Winter's most tempting food is undoubtedly lamb, as it has a warming effect and is best eaten on cold days. In addition to being enjoyed on its own, lamb can also be paired with a variety of other foods, making it incredibly delicious. However, many people often make the mistake of not knowing how to properly pair lamb with other ingredients, which not only fails to achieve the desired effect but can also lead to discomfort.
1. Lamb + Chestnuts = Indigestion
Lamb and chestnuts are both difficult to digest and should not be cooked together or eaten at the same time, as it may even cause vomiting.
2. Lamb + Watermelon = Diarrhea
By the way, if you're eating lamb in the summer, it's best not to eat watermelon at the same time. Eating watermelon after lamb can easily "damage vital energy". This is because lamb is warm and sweet, while watermelon is cold and belongs to the category of raw and cold foods. Consuming them together not only significantly reduces the warming effects of lamb, but also hinders digestion and can even cause diarrhea.
3. Lamb + Red Wine = Beware of Heat-Related Illnesses
Winter's most tempting food is undoubtedly lamb, especially when paired with a glass of red wine. However, this combination is actually forbidden.
Lamb contains small molecules of heterologous protein, which are allergens in the human body. Red wine promotes blood circulation and increases vascular permeability, making it easy to induce allergies. Furthermore, both lamb and red wine have warm and sweet properties. Consuming them together can easily exacerbate damp-heat in the body, leading to heat-related illnesses.
4. Lamb + Vinegar = Diminished Effects
According to "Compendium of Materia Medica," it states: "Eating lamb with vinegar harms the heart." Lamb is hot in nature, while vinegar is warm and sweet, similar to alcohol. When consumed together, they can easily cause excessive internal heat and blood stagnation. Additionally, the astringent properties of vinegar hinder the generation of yang energy in the body, greatly reducing the warming effects of lamb.
5. Lamb + Tea = Constipation
Tea is the "enemy" of lamb because lamb is rich in protein, while tea contains a lot of tannic acid. Drinking tea immediately after eating lamb can produce a substance called tannic acid protein. This substance weakens intestinal peristalsis and reduces water content in the stool due to its certain permeability. As a result, constipation can occur. Therefore, in addition to lamb, it is best not to drink tea while eating other types of meat.
6. Lamb + Soybean Paste = Chronic Illnesses
Many people like to dip their lamb in sauce, especially Sichuan people who enjoy dipping it in soybean paste. However, "Compendium of Materia Medica" records: "Eating lamb with soybean paste causes chronic illnesses." Soybean paste is made from fermented soybeans, which are salty and cold in nature and have the effect of relieving heat and toxins. Lamb, on the other hand, is a hot and fiery food. The functions of the two are exactly opposite, and long-term consumption together can affect one's health and even lead to chronic illnesses. Therefore, when eating lamb, avoid dipping it in soybean paste.
7. Lamb + Pumpkin = Chest Stuffiness and Abdominal Distension
If you feel a bit greasy after eating lamb, don't have a bowl of pumpkin soup. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Pumpkin should not be eaten with lamb as it causes qi stagnation." Both lamb and pumpkin are warm and hot foods that have the effect of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi. Consuming them together can easily cause excessive internal heat or feelings of chest stuffiness and abdominal distension, leading to poor digestion. Similarly, when cooking lamb, it is advisable to use less chili, pepper, ginger, cloves, and fennel, which are all warm and dry seasonings.
