Using the wrong cup is equivalent to drinking poison? Thermos cup, glass cup, plastic cup, ceramic cup, which one is safer

"Auntie has already handed you the tea, but you didn't even take a sip. Are you dissatisfied with my marriage!" Xiao Zhang yelled at his father on the side of the road.

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

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

"I don't even bother to tell you. Didn't you read the news that if you put hot tea in a paper cup, toxic substances will be released? How dare I drink this tea. I'm afraid it will cause cancer!" After finishing speaking, Lao Zhang left Xiao Zhang, walk in the direction of home by yourself.

The use of disposable paper cups in daily life is very common, but there is a saying that "hot water in paper cups will release microplastics, which will harm the human body if drunk." Is it true or false? So which kind of cup is safer to drink water from, a thermos cup, a plastic cup, or a glass cup?

1. Hot drinks in paper cups will release "microplastics" and harm the human body?

Drinking hot water from a paper cup will release microplastics, isn't it scary? Not to mention, there really is such a study...

In November 2020, a research team from the Indian Institute of Technology published a study on paper cups and microplastic particles in the "Journal of Hazardous Materials" . About 25,000 micron-sized microplastic particles are released in the

Researchers believe that if the average person ingests hot drinks served in paper cups for a long time, the health impact 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 materials of some paper cups. Currently on the market, there are three types of common paper cups:

The first is made of white cardboard: fast food restaurants are used to hold dry food such as French fries and popcorn, and cannot hold water;

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

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

According to the national food safety guarantee, the raw materials of paper cups are mainly plant fibers. As long as they are formally produced paper cups , fluorescent bleaching agents cannot be added, so they can be used with confidence.

Is the "microplastic" released from the paper cup really harmful to the human body?

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

What needs to be reminded is that the profit of disposable paper cups is low, and there are many three-no products on the market. For paper cups with uneven inner membranes, soft paper cups, and paper cups with pungent odors , it is better to avoid using them.

2. Which one is safer, a thermos cup, a glass cup, a plastic cup, or a ceramic cup?

In daily life, the commonly used cups mainly include thermos cups, glass cups, plastic cups, ceramic cups, etc. Which of these cups is safer?

1. Thermos cup

Most of them are made of stainless steel, which is not only resistant to high temperature, but also has good thermal insulation performance. Whether the thermos cup can be used safely depends on the material. Stainless steel materials are usually divided into three types, and the "code names" are 201, 304 and 316.

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

It should be noted that tea, carbonated beverages, fruit juices, etc. are corrosive to stainless steel, and there may be safety hazards in a thermos cup. Soy milk and milk are also not suitable for packaging in thermos cups, as there may be a risk of spoilage if kept warm for a long time.

2. Glass

Glass is relatively the safest of all materials. It is not only resistant to high temperature, but also has a smooth glass surface, which is easy to clean, and bacteria and dirt are not easy to breed on the cup wall.

3. Plastic cup

There are numbers 1-7 printed on the bottom of the plastic cup, and the higher the number, the higher the quality . However, plastic cups generally have many gaps, which are easy to hide dirt and absorb dust and bacteria.

4. Ceramic mug

Ceramic cups are made of kaolin, clay and other raw materials after shaping and sintering. They have the characteristics of high melting point, high hardness and durability.

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

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

The purpose of choosing a safe cup is to be able to drink water healthily, but regarding drinking water, how to drink, how much to drink, and when to drink are all particular.

Water is a nutrient that every cell in the body needs, and it can also help remove waste from the body. It can be said that water is very important to maintain a healthy state.

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

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

In addition, scientific and healthy drinking water should pay attention to three points:

1. Drink water in moderation

Drinking too much water is not advisable. The amount of supplemented drinking water is about 1500-1700ml (7-8 cups) of water per day to ensure the balance of water intake and excretion. Excessive drinking of water and excessive dilution of blood will lead to water intoxication, diarrhea, edema and other situations.

2. Develop the habit of drinking water regularly

Drinking water regularly is very important to 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, and a glass of water an hour before going to bed. Actively increase the amount of water before and after exercise or physical activity water intake.

3. Boiled water is the healthiest

The best water is boiled water. Beverages, honey water, light salt water, etc. may increase the intake of sugar and salt, which is not conducive to health.

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

References:

[1] "Are Disposable Paper Cups Harmful to the Body?" 3 things to remember when choosing paper cups". Tencent Medical Code. 2022-06-23

[2] "Have you chosen the right thermos cup? Pay attention to the 6 points and don't step on thunder". Healthy China. 2022-02-08

[3] "Wait to drink water when you are thirsty? Expert: It's too late! These misunderstandings about drinking water are very harmful... ". Popular Science China. 2022-03-31

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