The health warning behind delicious food: How to eat healthier, a balanced diet is the key!

In such a warm and harmonious family, Mr. Yang, Ms. Zhang and their cooking expert mother Wang have long enjoyed tasting all kinds of food. The rich sauce of braised pork, the unique flavor of pig intestines, and the delicious soup of pig stomach, these delicious dishes frequently appear on their family's meals and have become the "victorious generals" on the meals. However, this seemingly happy eating style has silently buried hidden dangers to their health.

As time went by, Mr. Yang's blood pressure gradually increased, and it fluctuated; Ms. Zhang found it difficult to control her weight and often felt exhausted; and Ms. Wang, who was good at cooking, was also told in multiple medical examinations that her blood lipids were high. The root cause of all these problems was that they consumed too much high-fat and high-cholesterol food in their daily diet.

In order to change this situation in 2025, the family of three came to the stroke screening and follow-up management clinic of Hunan Provincial Second People's Hospital (Provincial Brain Hospital) . Here, they met a professional brain and heart health manager , who explained in detail the importance of a balanced diet and the adverse effects of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods on blood lipids and blood pressure. The family of three woke up from their dreams and deeply realized that they and their family's eating habits must be adjusted. The following are the key points of diet education they learned from the brain and heart health manager, which are also healthy eating principles worth learning from for each of us:

1. Adjust your diet

Reduce the frequency of cooking greasy foods such as braised pork and pork intestines, and switch to healthier cooking methods such as steaming and stewing.

2. Increase intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains

Make sure you have enough vegetables, fruits and whole grains at every meal. These foods are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, which help promote intestinal motility, lower cholesterol and maintain cardiovascular health.

3. Strictly control the amount of salt and oil

Make every dish lighter and more delicious. Excessive intake of salt (more than 6 grams per day) and fat (more than 25 grams per day) will increase the risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and high blood lipids. Learn to use various natural spices to replace part of the salt to make food more delicious and healthy.

4. Maintain a balance between eating and exercise

In addition to adjusting your diet, increasing exercise is also an important part of maintaining health. Plan an exercise plan that suits you, such as aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and strength training, to keep your body healthy and energetic.

5. Have regular physical examinations and seek medical treatment promptly

People over 40 should have a physical examination at least once every two years**;**If you feel unwell or have suspected health problems, you should have a physical examination and consult a professional doctor in time. Through scientific examination methods, you can understand your physical condition, adjust your diet and lifestyle habits in time, and prevent problems before they occur.

Director Chai Xiaoli of the Department of Cardiology at the Hunan Second People's Hospital (Provincial Brain Hospital) reminded the general public that a balanced diet is the basis for maintaining health. Only by changing unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits and increasing exercise can we stay away from diseases and enjoy a happy and beautiful life.

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

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(Edited by YT)