Pork is one of the most common foods people consume daily. Because it is eaten so often, people have also invented many new and creative ways to cook this traditional delicacy. While innovation is good, a lack of nutritional knowledge can lead to health problems...
1. Beef
The saying that pork and beef should not be eaten together has a long history. "The Principles of Correct Diet" states: "Pork should not be eaten with beef."
This is mainly considered from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine. First, from the perspective of medicinal food properties, pork is sour, cold, and slightly cool, with a nature that is greasy and yin-cold. Beef, on the other hand, has a sweet and warm nature, can tonify the spleen and stomach, strengthen the waist and legs, and has the effect of stabilizing the middle and replenishing qi. One is warm and the other is cold; one tonifies the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), while the other is cold and greasy, which can weaken a person.
Since their medicinal properties conflict, they are not suitable to be eaten together.
2. Sheep Liver
Traditional Chinese Medicine states: "Eating pork with sheep liver can cause a feeling of oppression in the chest."
This is mainly because sheep liver has a bitter and cold nature, and it is used to tonify the liver, improve vision, and treat liver wind and deficiency heat. Pork is "greasy and, upon entering the stomach, generates damp-heat." From the perspective of medicinal food properties, the combination is not suitable. Furthermore, sheep liver has a strong, gamey aroma. When stir-fried with pork, it can easily produce a strange flavor. From a culinary perspective, it is also not a suitable combination.
3. Soybeans
From the perspective of modern nutrition, soybeans are not considered a suitable pairing with pork. This is because soybeans have a high content of phytic acid, with 60%-80% of phosphorus existing in the form of phytic acid.
It often forms complexes with proteins and mineral elements, affecting the bioavailability of both and reducing their utilization efficiency. Additionally, minerals in soybeans bind with those in lean meats like pork and fish, such as calcium, iron, and zinc, thereby interfering with and reducing the human body's absorption of these elements.
Therefore, pork and soybeans (like soybeans) are not a suitable combination, and stewing pig's trotters with soybeans is an inappropriate pairing.
4. Cilantro
Cilantro, also known as coriander or Chinese parsley, can remove fishy odors and is considered a suitable pairing with lamb.
Cilantro is pungent and warm, which can consume qi and harm the spirit. Pork is greasy and can generate damp-heat and produce phlegm. An ancient text states: "All meats have a tonic effect, except for pork, which has none."
One consumes qi, while the other has no tonic effect. Therefore, the combination of the two is detrimental to health.