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Whilst temperatures plunge, many individuals nonetheless attain for iced Americanos or chew on ice cubes. In South Korea, the phrase “iced espresso regardless of how chilly it will get” has turn out to be so widespread that it’s typically shortened to a well-liked slang time period. However well being consultants warn that an intense desire for ice-cold drinks in winter could also be much less about style and extra about what the physique lacks.
If you end up craving ice even within the depths of winter or habitually chewing on it, iron deficiency would be the underlying trigger. This habits is very widespread amongst individuals with anemia or those that devour iron-poor diets. Anemia happens when the physique lacks adequate iron to supply pink blood cells effectively.
Based on a paper printed in PubMed, a U.S. medical database, 88 p.c of sufferers with iron-deficiency anemia expertise pagophagia, a situation marked by compulsive ice chewing. Researchers say iron deficiency could cause signs akin to tongue ache, dry mouth and mouth ulcers, and chewing ice could briefly relieve these discomforts, reinforcing the behavior.
An obsession with chilly drinks can even level to excessive stress ranges. Just like spicy meals, chilly meals stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the discharge of saved glucose and oxygen all through the physique to assist reply shortly to perceived emergencies. This response could make chilly drinks really feel refreshing or calming throughout traumatic intervals.
Nevertheless, commonly ingesting icy drinks or chewing ice may be dangerous to well being. One main concern is dental harm. Tooth enamel, the outermost protecting layer of the enamel, can crack below repeated stress. As soon as a crack types, sharp, delicate ache can intrude with day by day life, and micro organism can enter the broken space. Over time, the harm could worsen, probably resulting in damaged enamel.
Individuals with hypertension must be notably cautious. Chilly climate already causes blood vessels to constrict because the physique works to take care of its temperature, elevating blood stress within the course of. Research present that for each drop of 1 diploma Celsius in temperature, systolic blood stress rises by about 1.3 millimeters of mercury and diastolic stress by 0.6 millimeters of mercury. Consuming chilly drinks can additional disrupt blood stress regulation, rising the danger of sudden spikes.
For higher winter well being, consultants suggest selecting heat drinks when potential and paying shut consideration to iron consumption. Iron-rich meals embrace lean meat, fish, beans and eggs, in addition to inexperienced leafy greens akin to spinach, kale and bok choy.
This text from Kormedi.com, Korea’s high well being care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.
