Can you drink milk after eating persimmons?

Sep 04, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, it is generally not recommended to drink milk immediately after consuming persimmons. In daily life, one should wait at least 1–2 hours after eating persimmons before drinking milk, allowing sufficient time for the persimmons to digest in the stomach and reducing the chance of tannic acid binding with proteins. Choosing fully ripe persimmons is advisable, as these contain relatively lower levels of tannic acid, thereby reducing the risk of discomfort.

Generally speaking, it is not recommended to drink milk immediately after eating persimmons. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Persimmons contain tannic acid, and milk is rich in protein. When these two meet in the stomach, tannic acid easily combines with protein to form clumps that are difficult to digest. These clumps may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing discomfort such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and may also affect the absorption of nutrients from both the protein and the persimmon. This effect is particularly noticeable in individuals with weaker digestive systems. If a large quantity of persimmons is consumed or a significant amount of milk is ingested, these uncomfortable symptoms may worsen.

In daily life, after eating persimmons, one should wait at least 1–2 hours before drinking milk, allowing sufficient time for the persimmon to digest in the stomach and reducing the chance of tannic acid binding with protein. It is also advisable to choose ripe persimmons, as they have relatively lower tannic acid content, thereby reducing the risk of discomfort. Eating excessive amounts of persimmon at once should be avoided, and eating persimmons on an empty stomach should also be avoided, as the high gastric acid concentration during this time makes reactions with tannic acid and protein more likely. If milk is inadvertently consumed immediately after eating persimmons and significant gastrointestinal discomfort occurs, one should stop consuming hard-to-digest foods. If symptoms persist, prompt medical attention is necessary.

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