Vegetables are an indispensable part of our meals, but how do we eat them to get the most nutrition? Any food will lose some nutrients after cooking, but isn't the purpose of our diet to absorb the nutrients from food and become healthier? Therefore, to achieve that goal, we need to be aware of some taboos when eating vegetables!
Tomatoes: Avoid eating before a meal
Eating tomatoes before a meal can easily increase stomach acid, leading to discomfort such as heartburn and stomach pain. However, eating tomatoes after a meal, when stomach acid has already mixed with other food, can lower the stomach's acidity and avoid these symptoms.
Carrots: Avoid consuming with alcohol
American food experts have found that consuming carrot juice, which is rich in carotene, together with alcohol can produce toxins in the liver, leading to liver disease.
Shiitake Mushrooms: Avoid excessive soaking
Shiitake mushrooms are rich in ergosterol, which converts into vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Soaking or washing them excessively will cause a loss of ergosterol and other nutrients.
Bean Sprouts: Must be thoroughly cooked
Bean sprouts are tender, delicious, and nutritious, but they must be cooked thoroughly. Otherwise, harmful substances like trypsin inhibitors in the sprouts may cause adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Bitter Melon: Must be blanched first
The oxalic acid in bitter melon can hinder the absorption of calcium from food. Therefore, before stir-frying, you should blanch the bitter melon in boiling water to remove the oxalic acid.
Sweet Potato: Do not eat with persimmons
When eaten together, they can form a bezoar in the stomach, causing bloating, stomach pain, and vomiting. In severe cases, it can lead to stomach bleeding. It is also not advisable to eat them with bananas.
Spinach: Not suitable to be eaten with tofu
Eating spinach and tofu together can easily lead to calcium deficiency. It is also advisable to avoid eating it with chives. Spinach and tofu soup is a traditional home-cooked dish that is popular for its light and refreshing taste. However, modern medical research indicates that spinach and tofu should not be eaten at the same time.
Eggplant: Avoid during menstruation
Eggplant is cool and slippery in nature. People with a weak spleen and stomach should not eat too much, and women should also try to avoid it before and during their period.
Taro: Not suitable for allergy sufferers
The unique mucus on taro can cause redness, swelling, and itching on the hands. However, the effective medicinal ingredients are in this mucus, so do not intentionally wash it off before cooking. People with allergies should avoid eating it.