People have different constitutions, and fruits also have different components and properties. People's constitutions can be categorized as "cold" or "hot," and similarly, fruits have properties that are "warm" or "cool."
Therefore, there are certain taboos regarding which fruits people with different constitutions should eat. The idea that eating fruit has taboos is gradually being accepted. So, how should one choose fruit? The answer is to pay attention to the "three look-fives nots."
◆ Look at the disease when choosing fruit
Patients with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia: It is advisable to eat hawthorn, citrus, grapefruit, peach, strawberry, etc., as these fruits contain vitamin C and niacin, which can lower blood lipids and cholesterol.
Diabetics: It is advisable to eat fruits rich in pectin or fruit acid, such as pineapple, pear, cherry, bayberry, grape, lemon, etc., as they can change insulin secretion and lower blood sugar.
Patients with hepatitis: It is advisable to eat fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, jujubes, kiwis, bananas, apples, strawberries, etc.
Patients with respiratory tract infections: Especially those with sore throat, cough, and excessive phlegm, it is advisable to eat more pears, loquats, grapefruits, apricots, etc., which have the effects of resolving phlegm, moistening the lungs, and relieving coughs.
Patients with hypertension and arteriosclerosis: It is advisable to eat oranges, hawthorn, jujubes, tangerines, etc., which are rich in vitamin C, and can lower blood pressure and alleviate vascular hardening. Other sour fruits, like lemons, can have the same effect. Hami melons are high in potassium but contain no sodium or fat, which helps control blood pressure.
Patients with myocardial infarction and stroke: It is advisable to eat fruits that aid digestion, such as bananas, oranges, and peaches; it is not advisable to eat persimmons, apples, etc., as they contain tannic acid, which can cause constipation and worsen the condition.
◆ Look at the color when choosing fruit
Orange: Orange pigment has an anti-cancer effect, several times that of carotene, and is rich in vitamin C. Representative fruits include oranges and Hami melons.
Purple: Proanthocyanidins in purple fruits are very effective in relieving eye fatigue, and this component also enhances blood vessel elasticity. Representative fruits include grapes and plums.
Red: The origin of red color is carotenoids, which can suppress active oxygen that promotes cancer cell formation, enhance human immunity, and prevent aging. Representative fruits include apples, plums, figs, and peaches.
Yellow: Yellow pigment is a type of flavonoid with antioxidant effects and can prevent arteriosclerosis and cancer. Representative fruits include lemons, papayas, bananas, and grapefruits.◆ Look at the nature when choosing fruit
Apple: Apples contain a large amount of carbohydrates and potassium salts, and excessive intake is not good for heart and kidney health. People with coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, or diabetes should not eat too many.
Banana: Banana is a "cold" nature fruit and contains a lot of sodium salt. People with chronic nephritis, hypertension, or edema should be especially cautious. Due to its high sugar content, diabetics should also eat it in moderation.
Citrus: Citrus fruits are "cold" in nature. Elderly people with weak spleen, stomach, large intestine, or lungs should not eat too many to avoid inducing symptoms like abdominal pain and weakness in the knees and waist. Tangerines are "warm" in nature; eating too many can easily lead to "heatiness," causing mouth sores, red and swollen eyes, and triggering hemorrhoids.
Watermelon: Watermelon has a high water content and is an excellent summer heat-relieving food, but its flesh is "cold" in nature. Elderly or weak people who eat too much may easily develop abdominal pain or diarrhea. People with heart failure and those with severe edema should also not eat too much.
Litchi: Eating a large amount of litchi continuously can make one's face pale and cause symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, cold sweats, yawning, and fatigue. This is due to an exogenous hypoglycemic reaction caused by litchi, medically known as "litchi disease."
Persimmon: Persimmon flesh contains a large amount of tannin and persimmon phenol. Tannin has a strong astringent effect, so patients with constipation should not eat too many. In addition, eating persimmons on an empty stomach or after eating crabs can easily form persimmon stones. Therefore, patients with gastritis, excessive stomach acid, or a weak spleen and stomach, as well as those who are fasting or fatigued, should best avoid or eat fewer persimmons.
◆ Five "Not"s for Eating FruitDo not use fruit as a substitute for vegetables.
Fruits contain organic acids and aromatic substances that play an important role in stimulating appetite and helping nutrient absorption. Moreover, fruits do not require cooking, so there is no loss of nutrients. However, the amount of minerals and vitamins in fruits is far less than in vegetables. If you don't eat vegetables and rely only on fruit, it is absolutely insufficient to provide enough nutrients. In terms of vitamin C content, cheap cabbage and radish are about 10 times higher than apples, pears, and peaches. The vitamin C content in green peppers and cauliflower is 2-3 times that of strawberries and citrus. Therefore, eating about 500 grams of vegetables daily is essential. Do not use fruit as a meal replacement.
The human body needs nearly 50 different nutrients to survive, especially more than 65 grams of fat per day to maintain the renewal and repair of tissues and organs. Fruits contain over 85% water, but their protein content is less than 1%, and they contain almost no essential fatty acids, far from meeting the body's nutritional needs. Fruit can only be a supplement to a main meal; it may be delicious but should not be overeaten. Do not eat a lot of fruit to lose weight.
In fact, fruit is not a very low-calorie food. Because of its pleasant sweetness, its sugar content often exceeds 80%, and it is easily digestible simple and double sugars. Although fruits contain fewer calories than rice by weight, their sweet taste makes it easy to overindulge, so the intake of sugar often exceeds the limit. Losing weight by eating fruit is not reliable. Do not blindly trust expensive imported fruits.
Many people assume that expensive foreign fruits must have higher nutritional value, but this is not the case. Imported fruits begin to degrade nutrients during transportation, and their freshness is not ideal. Furthermore, to allow for long-distance transport, fruits are often picked before they are fully ripe and preserved with chemical agents, which may affect their quality. Therefore, when buying imported fruits, be sure to examine them carefully and check their quality. Do not rely on fruit to supplement vitamins.
The vitamin C content in most fruits is not high, and the content of other vitamins is even more limited. There are 13 types of vitamins, which come from a variety of foods. It is extremely unwise to rely solely on fruit to provide all vitamins. For example, to meet the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, one would need to consume 5 kg of Fuji apples, which is an absolutely impossible task. Fruits rich in vitamin C include fresh jujubes, kiwis, hawthorn, grapefruit, strawberries, and citrus, while commonly eaten fruits like apples, pears, peaches, apricots, bananas, and grapes have very low vitamin C content. Mango is the fruit with the most carotene, while yellow fruits like citrus, yellow apricots, and pineapple contain only small amounts of carotene.