What is the most tempting food on the streets in winter? Yes, it's the bright red Bingtanghulu! One bite, sour and sweet, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful memories of childhood. However, every autumn and winter, the number of patients with gastric stones admitted to the gastroenterology clinic will significantly increase. There are various types of gastric stones under outpatient endoscopy, some of which are very large and need to be broken into small pieces using a lithotripsy device, while others are particularly hard and cannot be broken even with all the "weapons" under endoscopy. There is such a "stubborn" stone in my stomach. What does it have to do with Bingtanghulu? Can you enjoy the delicious Tomatoes on sticks? Don't worry, today, the gastroenterologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital will take you to a detailed understanding. Eating too much hawthorn may not promote digestion. Why is it easy to have stomach stones when eating Bingtanghulu? Hawthorn itself is rich in tannic acid, and eating too much can easily collude with stomach acid, protein in the stomach, etc., forming a big stone. Do you think stomach acid is too strong? It has to 'strike' when it touches these stones. So, this stone got stuck in the stomach, causing you to suspect that not only can it lead to digestive ulcers, perforation, and obstruction, but it can also be life-threatening in severe cases. In addition to hawthorn, there are also foods rich in tannic acid such as persimmons (especially unripe) and black dates. They are common delicacies in autumn and winter seasons, but they can also lead to the formation of stomach stones. The tannic acid in these fruits binds with proteins under the action of stomach acid, forming insoluble tannic acid proteins that gradually deposit and coagulate with substances such as pectin and cellulose, ultimately forming gastric stones, which are usually plant-based gastric stones. So, the view that eating hawthorn promotes digestion is not entirely correct. Eating a large amount of hawthorn on an empty stomach or under the influence of alcohol may promote the formation of gastric stones, while also causing severe symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and severe gastric ulcers. Eating Tomatoes on sticks with cola sounds scary. Can we eat Bingtanghulu happily? Of course it can be eaten, just a different way of eating, you can leisurely eat some, or "use magic to defeat magic" and fight against stomach stones with cola. Drinking cola is a safe and effective drug therapy for mild to moderate patients with plant-based gastric stones. The characteristics of cola are: low pH value, sodium bicarbonate that dissolves mucus, and a large amount of CO2 bubbles that can promote the dissolution of gastric stones. Coca Cola can break down the aggregation structure of plant-based gastric stones, making them soft and even breaking down into small pieces that can be excreted through the digestive tract. A systematic study found that in half of the cases, Coca Cola alone can effectively dissolve gastric stones, and when combined with endoscopic treatment, more than 90% of gastric stone cases can be successfully treated. In clinical practice, many mild patients take more than 200ml of cola orally for 1 to 2 weeks, 2 to 3 times a day, which can effectively melt gastric stones and reduce the need for endoscopic lithotripsy, thereby greatly reducing pain and medical costs. Is drinking cola not enough for "cola therapy"? Not all types of gastric stones are suitable for "cola therapy". For hard or bulky stones, endoscopic or surgical treatment may be necessary. Although cola therapy can turn large stones into small fragments, small fragments may still enter the small intestine and cause obstruction, which can worsen the condition. Long term consumption of cola can also have some side effects, such as metabolic syndrome, dental caries, osteoporosis, and electrolyte imbalances. There is also a risk of acute gastric dilation from excessive consumption of carbonated beverages. In addition, patients who are elderly, weak, have underlying diseases such as gastric ulcers and subtotal gastrectomy should not attempt this method on their own to avoid making things worse and worsening the condition. So, prevention is the best policy. In summary, the key to preventing gastric stones lies in a balanced diet: consuming high tannic acid foods such as hawthorn, persimmons, and black dates with caution. Patients who are elderly, weak, have digestive diseases such as peptic ulcers, reflux esophagitis, achalasia, have a history of gastrointestinal surgery, and have low gastric motility are not recommended to eat it. Adhere to the principle of moderation. If you really want to eat, be careful not to eat too much at once. Drink some carbonated drinks, such as cola, in moderation before and after eating. Seek medical attention promptly if relevant symptoms appear, and choose appropriate treatment methods under the guidance of professional doctors. (New Society)