On 22/12, a post on the "Ngo Anh Dung's Nutrition World" page shared a personal experience from the well-known Taiwan nutritionist. After eating a few pieces of green papaya salad as an appetizer, she felt a burning sensation and intense discomfort in her stomach, accompanied by cold sweats.
"The main culprit was the crunchy green papaya strands, packed with potent 'weapons' against an empty stomach", stated the visiting lecturer from the Department of Nutrition and Health Protection at Taipei Medical University.
The nutritionist identified unripe papaya, kiwi, and pineapple as three fruits highly incompatible with an empty stomach. The reason lies in their high content of protein-digesting enzymes. In cooking, chefs often use these enzymes to tenderize meat by breaking down strong protein bonds. However, this property becomes a double-edged sword for the digestive system.
When the stomach is empty, these enzymes have no food to process, so they directly attack the mucoprotein layer protecting the stomach wall. This process causes cramping and a burning sensation in the epigastric region, similar to the feeling of stomach erosion. Individuals with thin stomach lining or poor digestive function will experience the pain most acutely.
To safely absorb nutrients, Doctor Dung recommends consuming these three types of fruit only after a main meal. At this time, the enzymes will effectively aid digestion, helping the body break down protein from meat and fish quickly, instead of attacking the stomach lining.
Consumers should also prioritize ripe fruit over unripe varieties. For example, unripe papaya is the most irritating due to its high sap and enzyme content, whereas ripe yellow papaya contains milder and safer organic acids.
Another solution for those with sensitive digestive systems is to cook the food. Since protein-digesting enzymes lose activity at high temperatures, dishes such as papaya stewed with ribs or pineapple chicken soup will minimize the risk of irritation while retaining essential fiber.
Ms. Dung emphasized that no food is absolutely good or bad; suitability to one's body condition is important. Patients with active stomach ulcers should temporarily remove these fruits from their diet to avoid further damage.
Binh Minh (According to China Times)
