Fruits are available all year round, but eating too much is not good for your health. Have you ever felt a bit of an upset stomach after eating fruit? It is recommended that those with chronic stomach problems should eat less of three types of fruit.
Kiwis can relieve constipation but can cause "heartburn".
Kiwis can relieve constipation and are rich in vitamin C, earning them the title "king of fruits". However, Zhu Xinyi, Associate Chief Physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine at the Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, reminds us that kiwis are considered "cold" in nature. Overconsumption can damage the spleen and stomach's yang energy, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Furthermore, the large amount of vitamin C and pectin in kiwis can increase stomach acid and burden the stomach, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, acid reflux, and heartburn, which can worsen in cold weather. During the current cold season, patients with stomach problems (spleen and stomach yang deficiency) should eat fewer or even no kiwis.
Fresh dates are delicious, but the skins can irritate the stomach.
Winter dates are known as a natural "vitamin pill". Wang Xingguo, Director of the Nutrition Department at Dalian Central Hospital in Liaoning Province, warns that fresh dates should not be eaten in excess, as they can harm the digestive tract. This is because dates are very high in dietary fiber, and a large intake at once can irritate the stomach, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Most of the dietary fiber is found in the date skin, which is thin, hard, and has sharp edges. If the stomach lining is inflamed or has an ulcer, it can exacerbate the pain and discomfort.
Hawthorn can whet the appetite but may easily lead to stones.
Many people find hawthorn appetizing and sweet and sour, making it easy to overindulge. However, Li Bin, Associate Chief Physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, advises that people with poor spleen and stomach function should eat less hawthorn, as excessive consumption can lead to stomach stones. This is because hawthorn is high in pectin and tannic acid. When it comes into contact with stomach acid, it can easily form an insoluble precipitate that clumps with food residue to create stomach stones. These stones can cause gastric ulcers, gastric bleeding, and even gastric wall necrosis and perforation. However, cooking hawthorn can reduce the effect of tannic acid.