Today I discovered that there is a specific type of bezoar that develops in humans due to eating persimmons that aren't fully ripe, and that in half of cases it can be cured by doing nothing more than drinking Coca-Cola, and this amuses and terrifies me in equal measure.

@JayHulmePoet Any high acidity pop will do it, but coke is classic. It works for many bezoars formed by undigested fruit/veg fibre, not just persimmons (?). Daily reality for many people living with slow gut motility or gastric delay. Please poets, don't see it as a fun quirk for a poem 😬

@pollyrowena @JayHulmePoet Im sorry I just woke up. Are you telling me that coke helps to digest undigested veg? And people with slow gut movements can drink it to help? This can of information just dropped in my lap I am flabbergasted as someone who can't digest plant fiber...

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet Does Diet Coke work the same way???

@MJH_MT @marareboi @JayHulmePoet Apparently just as effective according to some research studies, though ph of diet coke is higher than regular.

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet Okay, but what about the impact on gastroparesis related gastric reflux?? I have terrible motility but/and I avoid soda and very acidic things bc they give me heartburn. Is there a work around here?? (Signed, a person that who hasn’t eaten a non-mushy vegetable in 10 yrs)

@shirkandsteal @marareboi @JayHulmePoet I'm not sure tbh - I think it can help ease things if the reflux is being caused by stuff sitting there undigested even though the fizz might be uncomfortable initially but it's an emergency measure I'd say and not something that makes eating veg you can't digest plausible 😩

@pollyrowena @JayHulmePoet That is some high level magic. :D Me and my partner than you for this tidbit! This explains why they like to drink cola so much, and how every time I drink it after consuming lettuce I hurt less... (: Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet This explains a lot about my beverage habits in college wow

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet These could probably do it too because at least in the case of the lemon one it’s just sparking water and lemon juice, and if that shit isn’t acidic enough to act as biological drain cleaner idk what is 😭

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet Wait so I can drink tonic water to digest? What about Pepsi?

@pollyrowena @marareboi @JayHulmePoet yup, same concept as putting vinegar and baking soda down a clogged drain. get some carbonation, get some acid, clear it right out

@pdmcguirelaw @marareboi @JayHulmePoet Nice try, but no.