Pork is one of the most common foods people consume daily. Because it is eaten so often, people have invented many new and creative ways to cook this traditional dish. While innovation is good, a lack of nutritional knowledge can lead to health problems.
Beef
The saying that pork and beef should not be eaten together has a long history. The "Yin Zheng Yao" (Essentials of Dietetics) states: "Pork should not be eaten with beef."
This is mainly from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine. First, from the perspective of the medicinal properties of food, pork is sour, cold, and slightly cool, with a nature that is greasy and yin-cold. Beef, on the other hand, is sweet and warm in nature, able to nourish the spleen and stomach, strengthen the waist and legs, and has the effect of calming the body and replenishing qi. Beef is warm and nourishes the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), while pork is cold and greasy, and can weaken a person. Their natures are in conflict, so they should not be eaten together.
Lamb Liver
Traditional Chinese Medicine says: "Eating pork with lamb liver can cause a feeling of oppression in the chest." This is mainly because lamb liver is bitter and cold in nature, tonifying the liver and improving vision, and treating liver wind and deficiency heat. Pork is greasy and, upon entering the stomach, can generate damp-heat. From the perspective of medicinal properties, the combination is not suitable. Lamb liver has a strong gamey smell, and when stir-fried with pork, it can easily produce an odd flavor. From a culinary perspective, it is also not suitable.
Soybeans
From the perspective of modern nutrition, beans are not considered a suitable pairing with pork. This is because beans contain a high level of phytic acid, with 60% to 80% of phosphorus present in this form. It often forms complexes with proteins and mineral elements, affecting their bioavailability and reducing their utilization efficiency. Additionally, minerals in beans, such as calcium, iron, and zinc, can bind with those in lean meats like pork and other non-vegetarian foods, thereby interfering with and reducing the human body's absorption of these elements. Therefore, pork and soybeans are not a suitable combination, and stewing pig's trotters with soybeans is an inappropriate pairing.
Cilantro
Cilantro, also known as coriander or Chinese parsley, can remove gamey smells and goes well with lamb. Cilantro is pungent and warm, and it is said to consume qi and harm the spirit. Pork is greasy and can promote damp-heat and produce phlegm. Ancient texts record: "All meats have a tonic effect, except for pork, which has none." One consumes qi, while the other has no tonic effect, so combining them is harmful to the body.