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"I said, can't you drink more boiled water?" Li Meiyu, a 38-year-old accountant, is sitting in her elaborately decorated living room, holding a cup of freshly brewed dandelion tea and muttering to herself at the scenery outside the window.
Li Meiyu has not drunk plain water for 8 months. It's not because she has any prejudices about plain water, but because she accidentally read on the Internet that dandelion tea can "detoxify the body, beautify and nourish the skin", and she has been fond of this herbal tea ever since.
Every day after three meals, she would make a big glass, and even the water glass in the office was a golden liquid. You may be thinking, drinking this kind of stuff every day must have a miraculous effect, right?
In fact, the human body needs a certain amount of water to maintain its own vital activities, and ordinary boiled water can accomplish this task well. Although dandelion tea has a lot of origins, is it really suitable as a substitute for water?
Once, Li Meiyu's friend Zhang Jing was having a party at her house, watching her drink dandelion tea cup after cup, and couldn't help asking: "Hongmei, are you going to drink dandelion as water?" Aren't you afraid of physical problems? Li Meiyu replied lightly: "I think it's good, and I don't feel any discomfort anyway." ”
However, during a physical examination 8 months later, Li Meiyu's uric acid level and liver function indicators were abnormal. The doctor told her that it might be related to the fact that she only drank dandelion tea and did not drink plain water for a long time.
What's going on? First of all, we need to understand that despite the diuretic and detoxifying effects of dandelion, long-term consumption of large amounts will increase the burden on the kidneys.
Secondly, dandelion itself contains certain bioactive substances, which may affect the metabolic function of the liver if not consumed in moderation.
Although dandelion tea can be used as part of your water intake, it is best not to exceed a certain amount. And Li Meiyu's drinking amount far exceeds this ratio.
In fact, excessive consumption of dandelion tea may also lead to insufficient intake of certain nutrients. Since dandelion tea has a certain diuretic effect, it will increase the amount of urine excreted, which may lead to the loss of water-soluble vitamins and minerals in the body, and in the long run, may trigger related nutritional deficiencies.
When Li Meiyu heard the doctor's explanation, she began to realize that she might really be a little "overdone". She asked the doctor, "So what should I do now?" ”
The doctor advises: "From now on, you can gradually reduce the intake of dandelion tea and increase the intake of ordinary plain water. At the same time, we can do some nutritional supplements, such as increasing the intake of foods containing B vitamins and minerals, to help you restore normal metabolic levels and nutritional status. ”
Li Meiyu Under the advice of the doctor, Li Meiyu not only reduced the intake of dandelion tea, but more importantly, increased the proportion of ordinary boiled water. However, lifestyle changes don't happen overnight, and there are temptations and challenges involved.
In order to make this transition more effectively, Li Meiyu began to delve into the specific effects of dandelion tea. Through reading extensive research literature and communicating with dietitians, she learned that although dandelion has certain health benefits, such as aiding digestion and diuresis, if ingested in large amounts over a long period of time, it may interfere with normal electrolyte balance, especially the ratio of potassium to sodium.
Long-term consumption of dandelion tea in large quantities may lead to excessive intake of potassium and insufficient intake of sodium in the body, resulting in electrolyte imbalances, which are a burden on both the heart and kidneys.
Electrolyte imbalances can not only cause symptoms such as muscle cramps and irregular heartbeats, but also unknowingly affect the health of the cardiovascular system. Such changes are slow and insidious, unlike the symptoms that can be felt immediately like a cold.
So, Li Meiyu began to try to record her water and tea consumption every day. At the same time, she also began to eat more sodium-rich healthy foods, such as kelp and celery, to adjust the potassium and sodium balance in her body.
A few months later, Li Meiyu had another physical examination, and the results showed that her uric acid level and liver function indicators had improved significantly. Doctors praised her efforts.
What do you think about a 38-year-old woman who only drinks dandelion tea and not boiled water? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!