Can I eat seafood after eating Malabar spinach?

Generally speaking, it is safe to consume Malabar spinach (Basella alba) with seafood, but it is important to control the portion size and avoid excessive intake of raw, cold, or hard-to-digest ingredients. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Malabar spinach contains vitamins, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and other nutrients, while seafood provides high-quality protein and minerals such as zinc and selenium. Combining the two can enrich the nutritional profile. When consumed in moderation, the dietary fiber in Malabar spinach can promote intestinal motility, aiding in the digestion of protein from seafood. Additionally, the properties of these ingredients do not significantly conflict, making them suitable for most people's daily diets.

However, as seafood is generally considered cold in nature, individuals with weak spleen and stomach functions who consume large amounts of both Malabar spinach and seafood may experience worsened symptoms of abdominal pain or diarrhea due to the cooling nature of these foods. Those allergic to seafood may experience allergic reactions such as rashes or vomiting after consumption. Moreover, patients with hyperuricemia or gout should limit their intake of seafood to avoid excessive purine consumption, while Malabar spinach has low purine content. When consuming both together, attention should be paid to the type and quantity of seafood.

In daily diets, it is recommended to cook Malabar spinach with seafood using light methods such as steaming or stir-frying, minimizing the use of oil and spicy seasonings. If digestive discomfort or allergic symptoms occur after consumption, dietary adjustments should be made promptly, following the principle of diverse and moderate food intake to maintain gastrointestinal health.