Tangyuan, a festive food, is a traditional treat for many holidays, though it's also enjoyed by many on a regular basis. However, not everyone is suited to eating tangyuan. So, who should avoid it? Let's take a look:
1. Patients with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and gout
Whether sweet or savory, tangyuan contains a large amount of oil. Sweet tangyuan is high in sugar and calories. Consuming too much can cause blood sugar to become uncontrolled, increase blood lipids, and thicken the blood.
2. People recovering from a long illness
At this stage, while the patient's appetite may be improving, their digestive function is still weak. Eating too much tangyuan is not conducive to recovery.
3. Patients with diabetes
Tangyuan has a high sugar content. If patients indulge, their blood sugar can spike rapidly. This not only worsens their condition but can also trigger diabetic ketoacidosis.
4. Patients with ulcers
Eating tangyuan can stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, aggravating the irritation of the ulcerated area. In severe cases, it can induce gastric bleeding or gastric perforation.
5. People with poor gastrointestinal digestion
Tangyuan is made from glutinous rice flour, which is quite sticky and difficult to digest. It can lead to stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, and even diarrhea.
6. Patients with acute gastroenteritis
The patient's gastrointestinal tract is in a state of congestion and edema. They should consume easily digestible foods like rice soup or lotus root starch. Eating tangyuan would加重 the burden on the digestive system.
7. Patients with a high fever
When feverish, the gastrointestinal tract is relatively suppressed. Therefore, one should eat easily digestible foods like liquids; otherwise, the condition could worsen.
8. Infants and young children
Children have weaker digestive functions, and their swallowing reflex is not fully developed. When eating tangyuan, it should not be eaten whole. It should be divided into quarters, and one piece should be finished before starting the next. It's crucial to chew slowly to prevent accidents.
9. The elderly and the frail
The digestive function of the elderly is weakened, with reduced secretion of digestive enzymes and fluids, slower gastrointestinal motility, and a longer time for emptying. It is difficult for them to digest and absorb sticky foods like tangyuan. They might risk choking on a piece of tangyuan due to rapid swallowing, leading to difficulty breathing, and even suffocation. There have been reports in medical journals of elderly people dying suddenly at night after consuming excessive sticky foods, so it is advisable for them to eat less.
To cultivate healthy eating habits, we must pay attention to all aspects of our lives. "Disease enters through the mouth," so to stay healthy and keep illness at bay, we must always be mindful of how we eat.