As a familiar vegetable in Vietnamese cuisine and folk medicine, pennywort has the properties of clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling the body and supporting skin beauty, and is used by many people in the form of juice, smoothies or processed in dishes.
However, if pennywort is used incorrectly or abused for a long time, this seemingly benign vegetable can cause many unwanted harms to health.
Drinking too much pennywort juice can affect the digestive system.
Pennywort is cold in nature, so if used in large quantities or drinked continuously for a long time, the body is prone to cold stomach, diarrhea or digestive disorders. Especially in people with weak constitution, often cold stomach, or young children are more likely to experience this condition.
In addition, abusing pennywort can also affect liver and kidney function. Some studies show that if pennywort is used too much for a long time, the active ingredients in the vegetable can put pressure on the liver during metabolism. This is especially dangerous for people with liver disease or taking medication, as pennywort can interact with medication and reduce treatment effectiveness.
Pennywort is also not suitable for some special subjects, for example, people preparing for surgery are advised to limit the use of pennywort because it can affect blood clotting or interact with anesthetics.
Another issue is the risk of food safety and hygiene. Pennywort usually grows close to the ground, so it is easily contaminated with bacteria, parasites or pesticide residues. If pennywort is not washed or treated properly before grinding and drinking, users may suffer from intestinal diseases or parasitic infections.
Pennywort is a food with many health benefits if used properly and in reasonable doses. However, abusing or using it to the wrong people can cause many harms to the body.
Therefore, everyone needs to use pennywort scientifically, combined with a balanced diet to ensure safety and maximize the benefits of this vegetable.
