Can eating cherries cause heatiness?
Jan 06, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
In general, whether consuming cherries causes excessive internal heat ("shang huo") mainly depends on the quantity consumed. Eating cherries in small amounts typically does not cause excessive heat, but overconsumption may lead to such symptoms. It is recommended to maintain a moderate intake of cherries in daily diet. If symptoms of excessive heat have already appeared, reduce cherry consumption promptly and adjust your diet by eating more light and cooling foods to alleviate the symptoms.
Generally speaking, whether consuming cherries causes heatiness mainly depends on the quantity consumed. Eating cherries in small amounts typically does not cause heatiness, but excessive consumption may lead to such symptoms. The detailed explanation is as follows:
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, cherries are warm in nature and have a sweet and slightly sour taste. Eating cherries in moderate amounts generally does not trigger symptoms of heatiness. However, excessive consumption may disrupt the body's yin-yang balance, leading to an excess of internal heat (yang), which can result in symptoms such as sore throat, mouth ulcers, and constipation. From a nutritional standpoint, cherries have a high sugar content. Overconsumption can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, interfere with metabolism, and intensify feelings of internal heat, thereby triggering symptoms of heatiness.
It is recommended to consume cherries in moderation during daily intake. If symptoms of heatiness have already appeared, it is advisable to reduce cherry consumption, adjust the diet promptly, and eat more light and cooling foods to alleviate the symptoms.
