What should not be eaten after consuming crabs?

Aug 30, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, after eating crabs, one should not consume foods such as persimmons, strong tea, watermelon, loach, mutton, etc., or take medications including vitamin C tablets, tannic acid protein tablets, sulfadiazine tablets, levofloxacin tablets, licorice tablets, etc. After eating crabs, it is advisable to maintain a light diet and avoid consuming foods with conflicting properties or components that may easily react with each other within a short period of time.

Generally, after consuming crabs, one should avoid eating foods such as persimmons, strong tea, watermelon, loach, and mutton, as well as medications including vitamin C tablets, tannic acid protein tablets, sulfadiazine tablets, levofloxacin tablets, and licorice tablets. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Persimmons: Contain high levels of tannic acid, which can combine with the protein in crab meat to form indigestible precipitates, possibly leading to abdominal distension and pain. In severe cases, this combination may form gastric persimmon stones, increasing the digestive burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Strong tea: Also contains tannic acid. When tannic acid combines with protein from crabs, it may hinder protein absorption and produce substances that are difficult to digest, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, strong tea may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and worsen physical discomfort.

3. Watermelon: Is a cold-natured food, similar to crabs. Consuming both together may intensify internal coldness, irritating the gastrointestinal tract and potentially causing symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Individuals with weak spleen and stomach functions are more likely to experience adverse reactions.

4. Loach: According to traditional Chinese medicine, loach is warm in nature, while crabs are cold. Their opposing properties may affect gastrointestinal function, leading to digestive disorders such as abdominal distension and indigestion, which are detrimental to nutrient absorption.

5. Mutton: Is a heaty food, whereas crabs are cooling in nature. Combining heaty and cooling foods may significantly irritate the stomach and intestines, disrupting normal digestive rhythms and causing symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.

II. Medications

1. Vitamin C tablets: Crabs may contain trace amounts of pentavalent arsenic. Although the risk is extremely low under normal consumption levels, large doses of vitamin C might convert pentavalent arsenic into toxic trivalent arsenic, increasing health risks. Therefore, taking large amounts of vitamin C immediately after eating crabs is not recommended.

2. Tannic acid protein tablets: Primarily used for treating diarrhea, these tablets contain tannic acid. Tannic acid may combine with proteins in crabs to form insoluble substances, which not only reduce the drug's effectiveness but also increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, affecting the relief of diarrhea symptoms.

3. Sulfadiazine tablets: Belong to the sulfonamide antibiotics group. The proteins and fats in crabs may affect the absorption rate and quantity of the medication, lowering its concentration in the bloodstream and weakening its antibacterial effects, which is detrimental to treating infections.

4. Levofloxacin tablets: Are quinolone antibiotics. Components in crabs may interact with the medication, affecting its metabolism and absorption, reducing its efficacy, and possibly increasing gastrointestinal irritation, causing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

5. Licorice tablets: Have cough-suppressing and expectorant effects. Certain components in crabs may react with active ingredients in licorice tablets, affecting the drug's efficacy and possibly increasing the body's metabolic burden, which is unfavorable for recovery.

After eating crabs, it is generally important to maintain a light diet and avoid consuming foods with conflicting properties or components that may easily react with each other within a short period of time.

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