Introduction: When it comes to the topic of "eating," almost everyone has their own set of questions and confusions. Recently, a survey released by "Baidu Zhidao" showed that on this online Q&A platform, there are as many as 77 million questions about "eating," accounting for one-third of all questions, with the most popular question being viewed nearly 340,000 times. In response to the top 10 most frequently asked dietary dilemmas by Chinese netizens, "Life Times" has invited relevant authoritative experts to provide an interpretation for you.
1. What foods should pregnant women avoid?
Regarding foods that pregnant women should avoid, there are many rumors online, such as crabs, with the reasoning that "crabs are 'cold-natured' and can easily cause miscarriage." Wang Xingguo, director of the Nutrition Department at Dalian Central Hospital, pointed out that clinically, there has never been a link found between miscarriage and the consumption of any normal food. Therefore, in terms of diet, pregnant women do not have special dietary taboos. It is recommended that pregnant women follow the dietary advice for pregnancy in the "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents," paying attention to food diversification. A reasonable mix of grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, milk, beans, and oils can meet the nutritional needs of pregnancy. It should be reminded that pregnant women should not overeat, and alcohol, sugary drinks, and highly processed snacks should be eaten as little as possible.
2. What fruit helps with weight loss the fastest?
Chen Xiafei, chief nutritionist at Huadong Hospital in Shanghai, pointed out that eating any single fruit cannot achieve the goal of rapid and healthy weight loss. However, eating the right fruits can indeed help control weight. First, choose fruits that are high in dietary fiber and low in calories. Besides high-calorie fruits like durian and bananas, most fruits like apples and oranges are good choices. The calorie content of fruit is influenced by many factors; sweeter does not always mean higher in calories. Second, when eating these fruits, appropriately reduce the amount of staple foods like grains and meats. Of course, they cannot completely replace a main meal, otherwise, it's easy to become malnourished. Finally, it's especially important to remember that even for low-calorie fruits, the daily intake should be controlled to less than half a jin (250g). This is because if the fructose from fruit is consumed and not burned off, it can still lead to weight gain.
3. What is good for people with anemia?
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Fan Zhihong, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, pointed out that apart from genetic factors, drug factors, and other pathological factors, anemia in most women is caused by blood loss and malnutrition. When iron-deficiency anemia occurs, the first step is to identify the cause and eliminate the root of the problem, such as blood loss, poor digestion and absorption, or excessive dieting. Next, one can eat some "blood-enriching" foods, such as 1 to 2 liang (50-100g) of red animal organs or red meat daily to supplement protein, iron, and other nutrients like B vitamins and zinc needed for blood production. At the same time, supplement with 100-300 mg of vitamin C after each meal and eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Red dates, longans, raisins, etc., are sources of iron and can be eaten as snacks.
4. What foods are good for diarrhea?
Fan Zhihong suggests that during diarrhea, it is necessary to temporarily abstain from food to allow the intestines to fully rest. If liquids can be tolerated, start with clear liquids, such as thick rice soup, millet porridge, or clear broth without noodles, to replenish lost water and sodium. When the stomach doesn't hurt as much and the frequency of diarrhea decreases, you can eat some easily digestible foods. The principle is "low-fat, low-residue liquid or semi-solid food," which means foods with high water content and are relatively thin, mainly starch-based with a small amount of protein. This won't irritate the stomach and is easy to digest and absorb. For example, rice porridge, Chinese yam and lotus seed paste, and water chestnut starch. You can also eat a little protein, such as steamed eggs or yogurt at room temperature. At this time, avoid foods that are fried, stir-fried, or deep-fried, and avoid stimulating condiments like chili and pepper.
5. When is the best time to take folic acid tablets?
Wang Xingguo introduced that a lack of folic acid in pregnant women may lead to fetal malformations, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Therefore, women planning to become pregnant or who are already pregnant need to supplement with folic acid. Folic acid can be obtained from green leafy vegetables and pork liver, but for pregnant women, supplementing with synthetic folic acid (such as folic acid tablets) is very necessary. The common online advice to start taking folic acid one, three, or five months in advance is not very accurate. It is best to start supplementing with folic acid when trying to conceive and continue until pregnancy is confirmed (which could be one month, or even a year or longer), and then continue until the third month of pregnancy. The dosage is 0.4-0.6 mg per day.
6. If a crab was alive last night but is dead now, can it still be eaten?
"It depends on the type of crab," said Professor Chen Shunsheng, director of the Department of Aquatic Products Processing and Storage Engineering at the College of Food Science, Shanghai Ocean University. "If it's a raw sea crab, as long as there is no strange smell and it is steamed thoroughly, it can be eaten. This is because sea crabs live in deeper waters, their food is relatively cleaner than river crabs, they carry fewer bacteria, and are less prone to spoilage. Moreover, the stomach of a sea crab is usually quite hard, so even if toxins are produced by bacterial decomposition, they are not easy to spread into the crab meat. However, if it's a raw river crab, you must eat it live and cook it immediately. River crabs carry more bacteria, spoil easily after death, and the toxins produced can easily spread into the crab meat."
7. What to eat when feeling weak during menstruation?
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8. Why do I feel so lazy after eating?
Fan Zhihong pointed out that post-meal drowsiness may be due to problems with the diet's content, or it could be due to severe lack of exercise and poor blood circulation. The following methods can help alleviate it: first, appropriately reduce the total amount of starchy staple foods; second, avoid sweets and replace refined, soft grains with coarse grains, beans, and tubers; third, eat a large amount of vegetables, especially leafy greens and legumes with high fiber content, when eating staple foods. Finally, if possible, split the meal into two sittings to reduce the main meal portion and have a small snack between meals. Additionally, it is recommended to do some light activity an hour after a meal, such as walking or doing easy housework.
9. What to eat to feel better after a breakup?
When heartbroken from a breakup, mood can be affected and appetite can wane. Fan Zhihong believes that the reason is that severe mental stress can suppress the autonomic nervous system, affecting the digestive and absorption functions. Therefore, at this time, it is crucial to eat easily digestible foods to minimize the energy consumption of the digestive system. We recommend a few "good mood" meals: lotus seed and lily brown rice porridge, stir-fried tofu with carrots and winter bamboo shoots, and chilled sesame spinach with minced shrimp. It is worth noting that flavorings, colorings, and other ingredients in highly processed foods may have a negative impact on mood. Furthermore, overeating or eating too greasy food increases stress; hard or frozen food burdens the digestive system, making you feel more tired; sweets can only temporarily improve your mood but will lead to a decline in physical and emotional energy, thus increasing fatigue and a sense of depression.
10. Is it better to eat fruit before or after a meal?
Some people say that eating fruit before a meal will irritate the stomach, so it must be eaten after a meal. Fan Zhihong believes that for people with a healthy stomach, there is no need to worry about whether to eat fruit before or after a meal. For those who need to control their weight, blood pressure, and blood lipids, eating fruit before a meal is beneficial because it can reduce the intake of the main meal and also increase the intake of dietary fiber and potassium. Eating fruit after a meal might actually lead to weight gain due to the additional energy intake. For thin or malnourished people who already have a poor appetite, eating a lot of fruit before a meal might affect their appetite for the main meal. It should be reminded that eating more fruit is not necessarily better; eating too much can also cause trouble, of course, that doesn't mean eating a small amount is a problem. When eating a meal, if fruit is eaten as a side dish, the quantity won't be too large, so there's no need to worry about "too much."