Excessive consumption of sweets in winter is harmful to the kidneys
Humans seem to be born with a love for sweets, especially women who tend to eat more of them in winter, hoping to increase body heat to keep warm. However, this is not scientifically sound. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, eating too many sweets can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney deficiency. Particularly in winter, improper consumption of sweets can seriously affect health: besides causing obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases, it can also lead to problems like osteoporosis and gallstones.
First, do not eat sweets on an empty stomach.
When fasting, sugar is absorbed almost immediately without being digested, causing a rapid, short-term spike in blood sugar levels. This temporary high blood sugar can react with proteins in many important tissues in the body, damaging them and increasing the risk of chronic diseases. It is best to eat sweets at the following 3 times:
1. Before exercise: Exercise requires a lot of energy, but it's not advisable to eat a large meal beforehand. At this time, consuming a moderate amount of sweets can help meet the body's energy needs.
2. When vomiting or having diarrhea: Drinking some salt and sugar water can help restore gastrointestinal function.
3. When diabetic patients have hypoglycemia: When diabetic patients show symptoms of low blood sugar, drinking sugar water or sweet beverages can help them get through the crisis.
Second, learn to choose the types of sweets.
First, when craving something sweet, you can prioritize natural sweetness, such as fruits like pomegranates and apples. Not only do they satisfy your desire for sweets, but the fructooligosaccharides and other sugars in them can also promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the body and inhibit the proliferation of intestinal pathogens and spoilage bacteria. Second, you can appropriately choose some foods processed with sugar alcohols, such as xylitol gum. They have lower energy and cause a lower post-meal blood sugar response. However, be careful not to overconsume, as this can cause diarrhea. Third, less refined sugars are better; for example, brown sugar is more nutritious than white sugar.
Finally, do not chew sweets for too long.
Lactobacilli in the mouth can ferment sugar to produce acid, which accelerates tooth aging, and the longer the chewing time, the greater the aging. Additionally, remember to rinse your mouth with plain water after eating sweets.