This day was originally the day for Lao Zhang to meet his future daughter-in-law’s parents. They went to the bride’s house. The future mother-in-law put hot tea in a paper cup in front of Lao Zhang. As a result, Lao Zhang didn’t take a sip until she left.

"Auntie has handed the tea to you, but you didn't even drink a sip. Are you dissatisfied with my marriage?" Xiao Zhang yelled at his father on the roadside.

This day was originally the day for Lao Zhang to meet his future daughter-in-law’s parents. They went to the woman’s house. The future mother-in-law put hot tea in a paper cup in front of Lao Zhang. As a result, Lao Zhang didn’t take a sip until she left.

This made Xiao Zhang feel very embarrassed, thinking that his father did not give him face and was not satisfied with the marriage.

"I'm too lazy to tell you. Didn't you see the news that putting hot tea in paper cups will release toxic substances? How dare I drink this tea? I'm afraid it will cause cancer!" After that, the old man Zhang left Xiao Zhang and walked towards home.

Disposable paper cups are very commonly used in daily life, but there is a saying that "paper cups containing hot water will release microplastics, which will harm the human body if consumed." Is this true or false? Which type of thermos cup, plastic cup or glass cup is safer to use for drinking water?

1. Will hot drinks in paper cups release "microplastics" and harm the human body?

Drinking hot water from a paper cup will release microplastics. Doesn’t this sound scary? Don't mention it, there really is such research...

In November 2020, it was published in the "Journal of Hazardous Materials" in a study by a research team from Indian Institute of Technology on paper cups and microplastic particles. It was found that: in one Put a hot drink in a non-toxic paper cup and approximately 25,000 micron-sized microplastic particles will be released into the drink within 15 minutes.

Researchers believe that if ordinary people consume hot drinks served in paper cups for a long time, the impact on their health may be serious.

Is drinking water from a disposable paper cup really equivalent to drinking "poison"? Before discussing this issue, let’s first understand the material of some paper cups. Currently, there are three types of common paper cups on the market:

The first type is made of white cardboard: Fast food restaurants are used to hold French fries, popcorn and other dry food, and cannot hold water;

The second type is waxed paper cups : is thicker than the first one and can hold water, but cannot hold food with a temperature exceeding 40°C;

The third one is " paper plastic cup ": is waterproof and oil-proof, and is also the most widely used paper cup.

According to the national food safety guarantee, the raw materials of paper cups are generally based on plant fibers. As long as they are regularly produced paper cups , fluorescent bleach cannot be added and they can be used with confidence.

Are the "microplastics" released from paper cups really harmful to the human body?

In this regard, Wu Yuelan, a physician at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Tongren Hospital, said that there is currently no clear conclusion about the risks microplastics pose to human health. According to research from the World Health Organization , most microplastic particles can be directly excreted from the body through excretion and will not be absorbed by the intestines.

It should be reminded that the profit of disposable paper cups is low, and there are many three-no products on the market. It is better to avoid using paper cups that have uneven inner membranes, soft paper cups, and pungent odor.

2. Insulated cup, glass cup, plastic cup, ceramic cup , which one is safer?

In daily life, the commonly used cups include thermos cups, glass cups, plastic cups, ceramic cups, etc. With so many cups, which one is safer?

. Most of the thermos cups

are made of stainless steel , which is not only resistant to high temperatures, but also has good heat preservation performance. Whether a thermos cup is safe to use depends on the material it is made of. stainless steel material is usually divided into three types, and the "code names" are 201, 04 and 16.

Generally, 201 has poor corrosion resistance and may release heavy metals. It is not recommended to buy . 304 and 316 are stainless steels with higher stability and higher safety.

It should be noted that tea, carbonated drinks, fruit juice, etc. are corrosive to stainless steel, and storing them in thermos cups may be a safety hazard. Soy milk and milk are also not suitable for use in thermos cups, as keeping them warm for a long time may cause the risk of spoilage.

. Glass cup

Glass cup is relatively the safest of all materials. It is not only resistant to high temperatures, but also has a smooth glass surface that is easy to clean and prevents bacteria and dirt from growing on the cup wall.

, plastic cups

Plastic cups have numbers 1-7 printed on the bottom. The higher the number, the higher the quality . However, plastic cups generally have many gaps, which can easily trap dirt and absorb dirt, bacteria, etc.

. Ceramic cups

Ceramic cups are made of kaolin , clay and other raw materials and then sintered. They have the characteristics of high melting point, high hardness, and are durable.

People who like to drink tea and coffee like to use ceramic cups to serve drinks, because the water absorption rate of ceramic cups is low, the surface is easy to clean and will not absorb odors, and there will be no glaze cracks.

3. Choosing the right cup is very important, and drinking the "right" water is even more critical.

Choosing a safe cup is to drink water healthily, but when it comes to drinking water, there are particularities in how to drink, how much to drink, and when to drink.

Water is a nutrient needed by every cell in the body, and it can also help take away waste from the body. It can be said that water is very important for maintaining a healthy state.

It should be noted that drinking water should not be done only when you feel thirsty.

Because when a person feels thirsty, the body's water shortage has actually reached or approached 2% state . When the human body is short of 2% water, all body functions will be affected. In the long run, it is likely to cause a series of health problems, such as gastric ulcer, joint pain, etc.

In addition, when drinking water scientifically and healthily, you should pay attention to three points:

. Drink an appropriate amount of water.

Do not drink too much water. The appropriate amount of water to supplement every day is about 1500-1700ml (7-8 cups) of water to ensure water intake. and discharge balance. Drinking too much water and excessive blood dilution can lead to water intoxication, diarrhea, edema and other conditions.

. Develop the habit of drinking water regularly

It is very important to drink water regularly and become a habit. The best way to drink water is to drink a glass of water early, a glass of water 30 minutes to 2 hours before and after meals, a glass of water an hour before going to bed, and exercise You should take the initiative to increase your water intake before and after fitness or strenuous physical activity.

. Plain water is the healthiest

The best water is plain water. Beverages, honey water, light salt water, etc. may increase the intake of sugar and salt, which is not good for health.

Just because water is filled in disposable paper cups does not mean it is harmful to human health. On the contrary, not drinking water or drinking too hot water is even more detrimental to health. Of course, if you are worried about paper cups, it is still recommended to bring your own ceramic cup or glass to drink water.

Reference:

[1] "Are disposable paper cups harmful to the body?" Remember 3 things when choosing a paper cup". Tencent Medical Dictionary. 2022-06-23

[2] "Did you choose the right thermos cup? Be careful not to step on thunder at 6 o'clock". Healthy China. 2022-02-08

[3] "Wait until you are thirsty before drinking water? Expert: It’s too late! Not understanding these misunderstandings about drinking water is very harmful...". Popular Science China .2022-03-31

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