Don't let Tet holiday food become a "burden" for your liver and intestines.

During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), the table is overflowing with sticky rice cakes, fatty meat, sausages, and a few glasses of wine and beer… leading many to overeat. This overloads the digestive system, causing bloating, indigestion, and sleepless nights. According to health experts, by adjusting a few small habits in eating and living, everyone can fully enjoy the spring festivities while still feeling light and healthy.

Proper storage ensures food safety.

Every Tet holiday, people talk a lot about cleaning the house, buying gifts, making traditional cakes, exchanging greetings, etc. Few realize that the stomach and liver are two organs that have to "work overtime" throughout the Tet holiday and are rarely prepared in advance. Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, a member of the Vietnam Society of Underwater Medicine and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, recommends ways to enjoy a delicious Tet while staying healthy, sleeping well, and not worrying about bloating.

People should store food properly, eat in moderation, and engage in light exercise to fully enjoy the spring season while maintaining a light and healthy body.

According to Doctor Hoang, Tet in Northern Vietnam is always associated with a distinctive weather pattern: drizzle, humid wind, and walls that "sweat." People commonly call it "humid weather," but few know that this is the time when microorganisms thrive. High humidity makes everything sticky, from clothes and floors to... sticky rice cakes (Banh Chung).

Banh chung, a symbolic Tet dish, is also an ideal breeding ground for mold if not stored properly. Glutinous rice and mung beans absorb water strongly, and the meat filling is fatty. After cooking, the cake remains moist and warm, and is often stored in a sheltered place – creating favorable conditions for mold, including species that can produce aflatoxin toxins harmful to the liver.

"Aflatoxin is a group of toxins that tend to be quite heat-resistant; common cooking or steaming methods are unlikely to completely eliminate the risk, although some toxins may be broken down when processed at very high temperatures and for a sufficient amount of time. Even a seemingly harmless piece of moldy sticky rice cake can add to the burden of toxin processing on the liver, especially if this happens repeatedly throughout the year," Dr. Hoang emphasized.

Not only sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng), but also other dishes like pork sausage, jellied meat, head cheese, Tet jam, and dried fruits are favorite breeding grounds for yeast and mold if stored in damp, airtight containers for extended periods. Pork sausage wrapped in unhygienic banana leaves and stored in sealed plastic bags for a long time is susceptible to bacterial fermentation; a slightly sour smell is a sign of spoilage, and it should not be eaten.

Jams, especially homemade or store-bought ones of unknown origin, are very prone to clumping, becoming watery, and developing black or white mold, particularly when refrigerated and then taken out during humid days.

Starchy foods like rice, vermicelli, and sticky rice cakes, when left at room temperature for a long time and then reheated repeatedly, can create conditions for Bacillus cereus bacteria to grow and produce toxins. While the bacteria can be killed by boiling, the toxins produced are not always completely eliminated by reheating alone.

A small but important detail is the hygiene of utensils. Wooden cutting boards, chopsticks, and ladles are very susceptible to mold in humid weather. If left damp and piled up, black mold can appear on the cutting board surface overnight, causing cross-contamination of food. Therefore, they should be completely dried after washing, perhaps by drying them in a dryer or rinsing them with boiling water, and then left in a well-ventilated place.

Dr. Hoang also advised that, to minimize risks in food preservation during Tet (Lunar New Year), refrigerators should have ample space for cold air circulation and should not be overfilled; cooked food should only be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, not for too long. If food smells sour, is slimy, or changes color, it should be discarded immediately without hesitation.

Sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng) and pork sausage (giò) should be wrapped in small batches, consumed quickly, and stored for extended periods in humid conditions. Don't think "eating one piece won't hurt." For moldy food, the safety principle is to discard it; no type of mold on food is considered safe for health.

Add more vegetables, drink enough water for a light stomach, and sleep well.

According to this health expert, Tet (Vietnamese New Year) wouldn't be complete without banh chung (sticky rice cake), meat jelly, pork sausage, and fried spring rolls. Each dish is delicious, visually appealing, and meaningful, but from a biological perspective, they represent a real "digestive burden." We consume a lot of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, but too few vegetables and water.

During the Tet holiday feast, people should add more dishes made from vegetables and fresh fruits.

For office workers, whose stomachs are naturally smaller and produce fewer digestive enzymes, switching to a diet with double the energy content causes food to remain in the stomach longer, producing gas, bloating, and heartburn. Those with pre-existing gastritis will notice this clearly: after a meal, their stomach feels bloated, they have difficulty sleeping at night, and they wake up with a dry mouth.

Another paradox is the lack of fiber. There are fewer green vegetables, and fruits are being replaced by cakes, jams, and candies during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Meanwhile, fiber is like a "mechanical broom" that cleans the intestines. When there is a lack of fiber, stools become dry, intestinal contractions weaken, and constipation worsens. If this persists, patients easily become tired, uncomfortable, have worse skin, and an increased risk of hemorrhoids.

Therefore, you should add boiled vegetables or vegetable soup to each meal. Eat fresh fruit about 30 minutes after eating, such as grapefruit, oranges, dragon fruit, and pineapple, to stimulate the stomach to secrete enzymes. Drink 1.5-2 liters of water every day. After eating, take a light walk for 10-15 minutes or walk up and down stairs a few times to reduce bloating and support sleep at night.

Most digestive upsets during Tet are just "temporary warning signs". If you experience slight bloating, mild belching, and one or two bowel movements but no fever or dehydration, you can manage it yourself by eating soft foods like thin porridge, soft rice, ripe bananas, or steamed apples; drinking warm water, resting, and avoiding coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol.

A cup of ginger tea or chamomile tea will soothe your stomach, reduce bloating, and help you sleep better. Gently massage your abdomen in a circular, clockwise motion, especially after dinner. Maintain a regular routine – this is how you “reset your bowel rhythm.”

However, if you experience severe cramping pain, abdominal rigidity, vomiting blood, black stools, extreme fatigue, thirst, and decreased urination, this is no longer a minor disorder. Or, if you experience pain that gradually shifts from around the navel to the right lower abdomen, accompanied by a slight fever and nausea, appendicitis should be suspected, and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang - member of the Vietnam Society of Underwater Medicine and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Tet, the Lunar New Year, is a time for family reunions, enjoying traditional dishes, and celebrating togetherness. But that joy will be even more complete when everyone listens to their bodies: proper food preservation, balanced diets, increased consumption of vegetables, sufficient water intake, and gentle exercise. Just a few small changes are enough to prevent overworking the stomach and liver, ensuring a light stomach, restful sleep, and overall well-being during the first days of the new year.

hanoimoi.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dung-de-thuc-pham-ngay-tet-thanh-ganh-nang-cho-gan-ruot-post894029.html