Eating Seafood with Ice-Cold Beer Hides Health Risks; Guard Against Acute Gastroenteritis in Summer Dining
2026-07-10
Seafood Paired with Ice-Cold Beer Hides Health Risks; Guard Against Acute Gastroenteritis in Summer Dining
As midsummer arrives, gathering with friends to enjoy a few jin of crayfish, a plate of clams, and chilled beer becomes one of the most relaxing summer nights. However, after the pleasure, many people end up rushing to the toilet overnight, or even heading straight to the emergency department. Recently, the Emergency Department of the Second Hospital of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, has seen a noticeable increase in patients with acute gastroenteritis, many of whom are linked to the summer food combination of “seafood with ice beer.”
Lu Hu, a physician from the Emergency Department of the Second Hospital of Nanjing, explained that summer itself is a high-incidence season for gastroenteritis. Regarding ingredients: First, seafood spoils more easily. High summer temperatures mean improperly stored seafood can quickly go bad. Rich in protein, spoiled seafood produces large amounts of bacteria and toxins, leading to diarrhea in mild cases or food poisoning in severe ones. Second, ice-cold beer irritates the gastrointestinal tract. Its low temperature stimulates the gut, causing intestinal spasms and accelerated peristalsis. When combined, abnormal intestinal peristalsis allows bacteria to invade the intestinal mucosa more easily, triggering inflammation. This explains why some people experience not only diarrhea but also nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever after eating this combination.
Besides the “seafood + ice beer” pairing, Lu emphasized that drinking ice beer alone can also cause non-infectious enteritis — abnormal intestinal peristalsis triggered by cold stimulation leads to diarrhea and abdominal pain. This “cold-induced gastroenteritis” is also common in summer. If the seafood is not fresh, bacterial infection combined with cold stimulation causes more severe disruption of intestinal function.
If you experience excessive diarrhea, obvious changes in stool consistency, fever, severe abdominal pain, or clear signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, reduced urination, dizziness, and weakness) at home, it indicates serious infection or dehydration, and you should seek medical attention promptly. “Especially for elderly people, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic underlying conditions (such as diabetes, liver or kidney diseases), acute gastroenteritis is more likely to develop into severe cases. They should seek medical help in time and not endure the symptoms,” Lu warned.
“Everyone should abandon the bad habits of pursuing freshness and coldness in diet, and develop good eating habits,” Lu added. To enjoy summer food safely and protect gut health, pay attention to daily dietary practices. When buying seafood, ensure the ingredients are fresh; cook them thoroughly, and for shellfish, boil until they open completely. Discard any seafood that is not fresh. If there are leftover seafood dishes at home, seal and refrigerate them promptly, storing for no more than half a day — never reheat and eat overnight seafood. In summer’s high temperatures, cooked dishes, cold salads, and braised foods should also not be stored for long periods. Pay extra attention to the hygiene of ingredients at open-air food stalls. When dining out, avoid overeating, balance meat and vegetables, and choose warm tea to offset cold stimulation. When drinking ice-cold beer, sip slowly in small amounts, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, and never gulp large quantities at once. Additionally, keep your abdomen warm daily, set the air conditioner temperature appropriately low, and protect your abdomen while sleeping at night. (Liaowang New Era)
Edit：WENWEN Responsible editor：LINXUAN
Source：Xinhua Daily
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