Expert: Moderate Consumption of Cold Drinks in Summer
June 21st marks the Summer Solstice, heralding the hottest time of the year. During the scorching summer, it's hard for people to resist the temptation of cold drinks, with iced beverages and popsicles becoming summer favorites. However, health experts remind us to consume cold drinks in moderation during the hot season, as excessive consumption can lead to "popsicle face."
Moderate Consumption of Cold Drinks in Summer
Excessive consumption of cold drinks can lead to illness. Health and wellness expert Zhang Dongsheng points out that cold drinks can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a reduction in various digestive enzymes and causing gastrointestinal motility disorders. This can result in stomach pain, loss of appetite, and irregular bowel movements, ultimately leading to a sallow and dull complexion and malnutrition. Medically, this is vividly termed "popsicle face."
Consuming large amounts of cold drinks in hot weather can also cause sudden contraction of gastrointestinal blood vessels, reducing blood flow and disrupting normal physiological functions. It can also cause blood vessels in the pharynx to constrict, reducing blood flow and lowering local resistance, allowing pathogens in the upper respiratory tract to multiply and cause inflammation of the throat.
On a sweltering summer day, how can one enjoy cold drinks to cool down and stay healthy? Wellness experts advise against eating cold drinks before or after meals, consuming them too quickly, or eating large amounts after strenuous exercise. Infants, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals who are overweight, and those with gastrointestinal or cardiovascular diseases are not suitable for consuming cold drinks.
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