Introduction: People have different constitutions, and fruits have different components and characteristics. Just as people have hot and cold constitutions, fruits do too. Therefore, there are certain taboos regarding what fruits different people should eat.
So, how should you choose what fruits to eat?
You can consider it from three aspects: look at your personal health condition, look at the color of the fruit, and look at the components of the fruit.
Eat Fruit Based on Color
Orange: The orange pigment in citrus fruits has an anti-cancer effect, which is more than 5 times that of carotene, and is rich in vitamin C. Representative fruits include oranges, cantaloupes, etc.
Purple: Proanthocyanidins, which are very effective in relieving eye fatigue, are found in purple fruits. This component also has the function of enhancing blood vessel elasticity. Representative fruits include grapes and plums, etc.
Red: The origin of red color is carotenoids, which can inhibit active oxygen that promotes cancer cell formation, and can also improve human immunity, and even has an anti-aging effect. Representative fruits include apples, plums, figs, peaches, etc.
Yellow: Yellow pigment is a type of flavonoid that has an antioxidant effect and can prevent arteriosclerosis, cancer, and aging. Representative fruits include lemons, papayas, bananas, pomelos, etc.
Eat Fruit Based on Components
Apple: Apples contain a large amount of sugars and potassium salts. Excessive intake is not good for the health of the heart and kidneys; people with coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, or diabetes should not eat too many.
Banana: Bananas are cold in nature and contain a lot of sodium salt. People with chronic nephritis, high blood pressure, or edema should be especially cautious; because bananas are high in sugar, diabetics should eat them in moderation.
Citrus: Citrus fruits are cool in nature. Elderly people with weak functions of the stomach, intestines, kidneys, or lungs should not eat too many to avoid inducing symptoms such as abdominal pain and weakness in the knees and waist. Eating too many oranges can also 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 fruit for relieving summer heat, but its flesh is cold. 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.
Lychee: Eating lychees in large quantities 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 lychees, which is medically known as "lychee disease."
Persimmon: The flesh of persimmons contains a large amount of tannin and persimmon gum. 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 crab can easily form persimmon stones. Therefore, patients with gastritis, hyperacidity, or weak spleen and stomach, as well as those who are hungry or tired, should avoid or eat fewer persimmons.
Eat Fruit Based on Disease
1. Patients with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia
It is advisable to eat fruits such as hawthorn, citrus, pomelo, peach, and strawberry, because they contain vitamin C and niacin, which have the effect of lowering blood lipids and cholesterol.
2. Diabetics
Pineapple, pear, cherry, bayberry, grape, lychee, lemon, etc., which are rich in pectin or fruit acid, can change the amount of insulin secreted, causing blood sugar to drop.
3. Patients with hepatitis
It is advisable to eat fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, jujubes, kiwis, bananas, pears, apples, strawberries, etc.
4. Patients with respiratory tract infections
Especially those with sore throat, cough, and excessive phlegm, it is advisable to eat more fruits that resolve phlegm, moisten the lungs, and relieve cough, such as pears, loquats, pomelos, and apricots.
5. Patients with high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis
Cantaloupe has a high potassium content but no sodium or fat, which helps control blood pressure. Orange, hawthorn, jujube, and orange are rich in vitamin C, which can lower blood pressure and relieve vascular hardening. Lemon and other sour fruits can have the same effect.
6. Patients with myocardial infarction and stroke
It is advisable to eat fruits that help digestion, such as bananas, oranges, and peaches; it is not advisable to eat fruits like persimmons and apples, because they contain tannic acid, which can cause constipation and worsen the condition.