As deep autumn sets in, temperatures gradually drop, and hotpot is once again becoming popular among citizens, attracting numerous food lovers. Recently, many hospital clinics in Shanghai have reported a countless number of patients suffering from "internal heat" due to a fondness for spicy hotpot. Medical experts remind the public that besides being prone to causing "internal heat," frequent hotpot consumption also poses risks of hepatitis A and gout. At the same time, it is crucial to pay strict attention to hygiene when eating hotpot. Consumers should go to legitimate hotpot establishments with good sanitary conditions to ensure food safety. "Malatang" (spicy boiled skewers) is most likely to harm the digestive system.
Every afternoon at four o'clock, Mr. Shi, a general manager of an enterprise on Nanjing East Road, enjoys having a "hotpot afternoon tea" with friends at a nearby hotpot restaurant. Once the half-and-half pot arrives, with ten or so dishes ladled in, Mr. Shi finds it an extraordinary experience. Especially the feeling of sweating profusely from the spiciness makes him feel he has swept away the fatigue from a long day of work.
According to reporters, in recent days, starting from noon, various popular hotpot restaurants have been bustling regardless of the time. Hotpot enthusiasts like Mr. Shi are a constant sight. However, patients seen in clinics with esophagitis, gastritis, diarrhea, nosebleeds, and hemorrhoids are mostly these spicy food lovers. Professor Li Gang from the Department of Internal Medicine at Shanghai Shuguang Hospital reminds people not to pursue momentary pleasure for the mouth while suffering for the stomach. Therefore, when eating hotpot, try to adjust the flavor to be only mildly spicy and avoid eating too much at once. While eating hotpot, you can drink milk and other beverages to protect the stomach lining. After the meal, drink plenty of water or strong tea to reduce irritation to the stomach. Undercooked meat may lead to hepatitis A infection.
Many citizens who love hotpot believe that its wide variety of dishes and rich nutrition ensure the body's comprehensive absorption of various trace elements and minerals. Many enthusiasts also prefer to eat fresh, tender meat, often dipping it in the hotpot for just a moment. In fact, this eating habit can easily lead to certain diseases. For example, eating undercooked seafood like shellfish, oysters, and snails can lead to a hepatitis A virus infection. Virology experts reveal that in a normal environment, the hepatitis A virus can survive for 12 months at 60°C, and it requires 5 minutes of heating at 100°C to be killed.
Experts remind that three types of parasites—Trichinella, tapeworms, and cysticerci—can all be transmitted through hotpot. Therefore, those who贪图 (crave) fresh, tender meat should be cautious. When eating hotpot, pay attention to the cleanliness and hygiene of the meat. For safety's sake, when slicing meat for the pot, it's best to cook it for a longer time. Also, check the meat for any white, rice-like granules, as these could be cysticercus eggs.
The health department has also issued consumer warnings about eating hotpot. It is recommended that the meat slices used for cooking should be as thin as possible, and avoid eating tripe or aortas that are unnaturally white. Numbness and pain in the toes could be a sign of gout.
Recently, Ms. Li went for a seafood hotpot meal with friends. The next morning, she woke up with a piercing pain in her big toe, so severe she couldn't get out of bed. A hospital check-up revealed it was a gout attack. Professor Zhang Daifu, Director of the Department of Cardiology at Oriental Hospital, pointed out that for people like Ms. Li who already have high uric acid levels, dietary attention is crucial to prevent gout attacks.
According to Professor Zhang, the pathogenesis of gout is an excessive level of uric acid in the blood. Hotpot meals contain a lot of meat, and meat and animal organs are high in purines. After being absorbed by the human body, purines enter the bloodstream and, through metabolism, produce excessive uric acid. When this uric acid cannot be fully excreted through urine, it forms urate crystals that deposit in tissues like joints, causing symptoms such as joint pain. Gout can heal on its own, so people who have had it need not be overly anxious, as long as they pay attention to their diet. At the same time, individuals with a history of gout should avoid excessive exertion in their daily lives.