3rd June (this Friday) is the annual Dragon Boat Festival ( 端午节) which is also the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. And… there would be a variety of rice dumplings or Zong Zi (粽子) that are made locally by uncles and aunties at stalls before the actual celebration. Additionally, it is a delicacy that anyone should try at least once in their lifetime. However, not everyone are able to enjoy it due to its composition and ingredients.
But, why is it unhealthy for some? It is a high-calorie food with a cumulative of 400 – 500 calories for a normal meat-filled Zong Zi, while the Akaline Zong Zi would have a cumulative of 300 calories. That is why people are advised not to eat too much of it. As much as we all love this yummy delicacy, it’s best to avoid rice dumplings if you are in the following categories:
1 Diabetic
The delicacy is made from sticky rice and is classified as food with high sugar levels. It also accelerates the Glycemic index after consuming it. If someone diabetic had eaten a sweet variant of the dumpling (mainly with Red Bean Paste filling), it could trigger a spike in the blood sugar level and would cause the insulin levels to be disrupted as well. It would be riskier for chronic diabetics as they would fall into a coma or poisoning if they are not treated for it.
2 Recovering patients from Gastrointestinal surgery
Also on the list would be patients that are healing from recent Gastrointestinal surgery, as recovering patients are often advised to have a low residue diet. If the patient consumed the already sticky glutinous rice or the Five Grain Dumpling (五谷粽子), it could cause discomfort to the recovering intestine. It’s best to avoid this until they are fully recovered.
3 People with poor digestion
Those with poor digestive systems should also avoid rice dumplings as it could cause flatulence in bowel movements. It also slows down the body’s digestive system. This, however, doesn’t mean that you are not allowed to eat the delicious rice dumplings ever again, but do eat them in moderation.
Having said that, we hope you enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival with your family and friends, and we wish everyone a 端午节快乐！
Sonia Ho contributed to this article
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