"This Saturday is the Dragon Boat Festival, and many zongzi are already on the market, with sales increasing daily. However, many people don't realize that eating zongzi can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions," said Lin Zhuotang, Director of the Internal Medicine Department at Guangzhou Post and Telecommunications Hospital. "Zongzi are made of glutinous rice, which is sticky and difficult to digest. This can easily cause abdominal bloating in people with poor digestive function, and some may even experience indigestion after just one. Sweet zongzi, due to their high sugar content, can raise blood sugar levels, so diabetics should not eat too many. The elderly and children should also avoid eating too many, as zongzi can easily lead to diarrhea or constipation in them."
Li Yuyuan, a digestive disease expert at Guangzhou First Municipal People's Hospital, pointed out that zongzi are high-calorie and difficult to digest. The calories in one zongzi are often much higher than those in a bowl of rice, so portion control is important when consuming them.
It is worth mentioning that many people like to have zongzi for breakfast around the Dragon Boat Festival, and some enthusiasts even skip regular meals and eat zongzi for every meal. In fact, this practice not only disrupts normal digestion but can also harm the stomach.
Dr. Lin from the Post and Telecommunications Hospital explained that food takes at least 6 hours to pass from the stomach to the intestine. Zongzi, made of glutinous rice, are already hard to digest. Eating them early in the morning means they stay in the stomach for even longer, stimulating gastric acid secretion and potentially triggering chronic stomach diseases or ulcers in susceptible individuals. Additionally, zongzi should never be eaten as a late-night snack, as they can cause indigestion and affect sleep.
When eating zongzi, eat more vegetables: 1. It's best to drink tea with zongzi to help with swallowing and digestion. Eat smaller portions at a time and consider mini-zongzi. 2. Many people suffer from stomach discomfort after eating too many zongzi. Doctors suggest pairing them with cold-mixed vegetables, salads, or other fiber-rich foods to cleanse the intestines. It's also good to pair them with fruit to reduce the incidence of discomfort. 3. Although zongzi can be eaten cold, they become harder. It is recommended to let them warm up to room temperature or reheat them thoroughly until they are soft before eating. 4. People with stomach problems should choose plain white rice zongzi, avoid dipping them in sugar, and not eat overly sweet ones. 5. Patients with gallstones, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis should avoid meat zongzi, egg yolk zongzi, and any zongzi that are too greasy or high in fat.