Autumn is the season when hot pot business is booming. The spicy and boiling hot pot, with its sour and refreshing taste, makes you forget about the cold wind immediately. However, if you want to enjoy a delicious and healthy hot pot, passion alone is not enough. There are several misconceptions about hot pot eating that you must be aware of.
Misconception 1: The hotter, the fresher
Behavior: People believe that the hottest and freshest food is the best, so they immediately eat the food straight from the pot, even if it's not completely cooked.
Harm: The oral cavity, esophagus, and gastric mucosa can only tolerate temperatures up to 50°C. If the food is too hot, it can cause damage to the mucosa. The temperature of the hot pot broth can reach up to 120°C, so if you eat it immediately, it can easily burn your mouth, tongue, esophagus, and gastric mucosa.
Correction: Don't rush when eating hot pot. Take small portions of food from the pot and wait for it to cool down before eating. Remember, it's better to sacrifice some freshness than to eat something too hot.
Misconception 2: Half-cooked is the most delicious
Behavior: People eat food that has been briefly cooked in the hot pot to enjoy its crispy and tender texture.
Harm: This way of eating can cause indigestion and can also lead to the ingestion of bacteria and parasite eggs hidden in the food, which can cause diseases. According to research, three serious parasitic diseases - trichinosis, tapeworm, and cysticercosis - can be transmitted through hot pot. Unclean pork and beef slices are likely to contain these parasites.
Correction: When eating hot pot, make sure to cut the meat thin and cook it thoroughly before eating. Also, check if there are any white, rice-like substances on the meat slices, as these may be cysticercus eggs.
Misconception 3: Mixing cold and hot for "neutralization"
Behavior: Many people like to eat hot pot while drinking ice-cold beer, thinking that it helps to neutralize the spiciness.
Harm: Alternating between cold and hot is extremely harmful to the gastric mucosa and can easily cause gastrointestinal diseases.
Correction: Avoid drinking cold beverages as much as possible when eating hot pot.
Misconception 4: The spicier, the better
Behavior: When it comes to hot pot, people often prefer the spicy and hot taste because the sensation of sweating is satisfying.
Harm: Spicy hot pot can be harmful to the gastrointestinal tract. The spicy taste of hot pot stimulates the esophagus first and then quickly affects the stomach and small intestine, severely irritating the gastric mucosa. This can cause gastric acid and flatulence. In addition to causing esophagitis and gastritis, diarrhea is also likely. Office workers who have a history of constipation or hemorrhoids should be more careful when eating hot pot. Otherwise, hemorrhoid patients may experience increased congestion in the anal area due to excessive stimulation of the anal sphincter, and constipation patients may suffer more.
Correction: Although everyone has different tolerance levels for spicy food, doctors believe that it is best to eat less hot pot that is both spicy and numbing. It is important not to eat too much at once, and try to adjust the seasoning to a mildly spicy level and drink less hot pot broth. In addition, after eating hot pot, it is recommended to drink more water or strong tea to dilute the spiciness and reduce the stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract. If there is any discomfort, it is advisable to drink some light beverages such as rice porridge or milk to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Misconception 5: Hot pot broth is nutritious
Behavior: People drink up the hot pot broth as if it is a nutritious soup.
Harm: Most hot pot broths are made with high-fat ingredients such as pork, mutton, and beef fat, and are often seasoned with chili, pepper, and Sichuan pepper. Consuming too much hot pot broth can lead to diseases such as hyperlipidemia, gallstones, duodenal ulcers, oral ulcers, gingivitis, and hemorrhoids. In addition, if the hot pot broth is kept boiling for a long time or if the ingredients are continuously cooked without changing the broth, harmful substances can be produced.
Correction: Leftover ingredients and broth from hot pot should be discarded. If they are left overnight in a copper hot pot, they should never be consumed as it can be harmful to health and can even cause acute copper oxide poisoning.
