Many people with poor gastrointestinal health need to pay special attention to their diet. Carelessly, some foods can加重 the burden on the digestive system, creating health hazards.
Kiwifruit relieves constipation but can cause "heartburn"
Kiwifruit can relieve constipation and is rich in vitamin C, earning it the title "king of fruits." However, Zhu Xinyi, Deputy Chief Physician of the Internal Medicine Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, reminds us that kiwifruit is considered a cold-natured food. Overconsumption can damage the spleen and stomach's yang energy, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Furthermore, the large amount of vitamin C and pectin in kiwifruit can increase stomach acid and加重 the stomach's burden, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, acid reflux, and heartburn, which can worsen in cold weather. During the current cold season, patients with stomach ailments (spleen and stomach yang deficiency) should eat fewer or even no kiwifruits.
Fresh jujubes are tasty but their skins can irritate the stomach
Winter jujubes are known as a natural "vitamin pill." Wang Xingguo, Director of the Nutrition Department at Dalian Central Hospital in Liaoning Province, warns that eating too many fresh jujubes can harm the digestive system.
This is because jujubes have a very high dietary fiber content. Consuming a large quantity at once can irritate the stomach and intestines, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Most of the dietary fiber is in the jujube skin, which is thin, hard, and has sharp edges. If the gastric mucosa is inflamed or has an ulcer, it can worsen the pain and discomfort.
Hawthorn whets the appetite but can easily lead to stones
Many people find hawthorn appetizing and sweet and sour, so they might overindulge. However, people with poor spleen and stomach function should eat less hawthorn, as excessive consumption can lead to stomach stones.
This is because hawthorn is high in pectin and tannic acid. When it comes into contact with stomach acid, it can easily coagulate into an insoluble precipitate, which then combines with food residue to form stomach stones. These stones can cause gastric ulcers, gastric bleeding, and even gastric wall necrosis and perforation. However, cooking hawthorn before eating can reduce the effects of tannic acid.