During festive gatherings, people often enjoy eating roasted snacks like sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Different types of seeds not only have unique flavors but also certain health benefits. For example, sunflower seeds contain Vitamin E, which has anti-aging properties; watermelon seeds are beneficial for the lungs, moisten the intestines, and help stop bleeding; pumpkin seeds are high in fat, reaching up to 50%, and also contain nutrients like protein, urease, and vitamins A, B, and C. However, after continuously eating an excessive amount of seeds, symptoms such as a swollen and sore tongue, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion may occur, a condition known as "seed disease". 1. Tongue Symptoms:
Eating too many seeds at once for a prolonged period intensifies the friction between the seeds and the tip of the tongue, leading to swelling, soreness, redness, and even blisters. Normally, the tissue at the tip of the tongue has a certain resistance to wear, but if this limit is exceeded, symptoms will appear. This is especially true in drier winter months when people are more prone to "heatiness" (internal heat), making these symptoms more likely. In severe cases, speaking and eating can be affected. 2. Gastrointestinal Symptoms:
Consuming too many seeds also depletes large amounts of saliva and gastric juice, affecting the digestion of normal food and leading to indigestion during or after the holiday. The main cause is that air continuously enters the gastrointestinal tract along with the seeds, causing gas buildup and resulting in abdominal discomfort symptoms such as belching, bloating, and abdominal pain. Furthermore, the tempting aroma of the seeds continuously stimulates the gallbladder to contract, which can also trigger various types of abdominal pain.