Actress Han Go-eun introduced a healthier way to eat green onions and chives.
Recently, Han Go-eun revealed a recipe for 'Oyster Soup' on her YouTube channel 'Go-eun Unni'. She added plenty of healthy green onions and chives to the oyster soup.
Han Go-eun said, "Don’t you like to eat chives or green onion kimchi long?" and added, "However, for the elderly or children who find it hard to chew, it’s better to cut the green onions and chives into small pieces for consumption." She continued, "Because this can clump together in the intestines, exposing you to the risk of intestinal obstruction," she explained.
With green onions and chives full of beneficial ingredients, is there really a concern about experiencing intestinal obstruction if eaten long, as Han Go-eun said?
Long and Tough Fibers of Green Onions and Chives… Exceptionally Risky for Intestinal Obstruction
Green onions and chives have long and tough fibers. Even when cooked, the fibers remain long like threads, and if swallowed without chewing well, it can lead to digestive difficulties. However, it is very rare to be exposed to intestinal obstruction even when eating green onions and chives in their long form.
However, as Han Go-eun mentioned, if someone who does not chew their food properly has a weak stomach, it could become a problem. In short, it means that it can be dangerous when adverse conditions overlap.
If someone has undergone gastric resection, is elderly or ill with reduced intestinal movement, wears dentures, or has weak teeth and lacks chewing power, or if they eat quickly or hardly chew, these conditions can rarely lead to intestinal blockage.
“Constipated for Days”… Could It Be Intestinal Obstruction?
Intestinal obstruction is a state where food, gas, and stool in the intestines cannot move normally and are blocked. When intestinal obstruction occurs, the intestines gradually swell, increasing pressure, leading to pain and vomiting. In severe cases, blood flow to the intestines decreases, posing a risk of intestinal necrosis.
The typical symptoms include a hard abdomen and severe abdominal distension. There is a squeezing pain in the abdomen, and if there is no gas or stool at all, intestinal obstruction can be suspected. Foul-smelling vomiting is also one of the symptoms.
However, there is no need to worry too much about simple constipation. Even if bloating continues, it is likely just a digestive issue, not intestinal obstruction. Conversely, if there is a history of gastric surgery, one should be careful with food intake.
If the stomach is weak, green onion and chive kimchi should be cut before eating. Even if the green onions or chives are cut, chewing them 2-3 more times will help with digestion. Be careful not to eat more when feeling bloated. In addition to green onions and chives, dried bracken, dried squid, dried persimmons, and rice cakes should also be chewed well before swallowing.
