The cultivation of persimmon trees has a history of over a thousand years. The Northern Song poet Zhang Zhongshui praised the persimmon: "Its flavor surpasses the sweet fragrance of Hua Lin, its color is as deep as the cinnabar of Yangjing. The light, uniform crimson wax encloses a round, soft pastry, not to be compared to the sweet dew of the mortal world." When eating persimmons, one must pay attention to the proper way, and understand what not to eat them with, and what the dangers are if consumed together.
1. Persimmons and Crabs: When consumed together, they can cause food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea.
"In the 'Yin Zheng Yao': 'Persimmons and pears should not be eaten with crabs.' Persimmons and crabs are both considered 'cold' in nature. Eating them together can harm the spleen and stomach due to their excessive coldness.
Crabs are rich in protein. When eaten with persimmons, the protein in the crabs can react with the tannic acid in the persimmons in the human stomach, causing it to coagulate into a mass that is difficult to digest and absorb. This can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
2. Persimmons and Sweet Potatoes: When consumed together, they can easily lead to persimmon bezoars, and in severe cases, can cause gastric perforation, which is life-threatening.
Sweet potatoes contain a high amount of starch. After eating them, the stomach produces a large amount of gastric acid. If persimmons are then eaten, the tannic acid in the persimmons will precipitate under the action of the stomach acid.
These precipitates can clump together to form insoluble masses that are difficult to digest and expel, easily leading to persimmon bezoars. In severe cases, this can cause gastric perforation, endangering life.
3. Persimmons and Kelp: When consumed together, they can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Kelp, rich in calcium ions, and persimmons, which contain a high amount of tannic acid, should not be eaten together. The calcium ions in the kelp can bind with the tannic acid in the persimmons to form insoluble compounds, which can affect the digestion and absorption of certain nutrients, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort.
4. Persimmons and Acidic Vegetables: When consumed together, they may lead to gastrolithiasis.
After eating persimmons, do not drink too much acidic vegetable soup or excessive water.
Eating pickled vegetables causes the stomach to produce a large amount of hydrochloric acid, which reacts with the gastric acid produced by the persimmons in the stomach, forming a precipitate. These precipitates can clump together to form an insoluble mass, leading to gastrolithiasis.
5. Persimmons and Goose Meat: When consumed together, in severe cases, it can lead to death.
Goose meat is a complete protein and a high-quality protein. When it meets the tannic acid in persimmons, it can easily coagulate into tannic acid protein, which accumulates in the stomach and intestines. In severe cases, this can lead to death.
6. Persimmons and Octopus: When consumed together, they can damage the gastrointestinal tract and easily cause diarrhea.
Octopus has a sweet and salty taste, is cold in nature, and non-toxic. Its medicinal properties are cooling but not purgative, and it can nourish blood and benefit qi. Persimmons are sweet, astringent, and cold in nature, also belonging to the category of cooling medicinal herbs. Therefore, these two should not be eaten together, as they can damage the gastrointestinal tract and easily cause diarrhea.
7. Persimmons and Alcohol: When consumed together, they can cause intestinal obstruction.
Persimmons are cold in nature, while alcohol is pungent, slightly bitter, and has a strong, hot, and toxic nature.
When alcohol enters the stomach, it stimulates increased intestinal secretions. The tannic acid in the persimmons then reacts with the stomach acid to form a thick, sticky substance. This substance can easily entangle with cellulose to form a clot that is difficult to digest and expel, and over time, it can cause intestinal obstruction.