What Are the Potential Harmful Effects of Overconsuming Alum?
Excessive consumption of alum is prone to causing stones, affecting the absorption of trace elements, and leading to osteoporosis and other issues. Although alum has certain effects such as sweat control and hemostasis, it must be used correctly. Once the dosage exceeds the limit, it will definitely cause damage to the body. Since many breakfast restaurants add alum when making fried bread sticks and fried cakes, it is recommended to consume less of them.
Hazards of Excessive Consumption of Alum
1. Stones
Alum is rich in aluminum ions. When humans consume excessive alum, most aluminum ions will be absorbed by the body through the digestive system and form crystalline precipitates in local organ tissues. This not only increases the risk of developing stones such as gastric stones, kidney stones, and bile duct stones but also may cause food poisoning or other food-borne diseases.
2. Affecting the Absorption of Trace Elements
Excessive aluminum ion content in the body can affect the absorption of other trace elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc, which can easily cause symptoms such as water and electrolyte imbalance and even lead to severe secondary diseases such as premature osteoporosis, sepsis, and brain nerve damage.
Solutions for Accidental Ingestion of Alum
After ingesting alum, detoxification can be achieved by drinking licorice water, honey water, mung bean soup, etc. This can promote the decomposition and metabolism of alum in the body and help it be excreted from the body. Of course, intravenous infusion of drugs such as sugar, salt, and vitamin C can also achieve detoxification effects.