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In today’s society, health has become an increasingly focus of public attention, especially those closely related to daily dietary habits.
Some believe that many foods in daily diet are considered as “heaty foods”, which are said to induce or exacerbate symptoms of certain diseases.
So, does this mean we should stay away from certain foods?
To answer this question, let’s start with eggplants today.
First of all, eggplant, as a common vegetable on the daily dining table, is extremely nutritious, rich in various vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, which have various benefits for health.
However, some people believe that eggplant is a “heaty food” and is not good for the stomach.
Then, is eggplant really a “heaty food”?
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If you want to take care of your stomach, how should you eat for good health?
Eggplant, this widely available vegetable in daily life, often fails to attract special attention from most people.
Eggplant is known for its versatile cooking methods that can be boiled, stir-fried, steamed, and can exhibit unique flavors. Moreover, it has been cleverly incorporated into creative dishes such as the rich and hearty eggplant pot and refreshing eggplant salad. These delicious dishes cater to diverse taste preferences of different groups.
However, for those with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts, could eggplant be their “nemesis”?
From a professional nutritional standpoint, the nutritional value of eggplant is undoubtedly recognized.
Eggplant contains rich vitamin C and vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, and its unique purple skin is rich in powerful antioxidants – anthocyanins, which are beneficial for human health.
However, some people may feel stomach discomfort after eating eggplant. Why is that?
This involves the relationship between individual constitution and food.
For instance, there is a middle-aged man who loves to eat eggplant, especially deep-fried eggplant.
However, after eating eggplant, he always feels some stomach discomfort, or even stomach pain at times.
This gentleman is quite puzzled, thinking that eggplant may be a “heaty food,” thus causing his stomach problems.
Firstly, eggplant itself is not a so-called “heaty food” that directly triggers disease.
However, it is worth noting that the cooking method of eggplant might affect the health condition of the stomach to a certain extent.
For example, deep-frying eggplant, while delicious, can stimulate the stomach significantly due to the nature of fried foods, making it prone to stomach discomfort.
Therefore, the stomach discomfort of this middle-aged man is likely due to the cooking method of eggplant rather than eggplant itself.
For individuals with sensitive stomachs, the principle of healthy eating is “2 eat and 3 avoid.”
So, what are the important aspects of the “2 eat and 3 avoid” principle?
First, let’s talk about “2 eat.”
For individuals with sensitive stomachs, choosing mild and easily digestible foods as the primary consideration in daily diet is crucial.
Although eggplant is nutritious, if cooked in a greasy or overly seasoned way, it may stimulate the stomach.
Therefore, it is recommended to steam, boil, or stew eggplant, preserving its nutrition without causing excessive stomach stimulation.
Secondly, to relieve discomfort in the stomach, opt for easily digestible foods.
Eggplant’s fiber content can be burdensome for those with a weaker digestive system.
Therefore, slicing the eggplant a bit smaller or cooking it until slightly softer can aid in digestion.
Next, let’s talk about “3 avoid.”
First and foremost, stay away from excessively spicy foods to prevent unnecessary stimulation in sensitive areas of the stomach.
The strong stimulating properties of spicy foods can significantly impact the stomach, often leading to discomfort or pain.
Therefore, for those with stomach sensitivity, it is best to avoid adding too much chili or other spicy seasonings when eating eggplant.
Furthermore, avoid consuming excessive greasy foods to reduce the pressure on the stomach from digesting such foods.
As mentioned earlier, although deep-fried eggplant is delicious, fried foods can be highly stimulating to the stomach, potentially causing discomfort.
Therefore, to maintain health, we recommend adopting healthier cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, or baking to maximize the reduction of using frying, a cooking method that could potentially harm health.
In terms of diet, it is crucial to remember to firmly avoid consuming any foods of extreme temperatures, whether icy cold or scalding hot, to prevent potential irritation and damage to the stomach, affecting health.
Therefore, when eating eggplant, maintain the food at a moderate temperature to avoid unnecessary stomach stimulation.
Imagine a young woman who loves spicy food, always adding plenty of chili when eating eggplant.
One day, she went to the doctor due to stomach pain, and the doctor informed her that her stomach pain was likely caused by overly spicy dietary habits.
The woman began to suspect whether her love for eating eggplant was the cause, but the doctor explained that the problem was not with the eggplant but with her dietary habits.
Due to its strong stimulating nature, spicy foods can directly impact the stomach mucosa, increase the risk of gastritis, and potentially worsen existing stomach discomfort.
Eggplant itself does not cause stomach issues; it’s the large amounts of chili added during cooking that caused stomach pain for this woman.
Therefore, for those with sensitive stomachs, opting for a bland diet and avoiding excessively spicy seasonings is essential.
In addition to the above recommendations, there are specific data that can help us better understand this issue.
Studies have shown that people who frequently consume spicy foods have about a 30% higher risk of gastritis compared to the general population.
By choosing a bland diet, the incidence of stomach issues is significantly lower.
This further confirms the importance of the “2 eat and 3 avoid” principle in maintaining stomach health.
So, apart from spicy foods, what other types of food can easily trigger stomach discomfort?
For instance, excessive consumption of beverages rich in caffeine content such as coffee and tea can also have adverse stimulating effects on the stomach.
Similarly, overconsumption of high-sugar foods can cause excessive stomach acid secretion and have adverse effects on the stomach.
Consider a male white-collar worker who faces heavy work pressure daily, often needing to work late nights and prefers drinking coffee to stay alert.
However, long-term coffee consumption has aggravated his stomach problems, prompting the doctor to recommend reducing coffee intake and switching to light tea or plain water.
The white-collar worker began to wonder if the eggplants he usually eats were the issue, but the doctor explained that the real issue lies in his coffee consumption habit.
From a medical perspective, caffeine has a clear stimulating effect on the stomach.
Long-term and frequent coffee consumption significantly increases stomach acid secretion, raising the likelihood of developing gastritis and other stomach diseases, and may even exacerbate existing stomach discomfort.
However, eggplant itself does not possess the characteristics that cause the above health problems.
Therefore, for individuals with stomach discomfort, adjusting dietary habits, especially reducing caffeine intake, is a crucial health measure.
So, why do some people feel stomach discomfort after eating eggplant while others have no issues?
This is mainly due to individual differences, where everyone’s constitution varies, leading to varying degrees of stomach sensitivity to stimuli.
Some individuals naturally have more sensitive stomach mucosa, making them prone to reactions to various stimuli, while others have relatively stronger tolerance with milder reactions to stimuli.
Therefore, for those with sensitive stomachs, selecting appropriate dietary methods to avoid excessive stimulation is crucial.
After understanding this knowledge, we can better grasp how to maintain our stomach health through diet.
As a nutritious vegetable, eggplant, with the right cooking method, can prevent stomach irritation.
For individuals with sensitive stomachs, following the “2 eat and 3 avoid” principle, choosing mild, easily digestible foods, and avoiding overly spicy, greasy, and extreme temperature foods is essential.
Through scientific research and clinical observation, we can better understand how different foods affect the body, thereby formulating more scientifically reasonable dietary suggestions to help people better care for their health.
What are your thoughts on this? Let’s discuss it together in the comments section!
Reference
[1] Eating eggplants lowers blood pressure, benefits of eating eggplants in summer and precautions[J]. Knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (popular science), 2015,(13):71.
