During the Mid-Autumn Festival, faced with the sweet temptation of mooncakes, how should we enjoy them to balance deliciousness and health? In fact, mooncakes are not the ideal choice for breakfast, nor should they be consumed as a quick snack when hungry. A standard-sized traditional Cantonese double egg yolk and lotus seed paste mooncake contains the equivalent calories of two large bowls of rice, excessive consumption can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. The inherent sweetness of mooncakes can stimulate gastric acid secretion more easily on an empty stomach, potentially causing stomach discomfort, especially for those with poor gastrointestinal function, it may trigger stomach spasms. Therefore, the best time to enjoy mooncakes is when slightly hungry, using them as a snack for afternoon tea, savoring them slowly, chewing small bites, which can help the body digest and absorb better.
For individuals with specific health issues such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, nephritis, diabetes, as well as infants, young children, and elderly people, mooncake intake should be reduced appropriately to avoid health implications.
It is worth noting that there is an art to pairing mooncakes with food. Avoid consuming cold beverages when eating mooncakes, as the combination of hot and cold foods may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, leading to diarrhea or other digestive system issues when severe, and may even trigger cardiovascular disease. In contrast, a cup of green tea or hawthorn tea is the ideal companion to mooncakes, as they can promote digestion and alleviate the greasiness sensation caused by mooncakes.
