When summer arrives, ice cream becomes everyone's favorite, but some people experience sudden pain when eating ice cream, and various ailments are caused by overindulging: some suffer from stomach cramps from eating too much ice cream, while others get severe headaches from eating it too quickly, and so on. Experts remind people who overindulge in cold drinks to prevent excessive consumption, which can lead to a sallow and emaciated "ice cream face." Children should eat cold drinks in moderation.
Experts explain that due to the high summer temperatures, children's uncontrolled overconsumption of cold drinks can cause a wide range of harms.
First, the hot weather causes people to sweat more, and the blood flowing to the gastrointestinal tract is relatively reduced. Coupled with children's inherently weaker ability to adapt to temperature differences, excessive consumption of cold drinks will lower the temperature of the gastrointestinal tract, affecting its digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Second, overeating cold drinks dilutes the concentration of gastric juice and digestive juices, impairing the sterilizing power and digestive capacity of stomach acid.
Third, because children's gastrointestinal tracts are not yet fully developed, overeating cold drinks can easily lead to indigestion, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can trigger acute gastroenteritis.
Fourth, it can easily lead to osteoporosis. First, excessive consumption of cold drinks affects normal food intake, thereby reducing the source and absorption of nutrients. Second, some substances in beverages bind with calcium ions in the body, causing the concentration of calcium ions in the blood to decrease and leading to a calcium deficiency. Third, excessive consumption of beverages affects the intake of mineral elements, making one more susceptible to osteoporosis later in life.
Experts warn that excessive consumption of cold drinks can disrupt the gastrointestinal motility in children, clinically manifesting as stomach pain, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal disorders, and a sallow, dark complexion, creating the sallow and emaciated "ice cream face." Therefore, first, help children break the bad habit of overindulging in cold drinks; second, adjust dietary methods, such as using watermelon water, mung bean soup, etc., to help them cool down and relieve summer heat; third, control the intake. For children who have already developed the habit of overindulging, avoid bingeing on cold foods and drinks.
How to Eat Cold Drinks Healthily in Summer
Timing
It is not advisable to eat cold drinks before or after a meal. Eating cold drinks before a meal can affect appetite, leading to nutritional deficiency. Although cold drinks contain nutrients like milk, the content is far less than that of a normal meal. Eating cold drinks immediately after a meal reduces gastric acid secretion, weakens the immune function of the digestive system, and can lead to bacterial proliferation, causing intestinal diseases like enteritis.
Quantity
A large amount of cold drinks entering the body can cause gastric mucosal blood vessels to constrict, reduce gastric juice secretion, and lead to a loss of appetite and affect the body's digestion of food. The recommended intake of cold drinks at one time is about 150ml.
Speed
On a scorching summer day, chugging a can of frozen cola or biting into several popsicles is a great way to cool off. However, the harm to the body cannot be compensated for by that moment of refreshment. Drinking cold drinks should be savored slowly, just like drinking hot soup.
Caution
Be cautious about cold drinks from roadside stalls. When purchasing, carefully check the production date and expiration date, and try to choose products with a more recent manufacturing date.
Recommendations and Precautions
Different groups of people have different requirements for cold drinks, especially those with illnesses who should eat less or even avoid them. Infants should not eat cold drinks, and young children should eat them in moderation. The elderly, the frail, and people with cardiovascular diseases should not eat too many cold drinks.