How many people's New Year DNA is touched by a bite of preserved meat? Stroke patients should be more careful about "delicious traps"

As the Year of the Snake approaches, bacon is a popular traditional New Year product and is loved by people. However, for stroke patients, bacon may hide many health risks. The brain and heart health manager of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province (Provincial Brain Hospital) provides a popular science guide to dietary health to help everyone enjoy delicious food during the Spring Festival while protecting their health.

Trap 1: High salt "minefield" - the trigger for soaring blood pressure

A large amount of salt is added to bacon during the production process, resulting in an extremely high sodium content. Excessive sodium intake will increase the sodium ions in the body, leading to water and sodium retention, which in turn increases blood volume and increases blood pressure. Unstable blood pressure is an important factor in inducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke and heart disease.

During the Spring Festival, people are prone to mood swings due to gatherings, entertainment and other activities. In addition, excessive consumption of bacon causes blood pressure to soar, which undoubtedly plants a time bomb for health.

Trap 2: High fat risk - the "accomplice" of blood vessel blockage

In addition to high salt content, bacon also contains high fat content. Mainly saturated fatty acids, these fats will increase lipid components such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, leading to abnormal blood lipids. Low-density lipoprotein in the fat component will promote the formation of arterial plaques on the blood vessel wall, causing the blood vessels to become narrow and their elasticity to decrease. When blood vessels are blocked to a certain extent, it will cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction.

During the Spring Festival, people's activities are relatively reduced and the energy consumed by the body is reduced. However, if a large amount of high-fat bacon is consumed at this time, fat will more easily accumulate in the body, further increasing the burden on blood vessels.

Trap 3: Potential carcinogens - a health threat that cannot be ignored

During the pickling and smoking process of bacon, some harmful substances will be produced, among which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines are the most prominent.

PAHs are produced by incomplete combustion of wood, coal, etc. during the smoking process and are highly carcinogenic. Long-term exposure to or ingestion of foods containing PAHs increases the risk of cancer, especially digestive system cancers such as gastric cancer and intestinal cancer.

Question 1: There are so many food traps associated with bacon. Can stroke patients eat bacon?

From a health perspective, stroke patients should try to eat less or no bacon. However, considering the patient's eating habits and psychological needs for delicious food, they can occasionally eat a small amount of bacon if their condition is stable, all indicators are well controlled, and with the doctor's consent. However, this does not mean that they can eat it at will, and the amount and frequency of consumption must be strictly controlled.

Question 2: What are the precautions when eating bacon?

1. Control your intake

The amount of bacon consumed each time should not exceed 50 grams (about 1-2 slices) to reduce the intake of sodium and fat. Do not be greedy and eat a lot to avoid adverse effects on the body.

2. Choose high-quality bacon

When buying bacon, choose products from regular channels with guaranteed quality. Avoid buying bacon from unknown sources, too bright colors or with strange smells, as such bacon may have hygiene problems during the production process or have too many undesirable additives added.

3. Reasonable cooking method

When cooking bacon, try to choose lighter methods such as steaming or boiling, and avoid high-fat cooking methods such as frying or pan-frying. Steaming or boiling can remove some of the salt and fat in the bacon to a certain extent. For example, after cutting the bacon into thin slices, soak it in clean water for a while, and then steam it. This can reduce salt intake while still allowing you to taste the flavor of the bacon.

4. Pair with other foods

When eating bacon, you should eat it with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, which can help promote intestinal peristalsis, lower blood lipids, and reduce the adverse effects of bacon on the body. For example, you can stir-fry bacon with green peppers, carrots, etc., or pair it with some fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, lemons, etc.

5. Pay close attention to your body’s reactions

After eating bacon, patients should pay close attention to their physical condition, such as changes in blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and whether they experience dizziness, headache, indigestion and other discomfort symptoms. If any abnormality occurs, they should stop eating immediately and inform the doctor in time.

Dr. Chen Jun from the Department of Neurology, Hunan Second People's Hospital (Provincial Brain Hospital) said : For stroke patients, bacon is not an absolute dietary taboo, but it needs to be treated with caution. While enjoying delicious food during the Spring Festival, you must pay attention to your health, follow the doctor's advice, and control your diet reasonably. Only in this way can you better promote physical recovery, reduce the risk of stroke recurrence, and improve the quality of life.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Tang Min and Xiao Ming from Hunan Second People's Hospital (Provincial Brain Hospital)

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(Edited by YT)

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