Autumn ushers in the season of fruits again, and today we're talking about persimmons. Persimmons are suitable for all ages, are nutritious, and contain large amounts of carotene, vitamin C, glucose, fructose, and mineral elements such as iodine, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They also have significant medicinal value; fresh persimmons, dried persimmons, persimmon frost, persimmon calyx, and persimmon leaves can all be used as medicine. Fresh persimmon fruits also contain inorganic salts, minerals, and flavonoids.
1. Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Persimmons:
Persimmons have effects such as clearing heat and moistening the lungs, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, and strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "The persimmon is a fruit for the spleen and lung blood. Its taste is sweet and its nature is neutral. It is astringent and has a binding effect, therefore it benefits the spleen, stops diarrhea, treats coughs, and stops bleeding." Eating fresh persimmons can treat conditions like dry cough from lung heat, hemoptysis, and hemorrhoidal bleeding. Mashing fresh persimmons to extract the juice and taking it with warm water can treat goiter. 250 grams of unripe fresh persimmon, chopped and juiced, then taken with boiling water, can treat the vexation and thirst from stomach heat injuring yin.
2. Foods That Should Not Be Eaten with Persimmons:
1. Crabs: Can lead to food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea.
Both persimmons and crabs are considered "cold" in nature. Eating them together can damage the spleen and stomach. Crabs are rich in protein. When eaten with persimmons, the protein in the crab meets the tannic acid in the persimmon, which can coagulate in the human stomach, forming a mass that is difficult to digest and absorb, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
2. Alcohol: Can cause intestinal obstruction.
Persimmons are cold-natured, while alcohol is pungent, slightly bitter, and considered "hot" and toxic. Alcohol entering the stomach stimulates increased intestinal secretions. The tannic acid from the persimmon then meets the stomach acid, forming a thick, sticky substance that easily binds with cellulose to form a clot. This clot is difficult to digest and expel, and over time can lead to intestinal obstruction.
3. Sweet Potatoes: Can easily lead to persimmon bezoars, and in severe cases, can cause gastric perforation, which is life-threatening.
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of starch. After eating them, the stomach produces a large amount of gastric acid. If persimmons are then consumed, the persimmons will precipitate under the action of the stomach acid. These precipitates can accumulate to form a water-insoluble mass that is difficult to digest and expel, easily leading to a persimmon bezoar. In severe cases, this can cause gastric perforation, endangering life.
4. Kelp: Can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Eating calcium-rich kelp with persimmons that contain a lot of tannic acid can cause the calcium ions in the kelp to bind with the tannic acid in the persimmons, forming an insoluble compound. This can affect the digestion and absorption of certain nutrients, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Acidic Vegetables: May lead to gastrolithiasis (stomach stones).
After eating persimmons, do not drink too much acidic vegetable soup or water. Eating pickled vegetables causes the stomach to produce a large amount of hydrochloric acid, which will react with the gastric acid produced by the persimmons in the stomach, creating a precipitate. This precipitate can accumulate to form a water-insoluble mass, thus forming a gastrolith.
6. Octopus: Can damage the gastrointestinal tract and easily lead to diarrhea.
The octopus has a sweet and salty taste, and is cold-natured and non-toxic. Its medicinal properties are cooling but not purgative, and it can nourish the blood and benefit qi. Persimmons are sweet, astringent, and cold-natured, belonging to the category of cold medicinal herbs. Therefore, these two should not be eaten together, as they can otherwise damage the gastrointestinal tract and easily cause diarrhea.
The foods listed above should not be eaten with persimmons. Everyone should be mindful of this to avoid harming their bodies. Health starts with the small details of life.