Malaysian doctor’s tips on dos and don’ts when consuming durian; avoid caffeine

IT’S that time of the year. The pungent whiff of fresh durian sending many Malaysians into gluttony overdrive mode.

However, a cautionary tale shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Dr Samhan (@DoktorSamhan) has certainly left some netizens thinking twice before going on their durian eating spree.

He recounted a patient stumbling into his consultation room looking the worse for wear with a pale complexion and sweat-drench brow.

The CEO of HIM Clinic calmed down the patient who complained of extreme nausea and headache.

Further probe revealed that the patient – like many Malaysians this time of the year – succumbed to temptation and feasted on durians for lunch. The heavy afternoon meal caused the patient to feel drowsy and he decided to jolt his senses with a cup of coffee.

The medical practitioner then went on to explain that the combination of the two – caffeine and durian – had caused mild intoxication.

The durian was rich in sulphur and high on carbohydrates while the caffeine caused dehydration. Combining the two would lead to the body reacting adversely.

The good doctor shared some tips on treating this durian-fuelled intoxication which included plenty of water and easily digestible food. Of course, he counselled a trip to the hospital if the condition persists.

The poster shared some useful tips when consuming the king of fruits. This included avoiding caffeine for up to four-to-six hours after consuming durian.

He also helpfully listed the things to avoid when durian is in the system. These included dairy products, oily and spicy foods as well as alcohol.

His advice was for durian lovers to exercise moderation and to be careful of the combinations they have with durian.

His advice was well-received with the post generating close to 970,000 views at time of writing. Many thanked the doctor for sharing useful information during durian season.

This durian season, enjoy your fruit in moderation and take heed of the advice shared by the poster above.

Or one can follow the advice proffered by one netizen … stay away from durians altogether! Something which FocusM is sure many Malaysians will not be able to do when it comes to the king of fruits. – July 10, 2024

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