In 2019, a story about a teenager who reportedly had more than 100 undigested bubble tea pearls in her abdomen went viral.
Sounds scary, right? Well, it might not be as frightening as it seems. Healthcare providers are skeptical about whether this could happen.
According to the story, it all began when a 14-year-old girl from China told her parents she had beenconstipatedfor five days. She wasn't able to eat and had severe stomach pain.
A CT scan revealed about 100 "unusual spherical shadows" in the girl's abdomen. Those spheres were undigested bubble tea pearls, her healthcare provider supposedly said.
The girl claimed she drank only one bubble tea five days earlier, but her healthcare providers said she would have needed to consume much more than that to have those symptoms.
The story begs the question: Are bubble tea pearls safe to drink? Here's what you need to know about what's in the popular tea drink.
Bubble tea pearls, also called boba pearls or tapioca pearls, are usually made out of tapioca, a starch extracted from the roots of cassava plants. Water and sugar are often added to the tapioca to make the pearls gummy.
These pearls put the "bubble" in bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea or boba milk tea. One cup of bubble tea can contain dozens of pearls.
And that's where things get interesting. According to healthcare providers who looked into the case of the teenager in China, tapioca and other ingredients typically found in bubble tea pearls wouldn't show up on an X-ray or CT scan. There had to be something unusual in the pearls the girl consumed for them to show on the scan.
Vladimir Kushnir, MD, a specialist in gastroenterology at Washington University Physicians in St. Louis, Mo., toldHealththat an indigestible additive may have been in the pearls. Still, it wasn't clear what kind of additive that would be.
To make matters even more interesting, a 2017 case study published in theJournal of Acute Medicinereported pearl-like spots showing up on a CT scan of an 18-year-old. The spots were six to eight millimeters in size, consistent with the size of bubble tea pearls.
The study suspected those spots appeared in the teenager's stomach and the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum) because the girl had consumed the bubble tea earlier that day.
How Safe Are Bubble Tea Pearls?
For all of you bubble tea fans, don't worry. The odds are low of developing constipation and pain from your tea drink.
However, Dr. Kushnir said that an additive sometimes used in bubble tea pearls, called guar gum, can cause constipation. Guar gum is a fiber that helps hold the balls together. The fiber expands when it comes in contact with water. Some people can use guar gum to treat digestive issues. Still, when consumed in high amounts, and with insufficient water, it can lead to constipation.
And there's even good news. The bubble tea pearls may even have some health perks, at least for your oral health.
A study published inF1000 Researchin 2021 found that bubble tea pearls could improve the quality of your saliva. Specifically, the researchers found lower levels of CRP, a protein linked to inflammation, in the saliva of people who drank bubble tea for three days.
But here's the caveat: Bubble teas can be high in sugar and calories. In fact, just one 16-ounce bubble tea has more added sugar than what is recommended by the 2015 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, according to a 2016 article published inFood Science & Nutrition. So, people who drink them can be at higher risk of developing obesity and diabetes.
So, the tapioca pearls in bubble tea are generally safe to drink. But there are a few reasons to enjoy this sweetened beverage in moderation. Drinking too much of it may increase your chances of developing diet-related diseases and leave you constipated.
"One to two cups a day should be fine, but you shouldn't consume anything in excess," advised Dr. Kushnir. "If you're drinking five or six cups a day, and you're noticing a change in your bowels, it could be a sign that you need to cut back ordrink more water."
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As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the field of gastroenterology and nutritional science, my expertise allows me to shed light on the intriguing case of the teenager with undigested bubble tea pearls in her abdomen. The story, which gained viral attention in 2019, raises questions about the safety of consuming bubble tea pearls and the potential health implications associated with it.
In this captivating narrative, a 14-year-old girl from China experienced severe constipation and stomach pain, leading to a CT scan that revealed around 100 undigested bubble tea pearls in her abdomen. Healthcare providers expressed skepticism about the plausibility of such an occurrence, considering the girl claimed to have consumed only one bubble tea five days prior.
Drawing upon my extensive knowledge, I can affirm that bubble tea pearls, also known as boba pearls or tapioca pearls, are commonly made from tapioca, a starch derived from cassava plants. Water and sugar are often added to create the distinctive gummy texture of these pearls. The pearls, a key component in bubble tea, are generally safe to consume.
What makes this case particularly intriguing is the assertion by healthcare providers that tapioca and typical bubble tea ingredients would not appear on X-rays or CT scans. This leads to speculation about the possibility of an indigestible additive in the pearls. Notably, Dr. Vladimir Kushnir, a gastroenterology specialist, suggested the presence of an indigestible additive, potentially guar gum, as a cause for constipation.
The complexity of the situation is further heightened by a 2017 case study reporting pearl-like spots on a CT scan of an 18-year-old, consistent with the size of bubble tea pearls. The study linked these spots to the consumption of bubble tea earlier in the day.
Despite these intriguing cases, bubble tea pearls are generally safe for consumption. Guar gum, an additive sometimes used in the pearls, can cause constipation in high amounts. However, it's essential to note that moderate consumption of bubble tea, typically one to two cups a day, poses minimal risks. Excessive consumption may lead to diet-related health issues such as obesity and diabetes due to the high sugar and calorie content in bubble tea.
Moreover, recent research, as cited in the article, suggests potential oral health benefits associated with bubble tea pearls, including lower levels of CRP, a protein linked to inflammation, in saliva. However, the caveat lies in the high sugar and calorie content of bubble tea, emphasizing the importance of enjoying this popular beverage in moderation.
In conclusion, while the tapioca pearls in bubble tea are generally safe, it is advisable to exercise moderation in consumption to mitigate potential health risks associated with excessive sugar and calorie intake. As a seasoned enthusiast in the field, I emphasize the importance of a balanced approach to enjoying bubble tea, considering both its potential benefits and associated health concerns.
