Chives have many benefits, such as stimulating appetite, benefiting the liver and strengthening the stomach, moistening the intestines to relieve constipation, and protecting the skin and improving eyesight. However, there are taboos when pairing chives, otherwise, not only will the medicinal value of chives be weakened, but it may also induce problems like diarrhea. So, which foods should not be eaten with chives?
Beef
Beef has the effects of tonifying the spleen and stomach, replenishing qi and blood, strengthening muscles and bones, and resolving phlegm and stopping wind. However, many people eat beef with some foods like ginger and chives at the same time. In fact, this way of eating is not very scientific. The Compendium of Materia Medica records: "When beef is eaten with pork and sorghum wine, it can cause tapeworms; when eaten with chives and shallots, it can cause heat-related diseases; when eaten with ginger, it can damage the teeth." Chives should not be eaten with beef. Chives are pungent and warm in nature, with the effect of warming the middle jiao and assisting yang. Beef is sweet and warm, with the effect of replenishing qi and strengthening yang. Eating them together is like adding fuel to the fire, causing a rise in false fire, leading to swollen and painful gums. Eating beef and chives together can cause poisoning. In folk remedies, human milk and fermented soybean juice can be used as an antidote.
Honey
Because chives are pungent, warm, and hot, containing allicin and sulfides, their food properties are the opposite of honey's, so they cannot be eaten together. In addition, chives contain a relatively high amount of dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and have a laxative effect. Honey can moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. Eating them together can easily lead to diarrhea. Neither chives nor yellow chives should be eaten with honey.
Liquor
In ancient times, there was a saying that "drinking liquor and eating raw chives can increase illness." The "Principles of Correct Diet" also records that "chives should not be eaten with alcohol." The reason is roughly related to their food properties. This is because liquor is pungent and hot, which can promote blood circulation and dilate blood vessels. Chives are pungent and warm, with the effect of tonifying and strengthening yang. Eating them together can be like adding fuel to the fire for people who have just recovered from a serious illness, so they cannot be eaten together.
Spinach
Chives should not be eaten with spinach. Both chives and spinach are ingredients high in oxalic acid. Furthermore, spinach is sweet and cool in nature and has a laxative effect. Eating them together can easily cause diarrhea.
Red Wine
Many wine lovers like to pair red wine with chives. However, both chives and red wine have the effect of activating blood and resolving stasis. If eaten together, they can cause symptoms like excessive internal heat, indigestion, and accelerated blood flow, leading to discomfort such as a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and chest tightness. They will also burden the body in various ways and cause discomfort such as gastroenteritis. Therefore, when drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages, be sure not to eat chives. If you want to eat them, you can do so two or three hours after drinking wine, so that the alcohol in your body will have been completely digested by then and will not affect your body.
Vinegar
There is a rumor online that chives and vinegar can treat back pain. Chives have the effects of activating blood to dissipate stasis, regulating qi, and lowering adverse qi. Vinegar also has a certain effect of dispersing stasis. Theoretically, it may have a certain relieving effect on back pain caused by lumbar muscle strain, sprains, etc. However, eating chives and vinegar together will destroy the carotenoids in chives, causing nutritional loss. Taking chives and vinegar together is highly irritating to the digestive tract. Patients with poor gastrointestinal function should not try it easily. It is recommended to consult a doctor before use.