Introduction: Eggs, salt, baijiu (white liquor), tea... These are all foods we consume daily, and they are widely popular for their nutritional benefits and health-enhancing properties. However, even though these foods are good for you, they should not be consumed without restraint; moderation is key. Below, the editor has compiled a list of 10 foods that should not be eaten in excess, as overconsumption can lead to illness and liver damage.
I. Broth
It is rich in purines and a common repository for various lean meat enhancers and toxins from chemical feed. Excessive consumption is the primary culprit for various acute and chronic pains, the most direct cause of arteriosclerosis, and the largest "processing plant" for various types of stones. However, it is also the food with the highest caloric content, and consuming it in moderation can replenish qi, nourish yin, and strengthen yang.
Excessive intake of acidic foods like large amounts of fish and meat can easily lead to an acidic constitution in the body. The human body cannot withstand drastic changes in the blood's pH level (the body is naturally weakly alkaline; the normal pH value of human tissues should be 7-7.4, and the normal pH of blood should be 7.35-7.45). Therefore, the body will use two main alkaline substances—sodium and calcium—to neutralize the acid. When the body's sodium is depleted, it will then use the calcium stored within. Thus, excessive consumption of fish and meat without attention to acid-alkaline balance will lead to significant calcium loss.
II. Salt
Salt is indispensable in daily life. It helps maintain the body's normal acid-base balance (blood pH) and the osmotic pressure of cells and tissues, ensures the transmission of nerve signals, helps muscles function properly, (Cl-) participates in the formation of gastric acid, promotes the secretion of digestive fluids, and can increase appetite and aid digestion.
In moderation, it is the king of all flavors; in excess, it is the mother of all diseases. Research by scientists has shown that salt can cause the body to "retain water," meaning salt has a certain affinity for water. When there is too much salt in the body, the body requires a corresponding increase in water, causing excess water to be retained, which in turn can lead to high blood pressure. Drinking large amounts of water can dilute the normal concentration of gastric acid, causing indigestion, loss of appetite, and reduced antibacterial effects, leading to gastrointestinal infections—diarrhea. High concentrations of salt can irritate the gastric mucosa, potentially causing stomach cancer, and it can also加重 the burden on the kidneys, leading to kidney disease and uremia.
The WHO recommends a daily intake of less than 6 grams per person. The average intake for residents in China is 10-15 grams, far exceeding this recommended value. In your diet, you should坚持 to use less salt and more vinegar. Not only should you reduce the salt added to food, but you should also control the "invisible salt" in foods like pickles, preserved vegetables, and salted duck eggs.
III. Eggs
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the egg yolk is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, nourishing the spleen and stomach. The egg white is cold in nature and sweet in taste, moistening the lungs and detoxifying. In moderation, it can nourish the blood, improve intelligence, calm the mind, and moisten dryness. Eggs are a high-protein food. If consumed in excess, they can lead to an increase in metabolic waste, which can easily clog capillaries, causing blindness and deafness, and also increase the burden on the kidneys. Generally, it is appropriate for children and the elderly to eat one egg per day, and for teenagers and adults to eat two.
When eggs are fried until overcooked, the edges can get burnt, and the high-molecular-weight proteins in the egg white are converted into low-molecular-weight amino acids. These amino acids can often form toxic chemical substances at high temperatures.
In terms of nutrient absorption and digestibility, boiled eggs are 100%, scrambled eggs are 97%, lightly fried eggs are 98%, heavily fried eggs are 81.1%, eggs poached in boiling water or milk are 92.5%, and raw eggs are 30-50%. Therefore, boiling is the best way to eat eggs. It is advisable to boil them in boiling water for 5-7 minutes, but be sure to chew slowly, otherwise it will affect absorption and digestion.
However, for children and the elderly, steamed egg custard and egg drop soup are the most suitable, as these cooking methods break down the protein, making it very easy to digest and absorb.
IV. Tea
Cocoa, coffee, and tea are known as the three major non-alcoholic beverages in the world today, and China is the homeland of tea. There are many varieties of tea, which can be broadly divided into three categories: green tea, scented tea, and black tea. Green tea, being cooling, is suitable for clearing heat and is excellent for summer cooling. Black tea, being warming, is suitable for warming the middle burner and strengthening the stomach, making it suitable for winter consumption. Scented tea can be enjoyed in all seasons.
Tea is the arch-enemy of protein, fat, sugar, calcium, and iron. Tea drinking should be light, not excessive, and not too strong. If the daily consumption is within 10 grams, it can clear heat and toxins, refresh the mind and brighten the eyes, and promote the production of body fluids to break down grease.
V. Baijiu (White Liquor)
Baijiu is very hot in nature, with a sweet, bitter, and spicy taste, and it affects the heart, liver, and stomach meridians. Consumed in moderation, it has an excitatory effect on the circulatory system. For those with insomnia, drinking a small amount of baijiu before bed can promote sleep and stimulate the secretion of gastric and salivary juices, aiding digestion. Baijiu also has the effects of dispelling wind, dispelling cold, relaxing muscles, and invigorating blood circulation.
Excessive alcohol is the biggest killer of the liver. It is adept at depleting blood and damaging the stomach, destroying the periosteum and muscle nerves, and inducing urinary system stones.
VI. Chili Peppers
Chili peppers, used as a seasoning, can increase appetite, induce sweating to release the exterior and dispel dampness, warm the stomach to expel cold, and help secrete digestive fluids. The capsaicin in chili peppers can accelerate fat breakdown, and the rich dietary fiber also has a certain effect on lowering blood lipids, which can effectively delay atherosclerosis. In excess, it can dry and ulcerize the gastrointestinal mucosa and disrupt digestive function.
VII. Vinegar
In addition to seasoning, vinegar also has excellent health benefits. In moderation, it can remove fishy odors and break down fiber, sterilize and strengthen the liver, relieve fatigue, and soften blood vessels.
Vinegar is a strongly acidic food containing about 6% acetic acid. It affects the body's acid-base balance, can burn and corrode the esophageal mucosa and damage the spleen and stomach, easily causing chronic gastrointestinal inflammation; it can also corrode epithelial tissue and soften bones. At the same time, vinegar is also an organic solvent for calcium. Excessive consumption of vinegar will affect the metabolism of calcium in the body,极易 causing decalcification of bones, worsening osteoporosis, and leading to fractures.
VIII. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a traditional Chinese condiment, generally available in two types: dark soy sauce and light soy sauce. Dark soy sauce is saltier and used for color; light soy sauce is used for freshness.
The main ingredient of soy sauce is soybeans, which is essentially a brine containing soy protein. Soy sauce contains isoflavones, a special substance that can lower human cholesterol, soften blood vessels, reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, and inhibit tumor growth. In excess, it can cause gastrointestinal lesions.
IX. Fried Dough Sticks (Youtiao)
Fried dough sticks are one of China's traditional popular foods, delicious and crispy, suitable for all ages.
Fried dough sticks contain a large amount of the leavening agent alum (potassium aluminum sulfate). Both alum itself and the resulting aluminum hydroxide contain aluminum. Aluminum is a low-toxic, non-essential trace element and an important factor in causing various brain diseases. It is an inhibitor of many enzymes, and its toxicity can affect protein synthesis and block the transmission of nerve mediators. Long-term excessive intake of aluminum can lead to Alzheimer's disease. According to WHO requirements, a person weighing 50 kg should not consume more than 50 mg of aluminum per day.
Fried dough sticks are a high-temperature fried food, with the oil temperature reaching 190°C. The oil is also reused, causing it to age, darken in color, increase in viscosity, and develop off-flavors. The various nutrients in the oil, such as essential fatty acids and various fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E), are mostly or completely oxidized and destroyed. Unsaturated fatty acids polymerize to form large molecules such as dimers and polymers, which are not easily digested or absorbed by the body.
Additionally, fried dough sticks contain sodium carbonate (soda ash), which is non-toxic, but eating too much can disrupt the body's acid-base balance.
American research has found that eating fried dough sticks for breakfast is the biggest nutritional mistake. In excess, they are a major accomplice to brain and liver diseases.
X. Soybeans
China is the homeland of soybeans, which are known as the "king of beans" and are called "plant meat" and "green cows" for their rich nutritional value. Soybeans are most commonly used to make various soy products, press soybean oil, brew soy sauce, and extract protein. In addition to being rich in protein, they also have the effect of lowering cholesterol and are very beneficial to the body.
However, recent related research indicates that soybeans are a food containing estrogen-like substances. Excessive intake can raise the body's estrogen levels, thereby affecting male sexual characteristics and sperm quality. But don't overcorrect; it's important to note that it's "excessive" consumption. As long as you don't consume large amounts every day, it will not be excessive.