检索问题
能吃冰凉的食物么？中医是不推荐。但是有人群研究证明它的危害或者好处么？
针对您的疑问，直接给您一个明确的结论：健康人群是可以吃冰凉食物的。从现代大规模人群研究来看，并没有确凿的证据表明吃中医所说的“寒凉”食物会直接危害健康或缩短寿命；但对于本身就有胃部疾病或者饮用特定类型冰饮（如冰镇咖啡因饮料）的人群，确实可能会增加胃肠道不适的风险。同时，现代食品科学不仅没有全盘否定冰凉食物，反而正在努力把冰淇淋等冷饮改造成对人体有益的健康食品。
为了让您彻底明白这个问题，我们可以从大规模人群的追踪调查、特定饮料的影响、中医“不能吃凉”的现代医学解释，以及冰凉食物的健康新发展这四个方面来详细聊聊。
一、 大规模人群调查：吃“寒凉食物”真的会影响寿命吗？
很多人担心吃凉的东西会“伤身”，甚至影响寿命。为了弄清楚这个问题，日本的科学家进行了一项非常严谨的大规模人群追踪研究（高山研究）。
研究是怎么做的？ 科学家们在1992年调查了日本高山市的28356名居民，这些人的平均年龄在54岁左右。研究人员利用中医理论中对食物“寒、热、温、凉”的分类方法（参考了四种不同的中医分类标准），详细记录了这些居民日常饮食中“寒凉食物”和“温热食物”的摄入比例。随后，科学家们对这些人进行了长达16年的持续观察跟进，期间记录了5339人的死亡情况。
研究得出了什么结论？ 科学家们重点分析了食物的寒热属性与全因死亡风险（全因死亡风险是一个医学统计术语，简单来说就是指在一定时期内，不管是因为生病、意外还是衰老等任何原因导致的死亡概率）之间的关系。结果发现，无论采用哪种中医食物分类标准，都没有发现清晰且一致的证据能够证明，吃“寒凉食物”或者“温热食物”会直接增加或降低日本居民的全因死亡风险。
也就是说，从长远来看，对于一般大众而言，日常饮食中吃寒凉食物并不会像传说中那样直接导致寿命缩短或者带来普遍的致命危害。普通人完全可以根据自己的身体感受和喜好，适度享用冰凉的食物。
二、 哪些“冰凉食物”确实有危害？（特定饮品与胃肠道反应）
虽然普通的冰凉食物对健康人没有大碍，但如果您吃的“冰凉食物”是含有大量咖啡因的冰镇饮料（比如冰镇能量饮料、冰可乐、冰咖啡等），那就另当别论了。
约旦的一项针对400名成年人（18至65岁）的横断面调查研究（一种在特定时间点上对人群进行调查的方法）显示，这类饮品确实会给胃肠道带来不小的麻烦。
研究发现，频繁摄入含咖啡因的饮料（如咖啡、茶、软饮料和能量饮料）与自我报告的多种胃肠道不适症状密切相关。我们可以看看这些惊人的数字对比：
- 胃部烧灼痛：喝这类饮料的人，出现胃部烧灼痛的几率是不喝的人的14.1倍左右（在统计学上称为优势比或OR值为14.104）。
- 胃部饱胀感和腹胀：喝这类饮料的人，感觉胃部发胀、一直有饱腹感的风险也是不喝的人的8.3倍左右（OR值为8.304）。
此外，在欧洲的一项针对能量饮料（通常含有高水平的咖啡因和糖分，且常被冷藏饮用）的系统性回顾研究中也指出，长期或大量饮用这类饮料，尤其是青少年群体，容易引发心血管系统、胃肠道系统的健康紊乱。在澳大利亚的毒物信息中心数据中也记录到，过度饮用能量饮料会导致心悸、震颤以及胃肠道不适等中毒症状，甚至有128人因此严重到需要住院治疗。
因此，当我们在讨论“冰凉食物是否有害”时，必须区分食物的成分。单纯的一杯冰水或一块冰西瓜对健康人可能毫无影响，但一杯冰镇的高糖、高咖啡因饮料，确实会对胃黏膜产生强烈的刺激，引发疼痛和腹胀。
三、 中医为什么不推荐吃凉？（现代医学视角的解读）
既然大规模研究没有发现吃凉的绝对危害，那中医常说的“少吃生冷”、“脾胃虚寒”到底有没有科学依据呢？其实，中医的智慧在于它非常强调“因人而异”，它所警告的其实是那些胃肠道功能已经出现问题的人群。
在中医理论中，有一个非常常见的概念叫做“脾胃虚寒证”。这是一种用来形容人体消化系统功能低下、对寒冷刺激极其敏感的身体状态，这类患者往往表现为稍微吃点凉的，就会胃痛、肚子胀、打嗝反酸、甚至拉肚子。
现代医学研究发现，中医所说的这种“脾胃虚寒”，往往对应着现代医学里的以下几种疾病：
- 慢性萎缩性胃炎（CAG）：这是一种常见的胃部疾病，指的是胃黏膜变薄，胃酸分泌腺体萎缩减少。研究表明，针对患有慢性萎缩性胃炎且伴有脾胃虚寒症状的患者，使用温胃舒（一种具有温中散寒功效的中药）可以有效减轻胃部炎症，减少胃黏膜细胞的异常死亡（细胞凋亡）。同时，使用“温针灸”（一种在针灸针上点燃艾柱，利用热力温暖穴位的治疗方法）刺激胃部穴位，也能显著改善这类患者的胃肠道不适。
- 功能性消化不良（FD）：这指的是胃肠道器官本身没有长肿瘤或出现溃疡，但患者就是经常感觉胃痛、早饱、消化不良。一项在香港和湖南进行的调查发现，在功能性消化不良患者中，“脾胃虚寒”是一种非常常见的疾病分型，并且经常与“脾胃气虚”（消化无力）同时存在。针对这类大鼠模型的研究也发现，使用干姜和大枣提取物（中医里常用的温热药材）可以有效缓解大鼠的消化不良症状，并改善肠道里有益细菌和有害细菌的平衡。
这就解释了为什么中医不推荐吃冰凉食物：因为对于这些胃黏膜已经萎缩受损、或者肠道菌群失调、消化功能本来就很弱的人（即脾胃虚寒人群）来说，冰凉食物的低温刺激会导致胃部血管剧烈收缩，胃壁肌肉痉挛，从而瞬间引发胃痛和消化停滞。中医的建议是针对这部分“敏感人群”的一种极佳的自我保护措施。但如果您是一个胃肠道黏膜健康、消化功能旺盛的普通人，完全不需要照搬这种针对病人的忌口。
四、 冰凉食物的健康新篇章：不仅仅是好吃
如果您不仅是个健康人，而且还是冰凉食物（尤其是冰淇淋）的狂热爱好者，那么现代食品科学为您带来了一个非常好的消息：科学家们正在努力把冰淇淋变成一种具有改善健康作用的“功能性食品”。
传统的冰淇淋因为脂肪和糖分太高，确实容易让人发胖。但是，现在的食品工业正在进行“健康化改造”：
- 补充有益成分（益生菌与益生元）：益生菌是指那些吃进肚子里能帮助我们改善肠道环境、促进消化的活的“好细菌”；而益生元则是这些好细菌爱吃的“食物”（通常是膳食纤维），能帮助它们在肠道里更好地存活和繁殖。科学家们发现，冰淇淋不仅可以作为美味的零食，它本身由于冷冻的环境，还可以成为携带益生菌和益生元的绝佳载体。未来，您吃冰淇淋可能就像喝酸奶一样，能帮助调节肠道健康。
- 替代不健康的脂肪和糖：研究人员正在寻找脂肪替代品、新型甜味剂以及无乳制品配方来降低冰淇淋的热量。比如，利用地中海地区一种叫“角豆”（Carob）的植物提取物，它富含纤维、维生素和多酚（一种抗氧化物质），被用来代替冰淇淋中的可可或巧克力，不仅降低了热量，还被证明对控制人体血糖代谢和改善肠道微生物组有潜在的好处。再比如，巴西的一种本土水果“瓜比茹”（guabiju），它的果皮富含花青素（一种能抗氧化的天然色素），也可以被加工成冰淇淋，不仅热量低，还具有抗菌和保护胃黏膜的作用。
甚至，冰水还能用来治病： 在现代康复医学中，冰凉不仅不伤人，还能用来刺激神经恢复。对于那些因为中风（脑血管堵塞或破裂）而导致大脑神经受损，进而无法正常控制排便的患者（这在医学上叫做神经源性肠道功能障碍，NBD），医生会使用一种叫做“直肠球囊冰水刺激”的疗法。研究证实，用冰水通过球囊刺激直肠，可以显著改善中风患者的肠道排便功能，并减轻他们的焦虑和抑郁情绪，而且像头晕、腹痛等不良反应的发生率也非常低。这足以证明，温度的“冷”在医学上也是一把双刃剑，用对了地方，其实是非常好的治疗手段。
总结建议
综合以上所有的科学证据，我们对您的日常饮食给出以下建议：
- 听从身体的声音：如果您吃完冰西瓜、喝完冰水后，肠胃感觉很舒服，没有任何痛感或胀气，那么说明您的消化系统非常健康。从日本两万多人的追踪研究来看，您完全可以放心食用，它不会影响您的寿命。
- 如果您有胃病，请遵循中医建议：如果您平时容易反酸、打嗝、稍微受凉就肚子痛、拉肚子（即中医所说的脾胃虚寒、或者患有慢性萎缩性胃炎、功能性消化不良），那么请尽量远离冰凉食物，多吃温热易消化的食物，避免冷刺激加重病情。
- 警惕“成分”而不是“温度”：当您在选择冷饮时，更应该关注它里面装的是什么。尽量少喝冰镇的能量饮料、高糖汽水或浓咖啡，因为高咖啡因和高糖分才是引发胃肠道严重不适的真正元凶。如果馋了，不妨选择那些低糖、含有益生菌的功能性冰淇淋。
References
1Hot-cold foods in diet and all-cause mortality in a Japanese community: the Takayama study.PubMed
Chisato Nagata, Keiko Wada, Takashi Tamura, et al.
Ann Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(3):194-199.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.01.005. Epub 2017 Jan 25.
PURPOSE: In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, foods are grouped as cold or hot, and the balance of hot and cold food intake is considered vital to good health. We aimed to examine prospectively whether hot-cold food intake as well as ratio of hot-to-cold foods is associated with all-cause mortality in a general population. METHODS: A total of 28,356 residents of Takayama City, Japan (response rate: 85.3%, mean age: 54.6 [SD, 12.6] years, male: 45.9%), responded to a food frequency questionnaire in 1992. This questionnaire was used to assess intakes of hot, cold, and neutral foods. Four different lists by Lu, Nishimura, Kuwaki, and Dobashi were used to classify foods as hot, cold, or neutral. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 16 years (loss to follow-up: 6.1%), 5339 deaths were identified. In men, hot food intake was significantly positively associated with the risk of all-cause mortality according to Nishimura's classification and significantly inversely associated with the risk according to Lu's and Dobashi's classifications. In women, hot food intake was inversely associated with the risk only according to Dobashi's classification. CONCLUSIONS: We found no clear and consistent evidence that hot-cold food intake is associated with all-cause mortality in Japanese.
2Prevalence and characterisation of energy drink consumption in Europe: a systematic review.PubMed
Ana Teijeiro, Nerea Mourino, Guadalupe García, et al.
Public Health Nutr. 2025 Jun 3;28(1):e119. doi: 10.1017/S1368980025100463.
OBJECTIVE: Energy drinks (ED) can cause cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and other health disorders. These effects are particularly pronounced in youth. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the consumption of ED in European countries. DESIGN: A systematic bibliographic search was performed in November 2024 in EMBASE, MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus and Cochrane databases with no restrictions on country, study period, study design and language. SETTING: ED are beverages high in caffeine, sugar and other stimulants. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2008 studies were identified and reviewed by four researchers. Ninety-four met the inclusion criteria and were extracted in a table designed ad hoc. RESULTS: The included studies showed differences regarding their design, definition of consumption and time frame under study. The most studied frequency of ED consumption was weekly consumption, and the most studied population was school students. An increase in the prevalence of consumption was observed when tracking ED consumption over time. Variables most related to consumption were low socio-economic status, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity, age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to have a clear picture of the extent of ED consumption in Europe, mainly due to differences in the design of the studies and the lack of periodicity of the estimates in different countries. However, given the health problems that have been associated with ED consumption, regulation of these beverages is essential, especially in youth.
3Network pharmacology-based exploration of the mechanism of Wenweishu granule in treating chronic atrophic gastritis with spleen-stomach cold deficiency syndrome.PubMed
Jia Zheng, Zhiyong Jiao, Xinyu Yang, et al.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Apr 9;345:119591. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119591. Epub 2025 Mar 5.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wenweishu (WWS) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound formulated for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) treatment by warming the stomach and alleviating pain. However, its pharmacological mechanisms remain underexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of WWS on CAG with spleen-stomach cold deficiency syndrome (SSCDS). METHODS: To achieve this, an SSCDS-CAG rat model and a human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) cell model were established using multi-factor modeling and N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induction, respectively. WWS's effects on gastric injury were evaluated through pathology, inflammation, serum biomarkers, and apoptosis. Additionally, MNNG's effects on GES-1 cells were analyzed. Network pharmacology, involving protein-protein interaction networks, GO/KEGG enrichment, and molecular docking, was employed to predict WWS's potential targets and mechanisms in SSCDS-CAG. Mechanistic insights were further validated using immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. RESULTS: In vivo results showed that WWS alleviated symptoms in SSCDS-CAG rats, lowering symptom scores and improving gastric histopathology. It modulated serum biomarkers and reduced inflammation and apoptosis in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Network pharmacology results revealed 263 overlapping targets between WWS and SSCDS-CAG, associated with apoptosis, inflammation, and the PI3K/AKT pathway. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinity between the core target and active WWS components. In SSCDS-CAG rats and GES-1 cells, WWS inhibited PI3K/AKT phosphorylation, increased PTEN expression, and regulated Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 levels. CONCLUSION: WWS reduces inflammation and apoptosis in multi-factor CAG rats and MNNG-induced GES-1 cells by modulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and apoptosis-related proteins.
4Functional ice cream health benefits and sensory implications.PubMed
Alessandro Genovese, Andrea Balivo, Antonio Salvati, et al.
Food Res Int. 2022 Nov;161:111858. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111858. Epub 2022 Aug 27.
The increased interest in foods which improve human health and nutrition has led to the need for academia and food industry to invest in the development of innovative and functional ice cream. Since ice cream is the most popular frozen dairy product, it shows good potential to help people improve their diets by reducing the intake of certain nutrients associated with the increased risk of obesity and other related diseases. Moreover, it supplies beneficial and essential components. However, the reduction or removal of common ice cream ingredients or the addition of uncommon ingredients to the standard formulation must not spoil the sensory characteristics and storage stability of ice cream. Hence, to keep the appeal of ice cream high, the food industry is subjected to constant challenges, since functional ice cream must be tasty as well as beneficial. The review focuses on the healthy aspects and sensory implications of ice cream functionalization. In the first part, different replacing strategies such as the substitution of fat and sugar are discussed. In the second part, ice cream enriched with functional ingredients is debated.
5Energy drinks: health risks and toxicity.PubMed
Naren Gunja, Jared A Brown
Med J Aust. 2012 Jan 16;196(1):46-9. doi: 10.5694/mja11.10838.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology and toxicity of caffeinated energy drink exposures in Australia. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Retrospective observational study analysing data from calls regarding energy drink exposures recorded in the database of an Australian poisons information centre over 7 years to 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of exposure; co-ingestants; symptoms reported; and reported hospitalisations. RESULTS: Callers reported 297 exposures to energy drinks, which showed an increasing annual trend from 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010. Median age for the 217 subjects with recreational exposure was 17 years (interquartile ratio [IQR], 15-21; range, 11-60) and 57% were male. One hundred recreational users co-ingested other substances, predominantly alcohol (50) or other caffeinated products (44). The number of energy drinks consumed in one session varied greatly (median, 5 units; IQR, 3-8; range, 1-80). Most subjects who reported recreational use reported experiencing symptoms (87%). The most common symptoms were palpitations, agitation, tremor and gastrointestinal upset. Twenty-one subjects had signs of serious cardiac or neurological toxicity, including hallucinations, seizures, arrhythmias or cardiac ischaemia. At least 128 subjects (57 with no co-ingestants) required hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: Reports of caffeine toxicity from energy drink consumption are increasing, particularly among adolescents, warranting review and regulation of the labelling and sale of these drinks. Educating adolescents and increasing the community's awareness of the hazards from energy drinks is of paramount importance.
6Effects of TCM external scalding therapy on spleen-stomach deficiency cold stomachache and inflammatory indexes.PubMed
Yunyi Ye, Lingling Xu, Yingyue Sheng
Am J Transl Res. 2024 May 15;16(5):1769-1778. doi: 10.62347/MDQV6936. eCollection 2024.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external scalding therapy on spleen-stomach deficiency cold stomachache. METHODS: The medical records of 98 patients with spleen-stomach deficiency cold stomachache treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from January 2019 to January 2020 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 52 patients treated with western medicine were assigned to the control group, while the other 46 patients treated additionally with TCM external scalding therapy were assigned to the observation group. The two groups were compared in terms of serum gastrin (GAS), inflammatory factors and visual analogue scale (VAS) score, adverse reaction rate and symptom remission time. RESULTS: After treatment, the observation group showed a significantly lower GAS level than the control group (P<0.05), along with significantly lower serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than the control group (all P<0.05). The observation group demonstrated significantly lower VAS score than the control group (P<0.05). The observation group experienced notably shorter remission time of dull epigastric pain, epigastric distension, fatigue and belching and acid reflux than the control group (all P<0.05), and a significantly lower incidence of adverse reactions was found in the observation group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that history of alcoholism and treatment method were independent risk factors affecting patient outcomes (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TCM external scalding therapy has shown effectiveness in treating spleen-stomach deficiency cold stomachache. It alleviates stomachache symptoms and also reduces the occurrence of adverse reactions and inflammation, holding great potential for widespread adoption in clinical practice.
7Co-Encapsulated Synbiotics and Immobilized Probiotics in Human Health and Gut Microbiota Modulation.PubMed
Monika Kvakova, Izabela Bertkova, Jana Stofilova, et al.
Foods. 2021 Jun 4;10(6):1297. doi: 10.3390/foods10061297.
Growing interest in the development of innovative functional products as ideal carriers for synbiotics, e.g., nutrient bars, yogurt, chocolate, juice, ice cream, and cheese, to ensure the daily intake of probiotics and prebiotics, which are needed to maintain a healthy gut microbiota and overall well-being, is undeniable and inevitable. This review focuses on the modern approaches that are currently being developed to modulate the gut microbiota, with an emphasis on the health benefits mediated by co-encapsulated synbiotics and immobilized probiotics. The impact of processing, storage, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions on the viability and bioactivity of probiotics together with prebiotics such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytochemicals, and dietary fibers using various delivery systems are considered. Despite the proven biological properties of synbiotics, research in this area needs to be focused on the proper selection of probiotic strains, their prebiotic counterparts, and delivery systems to avoid suppression of their synergistic or complementary effect on human health. Future directions should lead to the development of functional food products containing stable synbiotics tailored for different age groups or specifically designed to fulfill the needs of adjuvant therapy.
8Self-Reported Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated with NSAIDs and Caffeine Consumption in a Jordanian Subpopulation.PubMed
Sofian Al Shboul, Omar Maloul, Hamza Al-Trad, et al.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Sep 18;60(9):1519. doi: 10.3390/medicina60091519.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and caffeine-containing beverages are widely consumed but their impact on gastrointestinal (GI) health requires further investigation. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between NSAIDs use, caffeinated drink consumption, and the prevalence of self-reported GI symptoms in a Jordanian subpopulation. An online survey was administered to 400 Jordanian individuals aged 18-65 years. Data on sociodemographics, NSAIDs use, caffeine consumption, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) history, and GI symptoms were collected. Contingency tables were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between exposures and outcomes. The prevalence of self-reported PUD-related GI symptoms was 6.0%. NSAID users had higher odds of PUD (OR = 2.431) and related GI symptoms, including abdominal pain (OR = 4.688, < 0.001) and discomfort (OR = 8.068, < 0.001). Caffeine consumption was associated with self-reported burning stomach pain (OR = 14.104, < 0.001), fullness (OR = 8.304, = 0.010), and bloating (OR = 8.304, = 0.010). Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks were associated with increased odds of various GI symptoms (ORs 2.018-12.715, < 0.05). NSAIDs use and caffeine consumption were independently associated with the increased prevalence of self-reported PUD and related GI symptoms. Despite the lack of adjustment for necessary confounders, our findings highlight the importance of considering the potential GI effects of NSAIDs and caffeine. Public health strategies promoting their safe use may help reduce the burden of GI disorders.
9Syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine and E-cadherin/ICAM-1 gene protein expression in gastric carcinoma.PubMed
Da-Zhi Sun, Ling Xu, Pin-Kang Wei, et al.
World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Aug 28;13(32):4321-7. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i32.4321.
AIM: To explore the syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and gene protein expression in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Preoperative data of gastric cancer cases were collected from the General Surgery Department and classified according to the criteria for syndrome differentiation in TCM. E-cadherin (E-cad) and ICAM-1 gene protein expressions were detected in postoperative specimens from these cases by the immunohistochemical EnVision two-step method. RESULTS: The E-cad positive expression rate was 90% in 100 cases of gastric carcinoma. The difference in E-cad expression was significant between the different syndrome differentiation types in TCM (P < 0.01). Further group-group comparison showed that there was a significant difference in E-cad expression between the stagnation of phlegm-damp type and the deficiency in both qi and blood and the deficiency-cold of stomach and spleen types, where E-cad expression was high. There was no significant difference between the internal obstruction of stagnant toxin type and the in-coordination between liver and stomach type, where E-cad expression was relatively low. The ICAM-1 positive expression rate was 58%, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (c2 = 8.999, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: E-cad expression is relatively low in the internal obstruction of stagnant toxin type and the in-coordination between liver and stomach type, where tumor development and metastasis may be associated with low E-cad expression, or with low homogeneous adhesiveness between tumor cells.
10Effects of Carob Extract on the Intestinal Microbiome and Glucose Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PubMed
C Micheletti, M C Medori, G Bonetti, et al.
Clin Ter. 2023 Nov-Dec;174(Suppl 2(6)):169-172. doi: 10.7417/CT.2023.2484.
The legume tree known as carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is indigenous to the Mediterranean area and over the centuries its pods had been traditionally used mostly as animal feed. However, it has gained great attention in human nutrition due to the molecular compounds it contains, which could offer many potential health benefits: for example, carob is renowned for its high content of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Moreover, in traditional medicine it is credited with the ability to control glucose metabolism and gut microbiome. Modern science has also extensively acknowledged the numerous health advantages deriving from its consumption, including its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Due to its abundant contents of pectin, gums, and polyphenols (such as pinitol), carob has garnered significant attention as a well-researched plant with remarkable therapeutic properties. Notably, carob is extensively used in the production of semi-finished pastry products, particularly in ice cream and other creams (especially as a substitute for cocoa/chocolate): these applications indeed facilitate the exploration of its positive effects on glucose metabolism. Our study aimed at examining the effects of carob extract on intestinal microbiota and glucose metabolism. In this review, we conducted a thorough examination, comprising in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials to appraise the consequences on human health of polyphenols and pectin from different carob species, including recently discovered ones with high polyphenol contents. Our goal was to learn more about the mechanisms through which carob extract can support a balanced gut flora and improve one's glucose metabolism. These results could influence the creation of novel functional foods and dietary supplements, to help with the management and prevention of chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity.
11Application of rectal balloon ice water stimulation for the rehabilitation of stroke patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction.PubMed
Di Zhang, Hong Tang, Ting Li, et al.
NeuroRehabilitation. 2023;53(1):83-90. doi: 10.3233/NRE-230026.
BACKGROUND: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is a common complication in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rectal balloon ice water stimulation on the rehabilitation of patients with NBD after a cerebral stroke. METHODS: Forty stroke patients with NBD were selected between March and August 2022 and randomly divided into a study group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Based on routine rehabilitation training, rectal balloon ice water stimulation or finger rectal stimulation were performed on the study or control group, respectively. After two weeks, the changes in the NBD, self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in age, sex ratio, and NBD, SDS and SAS scores between the two groups (p > 0.05). The NBD, SDS and SAS scores of both groups were significantly decreased following intervention (p < 0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, the NBD score of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (5.50±1.28 vs 6.45±1.05; p = 0.014). The SDS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (32.30±2.81 vs 44.05±2.19; p = 0.014). The study group also had significantly lower SAS scores than the control group (p = 0.024). In addition, the incidence of dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and distension in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rectal balloon ice water stimulation can significantly improve stroke patients with NBD's intestinal function and psychological status.
12[Warm acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis with spleen-stomach deficiency cold].PubMed
Lijun Wang, Guangqi Li
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2017 Feb 12;37(2):135-138. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.02.007.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of warm acupuncture at Zhongwan(CV 12) for chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG) with spleen-stomach deficiency cold by the comparison with conventional acupuncture. METHODS: Sixty-two patients were randomly assigned into a warm acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group,31 cases in each one. The acupoints in the two groups were Zhongwan(CV 12),Zusanli(ST 36),Neiguan(PC 6),Gongsun(SP 4),Qihai(CV 6),Pishu(BL 20) and Weishu(BL 21). Warm acupuncture was intervened at Zhongwan(CV 12) in the warm acupuncture group. Twirling reinforcing was applied at Zhongwan(CV 12) in the conventional acupuncture group. All the treatment was given for 3 courses continuously,5 days as one course,once a day. TCM syndrome score and symptom rating scale were observed before and after treatment in the two groups,and the effects were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.5%(29/31) in the warm acupuncture group,which was better than 87.0%(27/31) in the conventional acupuncture group(<0.05). The TCM syndrome score and symptom rating score were improved in the two groups after treatment(<0.01, <0.05),with more apparent improvement in the warm acupuncture group(<0.01,<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Warm acupuncture at Zhongwan(CV 12) can improve gastrointestinal discomfort,which is better than twirling reinforcing at Zhongwan(CV 12) for CAG with spleen-stomach deficiency cold.
13Dairy foods and positive impact on the consumer's health.PubMed
Silvani Verruck, Celso Fasura Balthazar, Ramon Silva Rocha, et al.
Adv Food Nutr Res. 2019;89:95-164. doi: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.03.002. Epub 2019 Apr 17.
The objective of the present chapter was to demonstrate the state of the art in the recent advances in nutritional and functional components of dairy products research. In this chapter, the main mechanisms responsible and essential for a better understanding of nutritional and functional values of the components of milk and dairy products are highlighted. It also includes a discussion about the positive impacts of fermented milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and dairy desserts components on the consumer's health.
14Symptom clustering in chronic gastritis based on spectral clustering.PubMed
Wenhua Zhu, Zhaoxiang Fan, Guoping Liu, et al.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2014 Aug;34(4):504-10. doi: 10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30054-6.
OBJECTIVE: Apply spectral clustering to analyze the patterns of symptoms in patients with chronic gastritis (CG). METHODS: Based on 919 CG subjects, we applied mutual information feature selection to choose the positively correlated symptoms with each pattern. Then, we used the Shi and Malik spectral clustering algorithm to select the top 20 correlated symptoms. RESULTS: We ascertained the results of six patterns. There were three categories for the pattern of accumulation of damp heat in the spleen-stomach (0.00332). There were six categories for the pattern of dampness obstructing the spleen-stomach (0.02466). There were two categories for the pattern of spleen-stomach Qi deficiency (0.013 89). There were three categories for the pattern of spleen-stomach deficiency cold (0.009 15). There were five categories for the pattern of liver-Qi stagnation (0.01910). There were four categories for the pattern of stagnant heat in the liver-stomach (0.00585). CONCLUSION: Most of the spectral clustering results of the symptoms of CG patterns were in accordance with clinical experience and Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Most categories suggested the nature and/or location of the disease.
15Probiotics and prebiotics in non-bovine milk.PubMed
D M D Rasika, M A D D Munasinghe, J K Vidanarachchi, et al.
Adv Food Nutr Res. 2020;94:339-384. doi: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2020.06.008. Epub 2020 Jul 21.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate numbers, confer health benefit/s on the host, while prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that are selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the distal parts of the host digestive tract conferring health benefits. Dairy products manufactured mainly using bovine milk is the major vehicle in delivering probiotics to humans. At present, there is an increasing demand for non-bovine probiotic milk products. Both bovine and non-bovine dairy products contain several ingredients with prebiotic properties such as oligosaccharides that could positively interact with probiotics to alter their functional properties. Furthermore, these bovine and non-bovine products could be fortified with prebiotics from various sources such as inulin and oligofructose in order to provide additional health benefits. In addition, non-bovine milk products are good sources for isolating novel potential probiotics. Non-bovine milk such as goat, sheep, camel and donkey have been used in producing several probiotic products including set-yoghurt, drinking-yoghurt, stirred-yoghurt, ice cream and cheese. Prebiotic inclusions in non-bovine milk at present is mainly associated with goat and sheep milk products. In this context, this chapter focuses on the different types of non-bovine milk products containing probiotics and prebiotics, and product quality and microbiological characteristics with special reference to probiotic viability.
16Syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine: summary of a clinical survey in 767 patients with gastric cancer.PubMed
Da-zhi Sun, Long Liu, Jian-peng Jiao, et al.
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2010 Apr;8(4):332-40. doi: 10.3736/jcim20100406.
OBJECTIVE: The present study is a summary of syndrome types of gastric cancer in order of priority based on clinical practical situations, routine clinical syndrome differentiation and a large-sample clinical survey in 767 patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Based on the six-type classification of gastric cancer in a previous study, a bedside syndrome differentiation diagnosis was made simultaneously by two attending doctors of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM to avoid possible diagnostic bias. A clinical differentiation survey form designed under the direction of epidemiologists was filled out by patients with gastric cancer in multiple centers, and the results were digitally valued and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The symptoms and signs in each syndrome type of gastric cancer were ranked in order of priority as follows: distended pain, stringy pulse, eructation, mood-related pain, susceptibility to anger, acid regurgitation, hiccup, fullness sensation or distension after eating just a little, dizziness, thin pulse, abdominal enlargement, obstruction sensation after eating, moving pain, and uneven pulse in disharmony between liver and stomach; dark red tongue with little fur or a smooth surface, burning pain, rapid pulse, associated burning heat in anus, dry mouth, fissured tongue, thin pulse, tidal fever in the afternoon, nausea and vomiting, and night sweating in impairment of yin due to stomach heat; slender tongue fur, obstruction after eating, slow pulse, moderate pulse, rapid and irregular pulse, normal mood, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cold extremities, lower-extremity edema, cold intolerance, pale complexion, dizziness, emaciation, hiccup, silence, nausea, uneven pulse, acid regurgitation, fullness sensation or distension after eating just a little, vomiting, and constipation in deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach; uneven pulse, stabbing pain, tortuous sublingual vein, blue or purplish tongue, fixed pain, tarry stool or dark red stool, vomiting of dark red fluid, pale complexion, dry mouth without desire to drink, stringy pulse, white tongue fur, nausea, thin tongue fur, colic pain, hiccup, dizziness, acid regurgitation, bitter taste in mouth, slow pulse, rapid and irregular pulse, thin pulse, and pain relief by pressing in interior retention of toxin stagnation; slippery pulse, greasy and thick tongue fur, dry mouth without desire to drink, vomiting of bilious fluid, nausea, bitter taste in mouth, fullness sensation or distension after eating just a little, colic pain, and hiccup in stagnation of phlegm-dampness; abdominal pain relief by pressing, map-like tongue, thin pulse, weakness, yellowish complexion, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, fissured tongue, epigastric discomfort, night sweating, emaciation, cold intolerance, constipation, nausea, and dry tongue in deficiency of both qi and blood. CONCLUSION: The summarized syndrome types of gastric cancer from this study are consistent with the clinical situations and would prove to be more referential for TCM syndrome differentiation diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.
17Fruits, seeds and leaves of guabijuzeiro ( (O. Berg) D. Legrand): characteristics, uses and health benefits.PubMed
Chirle de Oliveira Raphaelli, Divanilde Guerra, Elisa Dos Santos Pereira, et al.
J Food Sci Technol. 2024 Jun;61(6):1035-1052. doi: 10.1007/s13197-023-05822-z. Epub 2023 Sep 1.
Native fruit trees have potential for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries, which is widely used in folk medicine. Guabiju, known as guabijuzeiro ( (O. Berg) D. Legrand) is a perennial tree that belongs to the family Myrtaceae, occurring in Brazil from São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul, and other countries like Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. This species demonstrates great commercial potential regarding the consumption of its fresh fruit or industrialized. Due to its importance is necessary to develop studies aimed at characterization (phenotypic, propagative, reproductive, chemical and nutritional), uses and applications. However, the available information has never been systematized and in this sense the objective of this review is to compile information about the species to guide further research. Regarding morphology, the guabijuzeiro is a semi-deciduous tree species, with propagation is carried out mainly through seeds and vegetative. Regarding reproductive aspects, there is a lack of studies that assess the mode of reproduction. The fruit can be consumed fresh or processed as ice cream, juice, freeze-dried or dehydrated. It is sweet and slightly acidic, low in calories, high in carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, calcium and potassium. Both the fruit, the seed and the leaves have high levels of bioactive compounds and high antioxidant capacity. The fruit pulp stands out for its carotenoids and phenolic compounds and the peel is rich in anthocyanins, especially in the mature phase, in addition to terpenoids. has antimicrobial effects, gastroprotective activity and is promising in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases and against the side effects of cisplatin, an anticancer agent. Finally, there is a need for further studies with this species, mainly in the characterization of the leaves, uses and applications of the fruit.
18Quantification of prevalence, clinical characteristics, co-existence, and geographic variations of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic patterns via latent tree analysis-based differentiation rules among functional dyspepsia patients.PubMed
Leonard Ho, Yulong Xu, Nevin L Zhang, et al.
Chin Med. 2022 Aug 30;17(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13020-022-00656-x.
BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment strategies are guided by pattern differentiation, as documented in the eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). However, no standards for pattern differentiation are proposed to ensure inter-rater agreement. Without standardisation, research on associations between TCM diagnostic patterns, clinical features, and geographical characteristics is also not feasible. This diagnostic cross-sectional study aimed to (i) establish the pattern differentiation rules of functional dyspepsia (FD) using latent tree analysis (LTA); (ii) compare the prevalence of diagnostic patterns in Hong Kong and Hunan; (iii) discover the co-existence of diagnostic patterns; and (iv) reveal the associations between diagnostic patterns and FD common comorbidities. METHODS: A total of 250 and 150 participants with FD consecutively sampled in Hong Kong and Hunan, respectively, completed a questionnaire on TCM clinical features. LTA was performed to reveal TCM diagnostic patterns of FD and derive relevant pattern differentiation rules. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to quantify correlations between different diagnostic patterns and between diagnostic patterns and clinical and geographical variables. RESULTS: At least one TCM diagnostic pattern was differentiated in 70.7%, 73.6%, and 64.0% of the participants in the overall (n = 400), Hong Kong (n = 250), and Hunan (n = 150) samples, respectively, using the eight pattern differentiation rules derived. 52.7% to 59.6% of the participants were diagnosed with two or more diagnostic patterns. Cold-heat complex (59.8%) and spleen-stomach dampness-heat (77.1%) were the most prevalent diagnostic patterns in Hong Kong and Hunan, respectively. Spleen-stomach deficiency cold was highly likely to co-exist with spleen-stomach qi deficiency (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 53.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 21.77 to 130.16). Participants with severe anxiety tended to have liver qi invading the stomach (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Future updates of the ICD, textbooks, and guidelines should emphasise the importance of clinical and geographical variations in TCM diagnosis. Location-specific pattern differentiation rules should be derived from local data using LTA. In future, patients' pattern differentiation results, local prevalence of TCM diagnostic patterns, and corresponding TCM treatment choices should be accessible to practitioners on online clinical decision support systems to streamline service delivery.
19Formulation strategies, texture improvement, and sensory perception of healthy ice cream: A review.PubMed
Wenjie Chang, Kangyu Li, Xinru Qi, et al.
Food Chem. 2025 Jul 30;481:144015. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144015. Epub 2025 Mar 24.
The growing awareness of health issues and the increasing demand for specialized diets have driven consumer demand for healthier ice cream products. The high fat and sugar contents of traditional ice cream have raised health concerns, prompting researchers to seek alternative formulations that address the demand for low-fat, low-sugar, dairy-free, and functional creams. This review examines the latest innovations in healthier ice cream formulations, with a focus on the use of fat replacers, sweeteners, dairy-free ingredients, and functional components. This review also discusses how optimizing fat partial coalescence and controlling ice crystal recrystallization can help overcome texture deficiencies in the healthification process of ice cream. Furthermore, this review highlights the application of oral tribology techniques, such as the creaminess of ice cream, in analyzing sensory attributes. Future research will continue to focus on balancing health benefits and sensory quality to meet evolving consumer expectations.
20Curative efficacy of extract from Ganjiangdazao recipe on functional dyspepsia in rats.PubMed
Lujiao Gao, Xin Niu, Tingli Niu, et al.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2020 Aug;40(4):654-663. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2020.04.012.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the extract from Ganjiangdazao recipe (EGR) on functional dyspepsia in rats with spleen-stomach deficiency cold pattern (SSDCP) in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and to investigate its pharmacodynamics. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, SSDCP group, low-EGR SSDCP group, high-EGR SSDCP group, probiotics group, EGR group. SSDCP model was induced by gavage with the 0 ?edible vinegar. The symptoms and manifestations were scored by method from the relative literature, the ecological changes in cecal microflora was analyzed by 16SrRNA high-throughput sequencing technology, gastric tissues were treated by immunohistochemistry, the levels of related biochemical components related to the gastrointestinal functions were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetry, gastric juice was measured by pH meter, blood pressure measurement by trapping tail method, surface temperature measured by infrared thermal imaging, and the content of 6-gingerol in the serum was determined by liquid-mass chromatography before and after EGR was given. RESULTS: It was found that EGR could effectively relieve the symptoms and manifestations of the SSDCP rats (P < 0.05); the value of the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Coprobacillus increased, while the value of the relative abundance of Clostridium decreased (P < 0.05) in the cecal microflora in the SSDCP rats after high-EGR administration; It was also found that EGR had no substantial effect on the related biochemical components related to the gastrointestinal functions of in the SSDCP rats; and a certain amount of 6-gingerol was detected in the serum of EGR group. CONCLUSION: The pharmacodynamic site of EGR is the intestinal tract, and the mechanism behind the effect of EGR on SSDCP rats, involves increasing the beneficial bacteria and decreasing the proinflammatory bacteria in the intestinal tract. The blood pharmacodynamics of EGR remains to be further studied in the future.