We all know about the interactions of the five elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In fact, there is also a concept of “mutual generation and restriction” among foods. When two or more foods are paired appropriately, they can “generate” each other, providing complementary nutrition and enhancing each other’s effects. However, improper combinations may lead to physical discomfort.
Mutual Restriction
Examples
Tomato + Shrimp – Toxic
Shrimp contains “pentavalent arsenic,” which is non-toxic, but when consumed with tomatoes, it can reduce to trivalent arsenic (commonly known as arsenic), which is toxic and should be used with caution.
Honey + Green Onion – Eye Damage
Consuming honey and green onions together can cause poisoning, leading to eye discomfort, and in severe cases, blindness.
Chicken + Celery – Damages Vital Energy
Eating chicken with celery can damage vital energy, lowering the body’s immunity and potentially leading to various diseases; it is advisable to minimize their combined consumption.
Mushrooms + Donkey Meat – Cardiovascular Disease
Consuming donkey meat with mushrooms can trigger cardiovascular diseases, and severe cases may lead to death if not treated promptly.
Carrot + White Radish – Low Immunity
Long-term consumption of carrots and white radishes together can lead to low immunity and sepsis.
Potato + Sweet Persimmon – Stones
Long-term consumption of potatoes and sweet persimmons can lead to urinary stones and kidney stones; it is advisable to limit their intake.
Black Fungus + White Radish – Skin Diseases
Consuming black fungus with white radish can lead to dermatitis and skin lesions, and age spots; it is best to avoid eating them together.
Watermelon + Lamb – Damages Vital Energy
Eating watermelon with lamb can severely damage vital energy and lower immunity, leading to various health issues.
Rice Soup + Milk – Vision Damage
Combining rice soup with milk can destroy vitamin A, leading to long-term vision damage.
Sweet Potato + Egg – Abdominal Distension
Eating sweet potatoes with eggs can easily cause intestinal obstruction and abdominal distension; it is advisable to avoid this combination.
White Radish + Loofah – Premature Ejaculation
Consuming loofah with white radish can damage vital energy, leading to impotence, premature ejaculation, and diabetes.
Pear + Duck Meat – Spleen Damage
Eating goose or duck meat with pears can damage the spleen, and long-term consumption may lead to nephritis.
Spinach + Tofu – Cervical Spondylosis
Consuming spinach with tofu not only prevents calcium absorption but also damages the body’s internal calcium, leading to cervical and lumbar diseases, as well as stone diseases.
Orange + Lemon – Gastric Ulcer
Long-term consumption of oranges and lemons together can lead to gastric ulcers, and in severe cases, gastrointestinal perforation.
Dog Meat + Garlic – Food Poisoning
Eating dog meat with garlic can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, and in severe cases, lead to food poisoning; therefore, it is advisable to avoid garlic when consuming dog meat or dog meat soup.
Banana + Watermelon – Kidney Deficiency
Consuming bananas with watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew can easily lead to kidney deficiency and increased blood sugar levels.
Vinegar + Lamb – Heart Disease
Eating vinegar with lamb can trigger heart disease; thus, it is advisable not to add vinegar when consuming lamb.
Carrot + Liquor – Liver Damage
Carrots contain carotene, and when combined with alcohol, toxins can be produced in the liver, damaging liver function.
Pumpkin + Lamb – Pleurisy
Consuming pumpkin with lamb can easily lead to pleurisy and pulmonary emphysema.
Sweet Potato + Tomato – Vomiting
Eating sweet potatoes with tomatoes can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, and may lead to stone diseases; it is advisable to avoid this combination.
Chicken + Chrysanthemum – Poisoning
Consuming chicken with chrysanthemum tea can lead to poisoning, with serious consequences; it should be strictly avoided.
Prohibited Foods
1. Fresh Daylily
Fresh daylilies contain a toxic substance called colchicine and should be consumed sparingly or avoided altogether.
2. Spoiled Ginger, Frozen Ginger
Spoiled or frozen ginger contains highly toxic organic compounds called “gingerol,” which can cause liver cell degeneration and may induce liver cancer and esophageal cancer with long-term consumption.
3. Sprouted Potatoes
Consuming sprouted potatoes can lead to symptoms of food poisoning such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Even after removing the sprouts, green tubers may still contain solanine, which can cause poisoning; therefore, sprouted potatoes should not be consumed.
4. Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes not only have a bitter taste but can also cause nausea and vomiting due to the toxic substance solanine. They should not be consumed raw or cooked.
5. Yellowed Tremella
Normal tremella appears white, with a yellowish base. However, spoiled tremella may be infected with yellow bacteria, turning it entirely yellow, which can cause dizziness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea upon consumption.
6. Discolored Nori
Nori that appears normal but turns blue-purple after soaking indicates contamination with toxic substances before drying and packaging; it should be avoided as it is harmful to health.
7. Insufficiently Pickled Vegetables
Vegetables that are inadequately salted or not pickled for at least 8 days can lead to nitrite poisoning, causing nausea, abdominal distension, and even hypoxic coma.
8. Rootless Bean Sprouts
Rootless bean sprouts are formed by adding chemicals to water, preventing root growth. If you find these thick, rootless sprouts with a faint ammonia smell, do not use them, as they can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and long-term consumption may induce cancer.
9. Spotted Sweet Potatoes
Spotted sweet potatoes contain various toxins that can damage the liver and cause poisoning. Cooking methods do not eliminate these toxins, so it is best to avoid sweet potatoes with black spots, whether raw or cooked.
10. Undercooked Soy Milk
Soy milk should be boiled to 90 degrees Celsius, as saponins produce bubbles when heated. If mistakenly thought to be boiled and consumed, it can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The correct method is to boil for 5-10 minutes before consumption. Avoid storing soy milk in thermos bottles, as it can sour and spoil within 3-4 hours, leading to abdominal distension and diarrhea.
Mutual Generation
1. Eggplant + Bitter Melon – Protects Cardiovascular Health
Eggplant has pain-relieving, blood-activating, and heat-clearing properties; bitter melon helps relieve fatigue and clears the heart and eyes. Both are ideal vegetables for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Asparagus + Green Garlic Sprouts – Prevents and Treats Hypertension
Asparagus and green garlic sprouts together can promote qi, open meridians, cleanse teeth, clear heat, detoxify, and prevent and treat hypertension.
Chinese Cabbage + Fish – Treats Pregnancy Edema
Chinese cabbage and fish are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and various nutrients. Consuming them together can provide auxiliary treatment for pregnancy edema.
Peanuts + Celery – Softens Blood Vessels
Celery has heat-clearing, liver-calming, and blood pressure-lowering effects; peanuts have hemostatic and lung-moistening properties. Consuming them together can soften blood vessels and lower cholesterol.
Pork + Sauerkraut – Stimulates Appetite
Pork nourishes yin, supports the stomach, clears the lungs, replenishes blood, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling; sauerkraut contains various vitamins. Consuming them together can stimulate appetite, relieve hiccups, and treat cold symptoms.
Cilantro + Lamb – Nourishes Qi and Blood
Lamb contains fats, carbohydrates, and various nutrients, and when consumed with cilantro, it can stimulate appetite and strengthen energy and blood. It is suitable for those with insufficient yang energy.
Tofu + Enoki Mushrooms – Lowers Three Highs
Tofu combined with enoki mushrooms can inhibit cancer cells and is a great dish for patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular sclerosis, diabetes, and obesity.
Hot Peppers + Water Spinach – Detoxifies and Reduces Swelling
Hot peppers and water spinach both contain vitamins and minerals; consuming them together can lower blood pressure, relieve headaches, detoxify, and reduce swelling, preventing and treating diabetes.
Green Beans + Potatoes – Mutual Generation
The nutrients in green beans can calm the mind and regulate the digestive system, alleviating chest fullness; consuming them with potatoes can prevent acute gastroenteritis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Tomato + Celery – Aids Digestion
Both celery and tomatoes have significant blood pressure-lowering effects. Consuming them together can strengthen the stomach and aid digestion, suitable for those with hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
Shiitake Mushrooms + Tofu – Anti-Cancer
Consuming shiitake mushrooms with tofu can clear heat and detoxify, nourish qi and generate fluids, and regulate qi, making it a good dish for anti-cancer, lowering blood lipids, and blood pressure.
Lettuce + Garlic – Clears Internal Heat
Consuming lettuce with garlic can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar, nourish the brain, and prevent gum bleeding; regular consumption has heat-clearing effects.
Pork + White Radish – Promotes Bowel Movement
Consuming pork with white radish can strengthen the spleen, moisturize the skin, support the stomach, resolve phlegm, promote qi, diuresis, and aid digestion, making it an effective remedy for bloating and constipation.
Egg + Chives – Treats Frequent Urination
Eggs paired with chives can nourish the kidneys and promote qi, alleviating pain. They are effective for conditions such as impotence, frequent urination due to kidney deficiency, hemorrhoids, and stomach pain.
Chicken + Cauliflower – Prevents Colds
Cauliflower contains vitamins and minerals, and when consumed with chicken, it can benefit qi, strengthen bones, enhance liver detoxification, and improve immunity, thus preventing colds.
Wood Ear + Asparagus – Lowers Three Highs
Wood ear and asparagus can enhance appetite and stimulate digestion, providing preventive and therapeutic effects for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Chinese Cabbage + Shrimp – Promotes Bowel Movement
Shrimp is high in protein and calcium, while Chinese cabbage has high nutritional value. Consuming them together can prevent constipation, gum bleeding, and scurvy; stir-frying is recommended.
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Source: Medical and Health Extension
