Shrimp is low in fat and high in protein, offering several times more protein than meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. While shrimp is a nutritious food choice, we need to be cautious about consuming it with these 8 forbidden food combinations.
Foods You Shouldn’t Eat with Shrimp
Shrimp is low in calories but rich in nutrients, containing about 99 calories, 0.3g of fat, 0.2g of carbohydrates, 189mg of cholesterol, 111mg of sodium, and 24g of protein per 100g when cooked. Due to its low carbohydrate and calorie content combined with high nutrient density, shrimp is an ideal choice for those looking to lose weight.
Additionally, shrimp contains many antioxidants that help reduce wrinkle formation, slow the aging process, and combat various diseases due to its rich nutritional profile.
While shrimp is beneficial, there are 8 types of foods you should avoid combining with shrimp to prevent health issues.
1. Foods High in Vitamin C
Shrimp contains arsenic, which is harmless when consumed alone. However, when combined with vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits, it can convert to trivalent arsenic—a substance known to be extremely toxic and potentially fatal if consumed in large amounts.
Do not eat shrimp with foods high in vitamin C.
Therefore, avoid consuming shrimp with vitamin C-rich foods or eating these two types of foods too close together.
2. Soybeans and Soy Products
Both shrimp meat and shrimp shells are high in protein and calcium. Consuming them alongside protein- and calcium-rich foods like soybeans and soy products can lead to indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain, and other symptoms if this combination becomes a long-term habit.
If you consume both types of food at the same time excessively, it can also result in diarrhea. Therefore, while this combination can be used occasionally, remember not to consume it frequently or in large amounts.
3. Alcoholic Beverages
Many people find it enjoyable to have some alcoholic drinks with shrimp. However, in reality, combining shrimp and alcoholic beverages can elevate uric acid levels in the body, increasing the risk of gout.
Shrimp and alcoholic beverages can lead to high levels of uric acid in the body, causing gout.
This is because shrimp is rich in purines. When purines enter the body, uric acid is formed. Meanwhile, alcoholic beverages break down into lactic acid, which inhibits the kidneys’ ability to excrete uric acid. This leads to an excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body, potentially resulting in gout.
4. Fruits Rich in Tannic Acid
After consuming shrimp, eating fruits rich in tannic acid such as guava, persimmon, and grapes can immediately affect the body’s protein absorption. The calcium in shrimp combines with the tannic acid in these fruits to form an insoluble compound, irritating the stomach and causing abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, it’s best to wait at least 2 hours after eating shrimp before consuming tannic acid-rich fruits.
5. Tea
Tea can help reduce fat and promote digestion. Many people like to drink a cup of tea after eating; however, after consuming shrimp, you should absolutely avoid this. This is because tea also contains a certain amount of tannic acid. If you drink tea right after eating shrimp, it will also combine with the calcium in shrimp to create insoluble calcium.
6. Pumpkin
Shrimp is rich in high-quality protein and trace elements. Consuming shrimp can boost the body’s immune system and enhance sexual function. However, shrimp should not be eaten with pumpkin. Eating shrimp with pumpkin can cause acute gastrointestinal inflammation.
7. Loofah
You may have heard the saying “Shrimp whiskers cooked with loofah,” but in reality, shrimp and loofah should not be eaten together. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, loofah is a cooling food, beneficial for relieving asthma and detoxifying the body.
Eating these two foods together, one cold and one hot, will create phlegm.
On the other hand, shrimp is considered a warming food, nourishing the kidneys and stimulating libido. Consuming these two foods together, one cold and one hot, increases humidity in the body, leading to phlegm production. Therefore, while it may not have a significant impact, you should still limit eating shrimp with loofah.
8. Pork and Chicken
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pork, chicken, and shrimp all have warming properties. Eating these three warming foods together can overwhelm the body, affecting liver function and potentially causing kidney failure. Therefore, it’s best to avoid combining these three foods in one meal.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Eating Shrimp to Prevent Toxicity
1. Avoid Eating Dead Shrimp
Fresh shrimp is rich in histidine; however, once dead, histidine is broken down by bacteria into histamine, which is harmful to humans. Additionally, shrimp can harbor harmful bacteria and toxins in the stomach and intestines, making them smell bad and spoil quickly after death. The longer the dead shrimp sit, the more toxins accumulate, leading to potential poisoning if consumed.
2. Don’t Eat Too Much Shrimp at Once
Overeating shrimp can lead to excess nutrients, causing digestive disturbances, bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea. The American Heart Association recommends eating about 170g of shrimp per week.
3. Do Not Eat Raw Shrimp
Seafood such as crab, snails, shrimp, and fish can carry parasites and eggs that can cling to aquatic plants. Consuming these foods without cooking them can allow parasites and larvae to enter the body, posing a risk of serious health issues, including potentially reaching the brain.
Those with a cough should limit eating shrimp.
People Who Should Avoid Eating Shrimp
- People with a Cough: According to traditional medicine practitioner Vu Quoc Trung (Hanoi Traditional Medicine Association), if you eat shrimp without peeling it and removing the claws, the sharp shells can easily get stuck in the throat, worsening itching and coughing.
- People Allergic to Shrimp: Shrimp is a high-protein food, so some individuals may experience allergic reactions, such as rashes or swelling. Pay attention to these symptoms to limit or avoid consumption.
- People with Hyperthyroidism Should Limit Shrimp: Shrimp contains a lot of iodine, which can exacerbate hyperthyroid conditions.
- People Prone to Diarrhea: Individuals who are susceptible to diarrhea should limit their seafood intake, including shrimp, to avoid abdominal pain and diarrhea.
- Patients with Gout, Elevated Uric Acid Levels, and Arthritis: These individuals should avoid shrimp, as it can lead to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, worsening their condition.
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