Having a foodie's heart but not a foodie's stomach is probably the dilemma for most food lovers. To have a healthy stomach, don't always label yourself a foodie and eat indiscriminately, consuming raw and cold foods without restraint. Moderation in eating is a basic principle of diet. Especially for the following 7 types of food, gastroenterologists recommend controlling your intake.
❀ Pickled Foods
Pickled foods like sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, cured meat, and Chinese sausage are known for being aromatic and flavorful, which is why they are so loved by many.
But did you know? The pickled foods we love contain a large amount of nitrites. Under the action of suitable acidity or bacteria in the stomach, they can synthesize nitrosamine compounds, which are carcinogenic. Smoked foods like Chinese sausage and cured meat are high in salt, which can damage the gastric mucosa. They also contain a large number of carcinogens, such as benzopyrene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Fried and grilled foods also contain these carcinogens and should be eaten less.
For example, Japan has a high incidence of stomach cancer, which is related to its method of preserving vegetables with pickling. So, while pickled foods are delicious, don't eat them with every meal. Fresh ingredients should still be the mainstay.
【Recommendations】
Soak smoked foods in water before eating; when eating Chinese sausage or cured meat, pair them with vegetables like broccoli or lettuce, as the vitamin C in them can effectively block the formation of carcinogens from nitrites. Do not eat fried and grilled foods more than once a week.
❀ Raw and Cold Seafood
Do you love having a big meal of fresh seafood at Japanese restaurants every now and then? Actually, eating raw and cold seafood occasionally is fine, but eating too much can burden your stomach, especially eating unheated raw fish, oysters, etc., where the protein is even harder to digest, easily leading to a decline in stomach function.
【Recommendations】When eating seafood, season it with things like ginger juice to neutralize the cold nature of the seafood, and eat less raw seafood.
❀ Alcohol
Drinking alcohol is harmful to the body, affecting not only the liver but also the stomach. Alcohol can damage the gastric mucosa. When the mucosa is repeatedly stimulated over a long period, constantly undergoing a process of injury, repair, and re-injury, it can lead to chronic inflammation, ultimately laying the groundwork for tumor development.
Clinical observations have found that 1/3 to 1/2 of stomach cancer patients have a long history of drinking, especially with a preference for liquor, with some having drunk it continuously for over twenty years. Therefore, if you have to drink a little, try to choose alcoholic beverages with a low alcohol content; it's best to avoid strong liquor if possible. When drinking, you can pair it with some side dishes like pork skin jelly, which is high in collagen and can form a protective layer in the stomach to reduce alcohol damage.
❀ Cold Drinks
When talking about the most stomach-damaging foods, how can you ignore cold drinks? Cold drinks, popsicles, and cold meals can lower the temperature inside the stomach. Many digestive enzymes require an appropriate temperature to function properly, which can affect gastric acid secretion and the action of digestive enzymes.
【Recommendations】On hot days, it's best to drink cooled boiled water; drink cold drinks between meals; eat only one popsicle at a time, and eat it slowly; try to eat less cold food like sushi.
❀ Cold Fruits
As the weather gets warmer, eating a piece of watermelon can certainly be refreshing, but your stomach might not be able to handle it. These cold fruits and vegetables can irritate the stomach, leading to a decrease in digestive ability.
【Recommendations】So, if you often experience bloating or stomach pain, it's best to eat less cold fruits or cold salads. You can eat them after meals to reduce irritation.
❀ Spicy Foods
Spicy Sichuan and Hunan dishes like spicy chicken, pickled fish with cabbage, and boiled fish dominate the culinary world. However, capsaicin can increase gastric acid secretion, stimulate mucosal congestion and edema, accelerate gastrointestinal motility, and cause symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, affecting digestive function. People with chronic gastritis or stomach ulcers especially should not eat spicy food frequently.
【Recommendations】People from regions where spicy food is common have maintained this eating habit since childhood. If your stomach doesn't feel uncomfortable, there's no need to change your eating habits. For those who are not used to spicy food but want to try it, you might want to have a small dish of vinegar to dip it in, which can reduce the irritation to the stomach.
❀ High-Sugar, High-Fat, and High-Protein Foods
High-sugar, high-fat, and high-protein foods can indeed satisfy people's desire to eat, but eating too much can burden the stomach and lead to stomach symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
【Recommendations】Normally, eat sweets, meat, etc., in moderation, and don't treat them as staple foods.