All things in the world contain the law of coexisting yin and yang, such as black and white, beauty and ugliness, fragrance and stench. Food also possesses both positive and negative aspects. After all, nothing in the world is perfect, so we should explore vegetables further. Besides filling the stomach and nourishing the body, do they contain taboos that could harm our health? We must first be fully aware of these, so that we can know what to avoid. Only then can we remain safe and sound after eating our fill and safeguard our health.
1. Daylily (Golden Needles)
▲ Soak for two hours and cook thoroughly before eating.
2. Eggplant
▲ Avoid during menstruation and if you have a weak spleen and stomach.
Eggplant is cool and slippery, so it is not advisable for those with a weak spleen and stomach to eat too much. Women should also try to eat less before and during their menstrual period. Overripe eggplant is toxic and should not be eaten. Eggplant contains components that can trigger allergies, and eating too much can make one's nervous system unstable. People with allergies should avoid it.
3. Taro
▲ Not suitable for those with phlegm or allergies.
The mucus from taro can irritate the throat lining, potentially worsening coughs and increasing phlegm production. Therefore, those with a cough and phlegm should avoid it.
The unique mucus of taro can cause redness, swelling, and itching on the hands, but the effective medicinal components are in this mucus. Therefore, do not deliberately wash it off before cooking. However, people with allergies should eat it in moderation.
4. Chives
▲ They are warm in nature; do not eat after drinking alcohol.
Chives are considered warm in nature. Eating too much can cause dizziness and disorientation. They should especially not be eaten after drinking alcohol.
People suffering from wind-heat type colds, inflammation, measles, tuberculosis, constipation, hemorrhoids, etc., should not eat them.
The fiber in chives is very coarse. Those with digestive diseases or indigestion should not eat too much at once, otherwise it will cause bloating and discomfort.
5. Spinach
▲ Avoid eating with high-calcium foods.
Spinach contains a high amount of oxalic acid, which can easily form calcium oxalate stones when eaten with high-calcium foods. Therefore, spinach should be avoided coming into contact with high-calcium foods like tofu, black sesame seeds, and yogurt. Do not eat them in the same meal or in close succession, especially for those who already have stones.
6. White Radish
▲ Patients with chronic gastritis, etc., should avoid it.
White radish is inherently cold in nature. People with a weak spleen and stomach, stomach and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, simple goiter, etc., should not eat too much of it. White radish can affect the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, especially when taking ginseng, fo-ti, rehmannia, etc. It should be avoided.
7. Chinese Yam
▲ Not suitable for those with gynecological tumors.
Chinese yam has an astringent effect and should not be eaten by those with constipation or difficulty defecating, as it will worsen the condition.
Eating too much Chinese yam can promote the secretion of hormones, which is beneficial for most people. However, those with gynecological tumors (including uterus, ovaries, breasts) and men with prostate cancer should not eat it, as it can promote tumor growth.
8. Spring Bamboo Shoots
▲ Patients with gastrointestinal diseases, cirrhosis, allergies, etc.
Bamboo shoots not only contain insoluble calcium oxalate, making them unsuitable for patients with urinary tract, kidney, or gallstones to eat too much, but they also contain a high amount of coarse fiber, which can be a pathogenic factor for patients with gastrointestinal diseases and cirrhosis.
When eating spring bamboo shoots, be mindful of allergies. The elderly and children should not eat too much; it is best to have no more than half a shoot per meal. Spring bamboo shoots contain insoluble oxalic acid, and eating too much can easily induce asthma, allergic rhinitis, and dermatitis. Therefore, children should eat small amounts of spring bamboo shoots and not eat hairy shoots. The elderly must chew bamboo shoots slowly and thoroughly.
9. Sweet Potato
▲ Sweet potatoes with black spots can easily cause poisoning.
Sweet potatoes with brown or black spots on their skin are contaminated by black spot bacteria. The toxins excreted by this bacteria make the sweet potato hard and bitter and are highly toxic to the human liver. This toxin cannot be destroyed by boiling, steaming, or roasting. Therefore, eating sweet potatoes with black spots, raw or cooked, can cause poisoning.
10. Lettuce Stem (Asparagus Lettuce)
▲ Not suitable for those with a weak spleen and stomach to eat too much.
Although lettuce stem is delicious, it should not be eaten in excess, as it can cause night blindness. Additionally, those with a weak spleen and stomach should not eat too much.