Eyes bigger than your stomach? In England, a 33-year-old man found himself hospitalized with severe abdominal pain. The culprit? Haribo candies in the form of a bottle of cola that he ingested by the dozen.
Three kilos of sweets swallowed: when pleasure becomes indigestible
Eyes bigger than the bag? In England, a 33-year-old truck driver treated himself to a feast of bottles of Haribo cola, as he recounts in the Yorkshire Live. The package of candies sold on Amazon, much larger than the standard containers sold in stores, did not frighten the gourmand.
Three kilos of candy, for more than 10,000 calories, and undoubtedly a personal record in the “XXL snack” category. “I just felt an irresistible urge” he justifies today, like a child caught in the act.
As dessert, he “took life to the fullest”… until his stomach cried out for mercy.
When gelatin rebels
Far from being disgusted by his excess of gluttony, he nevertheless begins to feel bad 48 hours after the last “bottle of cola”. Quickly, the truck driver sees his digestion take a sharp turn.
Severe stomach pains, as well as cramps and excessive sweating, led him to a doctor, who discovered his blood pressure was sky high. Head to the emergency room. What is initially taken for food poisoning questions the emergency doctors when the blood tests arrive: the Briton has a very high level of gelatin in his blood. It is only at this moment that he admits his little obsession of the moment. Not enough to make a gummy bear, but enough to turn your guilty pleasure into a real stomach nightmare.
Although safe in low doses, gelatin can indeed block the intestines when ingested in large quantities. In the most serious situations, surgery is necessary. The Briton, diagnosed with acute diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the large intestine), underwent an operation and spent six days in hospital before making a full recovery. Three days of sugary euphoria for six days of hospital diet!
Beware of excess candy, warns our emergency doctor
While sweets are generally synonymous with pleasure, excess can quickly turn into a digestive nightmare. According to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, massive consumption of sweets can cause serious complications, well beyond a simple stomach ache.
“First, the body often reacts with intense abdominal pain and stomach cramps. These symptoms can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or even severe diarrhea, reflecting real indigestion. In some cases, excessive sweating and increased blood pressure aggravate the general discomfort.”
But one of the major dangers lies in the risk of intestinal obstruction, especially when sweets contain gelatin. “This can clump in the intestines and form a blockage, sometimes causing inflammation and infection of the colon, known as diverticulitis. acute”. If an intestinal obstruction occurs, surgical intervention then becomes essential.
When sweet becomes salty…
Dr. Kierzek also points out that the extreme concentration of sugars and additives swallowed in one go can disrupt the metabolism. Sudden hyperglycemia, dehydration and resulting metabolic disorders should not be taken lightly. In addition, certain components such as licorice or sorbitol can accentuate existing heart or digestive problems.
Faced with such situations, the doctor insists: it is essential to consult quickly in the event of significant abdominal pain, persistent digestive disorders or any sign of discomfort after overconsumption of sweets. Too much sugar may seem harmless, but its health consequences can be very real.