When a doctor finishes an appointment and explains dietary restrictions to a patient, the patient often asks, "I can't eat meat, but is it okay to eat fish?" Many people believe that it's good to eat more white meat, and some even think they should have it with every meal, or at least that it can't do any harm.
Is that really the case? Let's see what our ancient sages had to say—the *Suwen Yi Fa Fang Lun Lun* (Simple Questions on Different Methods in Various Regions): "Fish causes internal heat, and salt injures the blood. Therefore, the people in that region are dark-skinned with coarse pores, and their diseases are mostly sores and abscesses." This means that fish can generate internal heat, and excessive consumption can easily lead to conditions like sores and abscesses.
From our clinical observations, patients who frequently eat fish and shellfish do tend to have more severe internal heat and damp-heat. Many children with allergic asthma or rhinitis have a history of eating fish or shellfish too early or in excess. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see cases of gynecological diseases, such as uterine fibroids, caused by the excessive consumption of seafood.
In fact, while white meat has its benefits, it should never be eaten without restraint. People with a clear tendency toward internal heat, those not born in a coastal region, patients with allergic diseases, patients with gynecological diseases, and young children should all avoid excessive consumption. The old saying, "Fish creates fire, and meat creates phlegm," is indeed a piece of time-tested wisdom.