Bubble teas are the trendiest new drink to thirst your quench this summer, but could this latest bubbly fad be a hazard to your health?
The Latest Bubble Tea Drink Craze
In case you haven’t stepped outside in the last month, bubble teas are the latest drink that will have you craving for more. Originated in Taiwan, bubble teas are a cold sweet flavored drink that contain little chewy “bubble” tapioca balls at the bottom. They often are sold in a variety of fruity flavors and with milkshake versions too. Bottom line- this drink is DELICIOUS.
While they’ve only started popping up recently around the world, this sweet bubbly drink has been an essential staple in Taiwan for years. Think of it like their version of coffee. Not a bad way to start the day!
Too Much Of A Good Thing…
Just like some people drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day, some people drink numerous cups of bubble tea a day… which caused one 14 year old girl from Zhejiang, China to be hospitalized. According to the reports, the unnamed girl had been suffering severe cramping to the point she couldn’t eat or go to the bathroom for five days straight.
Naturally alarmed by the pain, her parents decided to take her to the hospital, but doctors could not find anything wrong with her from a physical exam.
The Nightmare Continues…
With no answers from a physical exam, doctors decided to do a CT scan and found imaging of more than 100 tapioca bubbles that were trapped in her digestive system. The girl claimed she didn’t drink more than one bubble tea before she had cramps, but with THAT many undigested in her stomach… doctors thought otherwise.
Doctors believe she was not able to digest the drink because the bubbles are high in starch, which is very difficult for the body to break down. Thankfully, they were able to easily cure the girl with laxatives and sent her home with the reminder to not drink so many bubble teas!
Should I Be Scared To Drink Bubble Teas?
Of course not! This girl’s trip to the ER was just one unlucky incident due to consuming too much of the bubbly delight. As with most things in life, it’s important to enjoy the drink in moderation and remember to get enough water and nutrients from other sources. This will help make sure your digestion is in check. No need to sweat when you sit back and sip that bubble tea this summer!
Photos: Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels