On hot summer days, popsicles, ice cream bars, and ice cream become people's favorites. Especially after a meal, a sweet and delicious ice cream not only clears the greasiness from the mouth but also brings great comfort. However, while this is comfortable for the person, it is hard on the stomach.
Research shows that after quickly consuming a large serving of ice cream, the temperature inside the stomach can rapidly drop from 37°C to below 20°C, causing the stomach to contract, reduce gastric acid secretion, and temporarily halt the digestive process. It takes about 30 minutes or longer for the stomach to return to a warm state before digestive function gradually returns to normal. This can easily lead to indigestion and bloating, and frequent occurrences can cause chronic indigestion. At the same time, a large amount of cold food can dilute stomach acid, reducing its ability to kill bacteria. This allows some pathogenic bacteria to pass through the stomach into the intestines, leading to diseases like dysentery, typhoid, and gastroenteritis. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating raw and cold foods after a meal, and if you must, wait at least an hour.
In addition, it is not advisable to consume a large amount of cold drinks immediately after intense exercise. At this time, blood circulation speeds up throughout the body, and blood flow to the stomach and intestines is relatively reduced. Consuming a large amount of cold drinks can cause blood vessels in the gastric mucosa to constrict, easily leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction. (Song Xin, Department of Nutrition, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital)