As lychees are freshly in season, many citizens are rushing home to try them. However, as the saying goes, "one lychee is equivalent to three fires of heat." Major hospitals in Guangzhou have successively admitted many patients with tonsillitis and pharyngitis caused by eating too many lychees. Furthermore, there is a growing number of patients with oral ulcers, oral mucositis, nosebleeds, and excessive internal heat. Doctors say that while lychees are nutritious, people with weaker constitutions are prone to exacerbate "internal deficiency heat" by eating too many. Six groups of people, in particular, should avoid eating too many lychees. Overindulgence in Lychees Triggers Colitis
A 40-year-old woman, who previously suffered from ulcerative colitis, couldn't resist trying some fresh lychees her family brought home the day before yesterday. Unexpectedly, after eating a few, she began to feel lower abdominal pain and dizziness, followed by severe abdominal pain. Her bowel movements contained blood clots and mucus. A hospital examination revealed that the colitis had been triggered by eating lychees. Director Lü Yonghui from the Digestive Department of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital stated that patients with ulcerative colitis, lychee allergies, heat-related constipation and acne, upper respiratory tract infections and pharyngitis, swollen gums, and diabetes should be very cautious when eating lychees.
Director Lü explained that these six groups of people all have a "damp-heat" constitution. Although the pulp of lychees contains large amounts of glucose, sucrose, protein, and vitamins, and moderate consumption can promote the production of body fluids, nourish the blood, and benefit the spleen and liver, with medicinal properties for treating qi and blood deficiency and a cold spleen and stomach; however, lychees are "hot" in nature. Those with "yin deficiency and blazing fire" or a "damp-heat" constitution will experience a rise in "deficiency heat" after eating them.
Director Lü reminded the public that excessive consumption of lychees can easily cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and skin rashes. In severe cases, it can lead to a drop in blood pressure, convulsions, arrhythmia, coma, and even death. Drivers and those working at heights should eat lychees in moderation. "Lychee Sickness" Peak Arrives
Dr. Zhou Yongjian from the Department of Gastroenterology at Guangzhou First People's Hospital stated that June and July each year are the main seasons for lychee-related illnesses. As lychees flood the market and prices drop, the peak of "lychee sickness" will arrive. "Lychee sickness" often strikes suddenly between 3 and 8 AM. The main symptoms are dizziness, sweating, pale complexion, fatigue, and palpitations. Some patients may also experience thirst, hunger, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, patients can suddenly fall into a coma within minutes to an hour, with a mild fever.
Dr. Zhou said that according to epidemiological surveys, it is generally only people who eat 2 kilograms of lychees every day for a week who might develop "lychee sickness," and most of these cases are children. Therefore, as long as citizens do not overindulge, there should be no major problem. Friendly Reminder
Peel Lychees and Soak in Saltwater
The correct way to eat lychees is: drink some saltwater, cool tea, or mung bean soup before and after eating to prevent "deficiency heat." Alternatively, peel fresh lychees and soak them in light saltwater, then chill them in the refrigerator before eating. This not only prevents "deficiency heat" but also has the effect of refreshing the spleen and resolving stagnation. Furthermore, drinking lychee shell decoction can also alleviate lychee-induced heat. Adults should generally not eat more than 300 grams of lychees per day, and children should not eat more than 5 at a time. Do not eat lychees on an empty stomach; it is best to consume them half an hour after a meal. Related Links
How Much Do You Know About "Fruit Diseases"?
1. Mango and pineapple: Eating too many can immediately cause numbness and redness of the lips, and in severe cases, a full-body rash;
2. Persimmon: Eating too many can cause stones, which is related to their high tannic acid content. The gypsum sprayed to prevent astringency can also contribute to stone formation after it calcifies, especially for the elderly, who can easily develop intestinal obstruction from eating too many;
3. Apple and guava: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that apples and guavas have an "astringent" effect and can be used to treat diarrhea, so people with constipation should eat less. The tannic acid rich in apples combines with protein to form astringent tannic acid protein, which slows down intestinal peristalsis, thereby prolonging the retention time of feces in the intestine and easily causing constipation;
4. Durian: Contains abundant plant protein, which is difficult to digest in large quantities.