Every autumn and winter, orange persimmons come to market. Persimmons are vibrant in color, soft, and juicy, rich in various nutrients such as carbohydrates, sugar, protein, fat, phosphorus, iron, calcium, and vitamin C.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers persimmons to be sweet, astringent, and cold in nature, and they are believed to have functions such as clearing heat and relieving dryness, moistening the lungs and resolving phlegm, softening hard masses, quenching thirst and generating fluids, strengthening the spleen, treating dysentery, and stopping bleeding. They can help alleviate symptoms such as dry stools, hemorrhoid pain or bleeding, dry cough, sore throat, and high blood pressure.
Chen Jing, a physician in the emergency department of the Beijing Children's Hospital, reminds us that children, being in a stage of growth and development, have immature organs. Therefore, they should eat persimmons as little as possible, and definitely not on an empty stomach, as this can easily lead to "bezoars" (stomach stones) and potentially cause gastric perforation.
Certain substances in persimmons can bind with iron, hindering its absorption, so anemic individuals should also eat them in moderation. Due to their high sugar content, diabetics should also avoid eating them.
Three Things to Know About Eating Persimmons
Do not eat on an empty stomach: Persimmons contain a large amount of tannic acid. In the presence of stomach acid, tannic acid can precipitate and coagulate into a mass that remains in the stomach, forming a "gastric persimmon stone." These stones are not easily broken down and can grow larger, causing congestion, edema, erosion, and ulcers of the gastric mucosa. In severe cases, they can lead to gastric perforation.
Do not eat with high-protein foods: High-protein foods such as crab, fish, and shrimp can easily coagulate into a mass under the action of tannic acid, forming a gastric persimmon stone. Therefore, they should be avoided when eaten together.
Rinse your mouth after eating: Persimmons are high in sugar and contain pectin and tannic acid. Neglecting oral hygiene after consumption can damage teeth, and children are particularly prone to cavities. Therefore, it is important to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth promptly after eating persimmons.