Rock sugar is widely used in traditional dishes, remedies and refreshing drinks. However, to correctly understand the detoxification ability of rock sugar, it is necessary to look at it both from the perspective of folk experience and modern scientific basis.
In traditional medicine, rock sugar is considered a mild sweet taste, with the effect of tonifying the center and benefiting qi, moisturizing the lungs and reducing coughs. Housewives often combine rock sugar with ingredients such as ginger, lemon, kumquat or chives to make cough syrup, soothe the throat and support phlegm reduction.
In addition, many housewives prepare lemon water mixed with rock sugar or steam kumquats with rock sugar to detoxify the body, especially after eating a lot of grease or when feeling hot in the body. Here, the concept of "detoxification" is often understood in the sense of cooling, supporting the liver and helping the body feel lighter.
However, biologically, the human body already has a very effective natural detoxification system, including the liver, kidneys, lungs and digestive system. Rock sugar is actually still a crystallized form of sucrose sugar, providing energy for the body. Rock sugar itself does not have a mechanism to directly eliminate toxins.
The detoxification effect, if any, mainly comes from accompanying ingredients such as vitamin C in lemon, essential oils in kumquat or anti-inflammatory properties of ginger. Rock sugar plays a role in soothing the sour taste, increasing ease of drinking and providing temporary energy.
Therefore, housewives should not abuse rock sugar for detoxification purposes because it can be counterproductive, especially for people with diabetes, overweight or metabolic disorders. Consuming too much sugar increases the risk of obesity, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, if rock sugar is used in cooling drinks, it should be used at a moderate level.
