A poor stomach is a common ailment for modern people. In fact, the stomach is far more fragile than we imagine. Stimulating foods such as raw, cold, hard, sour, and spicy ones can affect the stomach's function. China has 120 million patients with gastrointestinal diseases, a 10% incidence rate of peptic ulcers, and a 30% incidence rate of chronic gastritis, making it a veritable "stomach disease country."
Be aware of 8 major stomach-harming culprits
1. Spicy and irritating foods
Chili peppers are an indispensable seasoning for many people and have many health benefits. 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.
2. Pickled vegetables
Unqualified pickled vegetables contain a large amount of nitrite. Under the action of suitable acidity or bacteria in the stomach, it can synthesize nitrosamine compounds, which are carcinogenic. Japan has a high incidence of stomach cancer, which is related to its preserved vegetables.
3. Smoked and fried foods
Smoked foods like sausages and cured meats have a high salt content, 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.
4. Alcohol
Excessive drinking not only harms the liver but also the stomach. Clinical observations have found that 1/3 to 1/2 of gastric cancer patients have a long history of drinking, especially with liquor, with some drinking continuously for over twenty years.
Alcohol can damage the gastric mucosa. When the mucosa is repeatedly stimulated for a long time, undergoing a continuous process of injury, repair, and re-injury, it can lead to chronic inflammation, eventually laying the groundwork for tumor development.
5. Cold fruits and vegetables
While eating a piece of watermelon in the summer can be refreshing, the stomach may not be able to handle it. These cold fruits and vegetables can irritate the stomach, leading to a decrease in digestive capacity.
6. Raw and cold seafood
Seafood is inherently "cold" in nature and can burden the stomach. If eaten in excess, especially unheated raw fish, oysters, etc., the protein is even harder to digest, which can easily lead to decreased stomach function.
7. Sweet, greasy, and fatty foods
Some people can eat an entire pork elbow and a whole small cake in one meal. Eating too much of these high-sugar, high-fat, and high-protein foods can overload the stomach, causing symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
8. Cold drinks
Cold drinks, ice pops, and cold meals can lower the temperature inside the stomach. Many digestive enzymes require a suitable temperature to function properly, which can affect gastric acid secretion and the action of digestive enzymes.
Stomach-nourishing foods advocated by our ancestors
1. Pumpkin
According to "Dian Nan Ben Cao" and "Ben Cao Gang Mu", pumpkin is warm in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the spleen and stomach meridians. This means pumpkin is very beneficial for nourishing the spleen and stomach.
From the perspective of modern nutrition, pumpkin is rich in carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C, and components like calcium and phosphorus, making it an expert at strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion. The pectin it contains can protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from irritation by coarse foods, making it suitable for people with stomach diseases. Moreover, the components in pumpkin can promote bile secretion, strengthen gastrointestinal motility, and help with food digestion.
Pumpkin can be cooked in various ways, such as steaming, simmering into congee, or making soup.
Millet and Pumpkin Congee
2. Millet
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that millet is sweet and neutral in nature, entering the kidney, spleen, and stomach meridians. "Ben Cao Gang Mu" also records that millet "treats vomiting and heat dysentery, is beneficial to the dantian, replenishes deficiency, and opens the stomach."
In terms of nutrition, the outstanding feature of millet is that its iron and vitamin B1 content are superior to wheat, rice, and corn, making it especially suitable for pregnant and lactating women. The dietary fiber content of millet is relatively low among coarse grains, with a delicate texture that is easy to digest, making it suitable for infants over 6 months old.
Millet can be simmered into congee on its own, or with ingredients like red dates and lilies to make nutritious congee. It can also be cooked with rice to make "two-rice."
3. Sweet Potato
Ancient books such as "Ben Cao Gang Mu" and "Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi" record that sweet potato has the effect of "nourishing deficiency and fatigue, replenishing qi and strength, strengthening the spleen and stomach," and can make people "live long with few diseases."
Modern research shows that sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, which helps stimulate gastrointestinal motility and the secretion of digestive juices, protecting the stomach and intestines. In addition, sweet potatoes are rich in carotene, which is beneficial for the vision of children and the elderly, and also rich in nutrients like potassium, iron, and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes can be boiled directly or used to make congee.
4. Chinese Yam
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Chinese yam is neutral in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the lung, spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. Ancient books throughout history have recorded the nourishing effect of Chinese yam. "Ben Cao Gang Mu" mentions that Chinese yam "benefits kidney qi and strengthens the spleen and stomach." It is recorded that the "Bazhen Gao" (Eight-Treasure Cake) that Empress Dowager Cixi ate to strengthen her spleen and stomach contained Chinese yam.
From the perspective of modern nutrition, Chinese yam contains substances like amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which can promote digestion and improve gastrointestinal function.
Chinese yam can be prepared in various ways. It can be simmered into a mixed grain congee with rice, millet, red dates, etc. It can also be ground into a fine powder and mixed with rice flour to make a paste. It can also be steamed and then served with blueberries as Blueberry Chinese Yam.
5. Ginger
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that ginger juice is pungent in taste and warm in nature, entering the lung, stomach, and spleen meridians. "Shi Liao Ben Cao" says it "stops nausea, relieves vexation, and stimulates the stomach qi." "Ben Cao Shi Yi" records that ginger "dispels cold and phlegm, and stimulates the appetite." Ginger is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat nausea and vomiting and is very helpful for patients with stomach diseases.
Modern pharmacological research shows that the gingerol-rich in ginger can stimulate the nerve endings of the digestive tract, causing gastrointestinal motility and increasing the secretion of saliva, gastric juice, and intestinal digestive juices, thereby strengthening the spleen and stomach and increasing appetite.
In addition to being used as a seasoning, ginger can also be used to make tea.
Sour cream