Eating crabs with persimmons, spinach with tofu, peanuts with cucumbers, or honey with scallions is forbidden. Additionally, consuming shrimp with fruit is akin to eating arsenic...
In daily life, are you often alarmed by these "food incompatibility" claims and meticulously avoid them?
Recently, CCTV debunked these food incompatibility myths: Experts state that the lethal oral dose of arsenic for adults ranges from 100-300mg. Using the lowest threshold of 100mg, shrimp contain trace amounts of arsenic. To reach this lethal dose, one would need to consume 300 jin (approximately 150kg) of shrimp in a single sitting.
What does eating 300 jin of shrimp at once even mean? You'd probably be stuffed to death before arsenic poisoning could kill you... Today, let's talk about the "food incompatibility" theory.
Is "Food Incompatibility" a Theory?
Folk beliefs about food incompatibility have long circulated in China, with many viewing it as traditional Chinese medicine theory passed down by our ancestors. In reality, traditional Chinese medicine does not recognize "food incompatibility," only "food opposition"—which is not the same as "incompatibility."
Food incompatibility refers to side effects caused when two medicinal herbs or foods are consumed together. These effects vary by individual—healthy people are usually unaffected, but those with weaker constitutions may experience discomfort from improper food combinations. For example, someone with a cold constitution might get diarrhea from eating cold-natured crab and persimmons together.
Therefore, we shouldn't broadly label "food incompatibility" as poisoning.
Debunking Four "Food Incompatibility" Myths
So what are these folk tales about incompatible foods?
1. Persimmons and Crab
Unripe persimmons contain tannins, while crab is rich in protein. Excessive tannin intake can cause proteins in the stomach to form insoluble compounds, leading to "gastric persimmon stones."In reality, ripe persimmons have very low tannin content and pose no significant risk when eaten with crab. 2. Spinach and Tofu Rumors claim oxalic acid in spinach binds with calcium in tofu to form calcium oxalate, increasing the risk of kidney stones. In fact, many vegetables contain oxalic acid, and calcium oxalate deposits are typically excreted from the body.If concerned, blanch vegetables before cooking to remove most oxalic acid. 3. Eggs and Soy Milk Does the trypsin inhibitor in soy milk inhibit protein digestion, reducing eggs' nutritional value? In fact, cooked soy milk contains no trypsin inhibitors, so soy milk and eggs can be safely combined.
4. Tea and Eggs
Rumors suggest tea eggs form tannic acid proteins, which are astringent and may impair protein absorption. In reality, this claim lacks evidence. Even if tannic acid proteins do form, their impact is negligible.
Numerous food incompatibility claims lack scientific basis. Zheng Ji, a leading figure in China's nutrition field, compiled 184 folk-based incompatible food pairs. After conducting animal and human trials on 14 popular combinations, no abnormalities were detected.
The "Food Incompatibility" Theory Violates Modern Nutritional Principles
This theory causes many people to approach eating with excessive caution. After consuming a food, they search online to see what it "clashes" with and avoid eating incompatible foods for the rest of the day, turning meals into a high-wire act.
Adhering to such food incompatibility theories fundamentally contradicts the core principle of the Chinese Dietary Guidelines—dietary diversity. This approach risks malnutrition and may impair physical development and health.
In essence, discussing toxicity without considering dosage is irresponsible. We needn't approach eating with excessive caution; we should consume what we need while maintaining a balanced diet. However, we should be mindful of portion sizes and choose foods appropriate for our individual constitutions.