Many patients with stomach problems believe that congee is soft, easy to digest, and can reduce the burden on the stomach. In fact, this view is not comprehensive. "It's best to drink congee when you have a stomach problem" is a misconception.

Shitake Chicken Congee

Compared to fried foods, unleavened bread, noodles, boiled corn, and steamed cornbread, congee is soft and easy to digest. However, drinking congee is not beneficial for digestion and absorption. The reason is that drinking congee does not require slow chewing, which fails to promote the secretion of salivary glands in the mouth. The amylase in saliva aids digestion. Furthermore, congee has a high water content, which dilutes gastric acid, accelerates stomach expansion, and slows down stomach motility, which is not conducive to digestion and absorption. If you prefer hot congee, its temperature can also be irritating to the stomach. Therefore, patients with stomach problems should not drink congee every day. Instead, they should choose a diet that is easy to digest and absorb, chew slowly, and promote digestion, which is more beneficial.