Healthy Diet: Don't Overindulge in Cold Drinks
When it comes to the most popular foods in summer, nothing beats the "cooling" variety. Iced products, drinks, and desserts are all-time favorites. Food manufacturers also spare no effort in developing new products to meet consumers' demand for novelty. However, while enjoying the "cool all the way down" refreshment, have you ever wondered if your goal of cooling down and quenching your thirst is truly met? And have you also considered the impact these "icy cold" foods have on the human body?
Are Cold Drinks the Best Way to Quench Thirst?
Most people believe that a cold drink can instantly dispel summer heat. However, after drinking a cold beverage, the surfaces of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach cool down rapidly. The walls of the capillaries in these areas then constrict due to the drop in temperature. Specifically, when a person quickly drinks a glass of ice water or eats a large bowl of ice cream, the temperature inside the stomach can plummet from 37°C to below 20°C. As a result, the stomach "shrinks," much like a faulty car engine, ceasing to function!
Consequently, the stomach stops peristalsis, and the digestive functions of the gastrointestinal tract come to a halt. It takes about 30 minutes (or even longer) for the stomach to return to a warm state before digestion gradually returns to normal. Therefore, consuming iced products during a meal delays the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine, leading to bloating and indigestion.
Stop Drinking Cold Beverages for Breakfast
The human body always prefers a warm environment. When the body is warm, microcirculation is normal, and the transport of oxygen, nutrients, and waste is smooth.
Therefore, when eating breakfast, never start with vegetable juice, iced coffee, iced fruit juice, iced black tea, mung bean soup, iced milk, etc. You might not feel any discomfort in the short term, but in reality, it will gradually weaken your body. Why is this?
Breakfast should consist of "hot food" to protect the "stomach qi." In Traditional Chinese Medicine, stomach qi is a broad concept that not only refers to the stomach organ itself but also includes the digestive and absorption abilities of the spleen and stomach, acquired immunity, and muscle function.
In the morning, the yin energy from the night has not yet dissipated, and the earth's temperature has not yet risen. The body's muscles, nerves, and blood vessels are still in a constricted state. If you consume cold food and drinks at this time, it will inevitably cause further contraction of the body's various systems and poorer blood circulation.
Who Should Avoid Cold Drinks?
Young Children: The gastrointestinal function of young children is not yet fully developed. It is best to limit their intake of cold drinks, as it may cause symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, sore throat, and coughing.
After Strenuous Exercise: After exercise, the body's temperature rises. Sudden consumption of cold beverages can cause the blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract to constrict abruptly, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Additionally, after strenuous exercise, blood circulation speeds up, and the throat area becomes congested. Sudden exposure to cold stimulation can cause a sore throat and hoarseness.
Elderly People: The gastrointestinal function of the elderly gradually declines with age, and their tolerance for cold food significantly decreases. Consuming too many cold drinks can cause the blood vessels in the oral and gastrointestinal mucosa to constrict, reducing the secretion of digestive juices like gastric acid and pancreatic juice, resulting in decreased appetite and indigestion.
Patients with Fever and Sweating: Cold drinks cause the capillaries on the body's surface to constrict, trapping internal heat due to poor blood circulation. At this time, taking a warm bath or drinking warm water can help the body release heat to the skin's surface through improved circulation.
People with Sinusitis or Nasal Allergies: Many have experienced this: when you eat or drink something cold, a sudden sensation rushes up your nose. This is caused by the rapid constriction of blood vessels in the nasal and oral areas due to the sudden temperature drop. If you have sinusitis or nasal allergies, it's best to avoid cold foods to prevent worsening your condition.
People with Bronchitis or Chronic Pharyngitis: Sudden cold stimulation can cause bronchial spasms and slow down the activity of cilia on the bronchial mucosa, leading to increased coughing and sore throat, and making it harder to expel phlegm.
Asthma: Studies have confirmed that for asthma patients, consuming cold food can cause bronchial spasms and slow down cilia activity, triggering an asthma attack or worsening the condition.
Patients with Stomach Ulcers: Patients with digestive tract ulcers should avoid excessive cold food in the summer, as it can impair blood circulation in the digestive tract, hindering ulcer healing. Especially sugary drinks, which increase gastric acid secretion, can make stomach ulcers more severe and cause bloating and belching.
Patients with Coronary Heart Disease or Hypertension: Individuals with heart disease or hypertension should absolutely avoid consuming large amounts of cold products. The vasoconstriction could cause blood pressure to rise, creating a dangerous situation.
Calorie Analysis of Iced Products and Drinks
When drinking sugary beverages, it's hard to "sip" like wine, so you often end up consuming a lot of calories! Most beverages sold today have nutrition labels for reference, so be sure to check them before choosing, otherwise, you might consume more calories than you intend. Finally, let's look at the calorie analysis of cold drinks and frozen treats.
When drinking juice, don't assume it's natural and indulge without restraint. Pay special attention; don't be fooled by the word "natural." Although 100% pure natural juice is not just empty calories like regular drinks, its calorie content is still quite high. Every 100cc of juice contains 50-65 calories. For a 250cc serving, that's 125-162 calories (a bowl of rice is about 140 calories), which is very high.
Beer is a favorite beverage for many on a hot summer day, especially with a meal. A large, cold glass of beer is truly satisfying! However, this alcoholic drink, often called "liquid bread," is quite "substantial"! Every 100cc contains 50 calories. A 600cc (glass bottle) serving has more calories than a bowl of rice!
In addition to drinks, frozen treats are also a major highlight of summer. However, a regular popsicle has at least 80 calories. If you add chocolate and peanuts, the calories skyrocket to 256, which is just 14 calories less than a bowl of rice! Therefore, don't trade temporary coolness for the future pain of weight loss.
Actually, if you make your own frozen treats, you can control the calories quite well. For example, for a smoothie, you can use high-water-content fruits like half a watermelon (with the rind), which has only about 60 calories. Other fruits like cantaloupe, papaya, and apple are also good choices. You can also add milk to increase calcium and protein intake. Using sugar substitutes can significantly reduce the calorie content.