Hawthorn is a seasonal fruit in winter, known for its effects of aiding digestion and promoting blood circulation to remove stasis. Many people enjoy eating it during this season. However, the Department of Gastroenterology at the General Hospital of the Armed Police Force has recently treated four consecutive cases of gastric bezoar, all caused by consuming hawthorn.
Aren't hawthorns, with their sweet and sour taste, supposed to be good for digestion? So how can they cause trouble for the stomach? Gao Jian, Deputy Director of the Nutrition Department at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University, explains that "people with chronic stomach problems" are prone to developing gastric bezoars if they consume large amounts of hawthorn on an empty stomach. Therefore, these individuals should stay away from hawthorn.
Hawthorn contains a large amount of pectin and tannic acid. These substances have a characteristic affinity for stomach acid. When they encounter stomach acid, they "closely embrace" each other and coagulate into precipitates. In winter, the sharp drop in temperature stimulates the secretion of large amounts of stomach acid. Some "people with chronic stomach problems," such as patients with gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers, already have high levels of stomach acid. If they consume large amounts of hawthorn on top of that, it can easily become a trigger for a gastric bezoar.
In addition to "people with chronic stomach problems," it is also not recommended for others to eat hawthorn in excess, especially on an empty stomach, as the stomach will definitely react negatively. The digestive benefits of hawthorn only work within a specific quantity, for example, eating no more than 10 at a time. For those who enjoy it, it's better to eat it in moderation; you can have it every day, but don't "eat your fill all at once."
Of course, among winter fruits, hawthorn's health benefits are quite prominent, such as helping to lower blood lipids, acting as an antioxidant, and improving skin condition. Therefore, one shouldn't completely negate the benefits of hawthorn out of fear of developing a gastric bezoar. It is still recommended to eat it correctly and in appropriate amounts daily.
It is especially important to emphasize that you should not drink strong tea when eating hawthorn, because the tannic acid in tea will also form precipitates with the pectin and tannic acid in hawthorn. It is best to have a two-hour interval between consuming the two.