a meal test. When she took it to Sister Zhang, she discovered that there was crystallized fructose hidden in the ingredient list. Although it is true that no sucrose was added, excessive fructose intake will not only increase triglycerides, but also affect blood sugar for the elderly with weak metabolism. Later, she changed to one produced according to special dietary food standards. It uses slow-absorbing resistant dextrin, has a protein content of 18g per 100g, and also adds vitamin D and casein phosphopeptide. She has been drinking it for more than half a year, and her blood sugar has been very stable. Now everyone says that the "rice cereal" I bought is more practical than the bird's nest given by her uncle.

I had a meal with a friend who makes special medical food before, and he talked about a lot of industry knowledge: Qualified nutritional rice noodles for the elderly are not the same thing as ordinary rice cereals. The requirements are much stricter than ordinary pre-packaged foods. They need to specifically fill in the nutritional gaps that the elderly generally lack - such as B12, lutein, calcium, which the elderly are prone to lack, as well as high-quality protein that is not enough for teeth. Most of them will be adjusted to a low GI formula to avoid large fluctuations in blood sugar. The first three ingredients in that kind of food list are rice, white sugar, and maltodextrin, and the protein content is less than 5g per 100g. Isn’t it just sweet rice cereal with added sugar? Drinking too much is not only nutritious, but also affects the appetite for dinner. If you buy that kind, you will really pay IQ tax. Some people are trying to save trouble by buying infant rice noodles for the elderly, but this is actually wrong. Infant rice noodles have high iron content and very low sodium content. There is no nutritional ratio based on the physiological characteristics of the elderly, so eating them will not provide any supplement.

What’s interesting is that people in different fields have completely different concerns about how to choose rice noodles for the elderly. Doctors in the clinical nutrition department will give you priority to choose products with special medical food qualifications, especially for the elderly after surgery or with dysphagia. The nutritional ratio of such products has been clinically proven and is less likely to cause problems. ； Social workers who provide home-based elderly care will first remind you to buy small packages to try. Many rice noodles with added minerals will have a faint metallic taste. Elderly people are picky. If you don’t like to drink, no matter how much you buy, they will just sit there and collect dust. ； Public nutrition teachers have repeatedly emphasized that this product can only be used as a supplement. No matter how useful it is, it should not be given to the elderly three times a day. Otherwise, the chewing ability will not be exercised for a long time and will deteriorate faster.

A few days ago, I was in a group buying group in my community and saw someone recommending 6 cans of "High Calcium Nutritional Rice Noodles for the Elderly" for 99 yuan. The first ingredient on the list was white sugar, and there were several juniors at the bottom who said they wanted to buy it for their parents. In fact, there is really no need to follow the trend, and there is no need to be greedy for cheap. First, take a look at the eating conditions of the elderly at home: if they can eat two taels of rice per meal, half a plate of meat and vegetables, and don’t choose eggs and milk, then if you have money to buy rice noodles, it is better to buy more fresh fish, shrimp and beef. Food supplements always come first. If the elderly really can't chew and don't eat enough, don't focus on the words "nutritional" and "high-end" on the packaging when choosing. Turn to the back to read the ingredient list and nutritional labeling. It's more reliable than any publicity.

After all, buying things for the elderly is for practical reasons, right?