How to Celebrate Chinese New Year Without Health Risks!

Chinese New Year 2023 is approaching quickly and falls on Sunday 22 January 2023. This festive occasion is not only a time for paying respect to deities and ancestors but also a time for family gatherings and feasting.

During this celebration, it’s almost impossible to avoid the wide array of rich, flavorful foods. However, these festive dishes and offerings can pose health risks if consumed excessively. With your well-being in mind, here are some tips from Muang Thai Life Assurance on how to enjoy Chinese New Year while minimizing health risks.

According to tradition, Chinese New Year offerings include “Sa Sae” (Three Meats) or “Ngow Sae” (Five Meats), which typically consist of pork belly, chicken, duck, fish, and liver. After the ceremonial offerings, families often share the food as a symbol of good fortune.

However, consuming these foods in excess can be harmful, especially for the elderly. Overeating meats or consuming dishes that are overly sweet, fatty, or salty can increase the risk of health issues such as obesity, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.

It is recommended to eat in moderation or choose foods with the least amount of fat, such as skinless chicken, trimmed pork belly, and fish. Additionally, for stir-fried dishes, use minimal oil and opt for oils rich in unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, rice bran oil, soybean oil, corn oil, or sunflower oil. These options are healthier because unsaturated fats help lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

🔖 mgronline (Data as of 20 January 2017)

🔖 thaiheartfound

Chinese New Year desserts are truly irresistible, especially since they are available only once a year. Just thinking about the fragrant aroma of treats baked with incense smoke is enough to tempt anyone to indulge in their delicious flavors. Favorites such as khanom keng, khanom tian, sponge cakes, steamed buns, and khanom chan ub can quickly add extra inches to your waistline without you realizing it.

These treats are often high in flour, fat, and sugar, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. It's best to eat them in moderation—just enough to enjoy the taste without overindulging.

Instead, consider increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and especially fiber, which promotes regular waste elimination, helps detoxify the intestines, and reduces the risk of diseases like colon cancer. Fiber also helps bind cholesterol and fats for removal from the body.

🔖 mgronline  (data as of 20 January 2017)

🔖 pptvhd36 (data as of 18 January 2022)

Before enjoying the delicious offerings of Chinese New Year feasts, it's important to note that these foods and treats often undergo preparation processes that enhance their freshness and taste. However, some may be contaminated with harmful substances, which could pose severe health risks, including fatal outcomes.

• Formalin

Commonly found in seafood, fruits, and vegetables, formalin helps food appear fresh but can damage the liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and respiratory system. Excessive exposure may lead to death.

• Borax

Found in meatballs and tang guai chae (candied pumpkin), borax can cause acute poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially fatal outcomes.

• Bleaching Agents

Present in bean sprouts, tofu, and Chinese bamboo shoots, these can irritate the mouth, stomach, and other organs, causing chest tightness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and in extreme cases, death.

• Preservatives

Found in pickled vegetables and fruits, preservatives can irritate the stomach and intestinal lining.

• Pesticides

Detected in fresh vegetables, fruits, and dried squid, pesticide overexposure may cause seizures, breathing difficulties, and even cancer.

🔖 rama (data as of 15 August 2016)

Participating in festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic requires extra precautions, particularly when it comes to preparing clean and safe food. Here are some guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Maintain cleanliness: Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing food. Ensure all food preparation areas, including plates, tables, and cutting boards, are clean to prevent contamination from microorganisms.
• Keep cooked foods separate from raw foods, as they may carry harmful microorganisms.
• Ensure food is cooked all the way through at a temperature of at least 70°C. This is particularly important for meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, which must be thoroughly cooked to kill harmful microorganisms.
• Store food at the proper temperature
• Use clean water and safe ingredients: Choose fresh, safe ingredients and clean water for cooking. Following proper hygiene and food selection practices minimizes the risk of contamination.
  

🔖posttoday (data as of 27 January 2022)

As delicious as some foods might be, they can harm your health if consumed excessively. It's important to make mindful food choices, eat in moderation, and focus on nutritious options. Regular exercise is equally important to prevent fat accumulation that could lead to various health issues. 

Chinese New Year is traditionally a time for family gatherings and celebrations. However, given the current situation, many families may need to connect virtually instead of meeting in person. In these times, maintaining strong health is more important than ever. You might also consider showing your care by gifting loved ones lump sum health insurance to cover critical illnesses, common diseases and accidents. Choose your coverage plan from 200,000 Baht to 100,000,000 Baht. 

For more information

☑️ Call Tel. 1766.

☑️ Contact life insurance agents, or branches of Kasikornbank, and Land and Houses Bank.

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• Conditions are subject to the medical standards and necessity.
• Conditions are as specified by Muang Thai Life Assurance PCL and the banks.
• Please study the details of coverage, conditions and exclusions before making a decision to purchase insurance.