Home
Articles
Q&A

Is litchi cold-natured or warm-natured?

Dec 09, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Traditional Chinese medicine considers lychee to be sweet and warm in nature, capable of nourishing qi and blood, promoting the production of body fluids, and relieving thirst. Its warming properties can help individuals with deficient-cold constitutions alleviate symptoms such as cold intolerance and fatigue. Moderate consumption offers certain health benefits, making lychee a common warming and tonifying fruit. However, excessive consumption by individuals with a heat-prone constitution may increase internal heat, leading to "heatiness" symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation.

Generally, lychee is considered a warm-natured fruit in traditional Chinese medicine and is suitable for individuals with cold constitutions to consume in moderation. However, those with hot constitutions or signs of internal heat should proceed with caution. If uncertain, it's advisable to choose lychee based on one's individual body constitution. Detailed analysis is as follows:

According to traditional Chinese medicine, lychee has a sweet taste and warm nature. It can nourish qi and blood, promote the production of body fluids, and relieve thirst. Its warming properties help individuals with cold constitutions alleviate symptoms such as aversion to cold and fatigue. Consuming lychee in moderation offers certain health benefits, making it a common warming and tonifying fruit.

Excessive consumption of lychee by individuals with hot constitutions may intensify internal heat, leading to "heatiness" symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation. Moreover, lychee contains high levels of sugar; overconsumption may increase digestive burden, and individuals with damp-heat constitutions may experience discomfort such as abdominal bloating and a sticky sensation.

To safely enjoy lychee, intake should be controlled to avoid excessive consumption at one time. Those with hot constitutions may pair lychee with cooling foods such as mung bean soup or winter melon. Eating lychee on an empty stomach may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, so it's recommended to consume it in moderation after meals. If signs of heatiness occur, discontinue consumption promptly and, if necessary, use dietary adjustments to alleviate symptoms.

Related Articles

View All
What foods are incompatible with seafood mushrooms?
Hai xian mushrooms are nutritious, but attention should be paid to food compatibility. They should generally not be consumed in large quantities together with cold-natured ingredients, high-oxalate foods, greasy foods, spicy and stimulating foods, or foods high in tannins. Hai xian mushrooms themselves are relatively cooling in nature; when consumed in large amounts with cold-natured foods such as bitter gourd, wax gourd, or kelp, they may increase internal coldness, potentially causing discomfort such as bloating and diarrhea, especially in individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
What are the benefits of drinking floral tea in autumn?
In general, as a popular health-promoting beverage in autumn, drinking floral tea offers various benefits, including nourishing yin, relieving dryness, alleviating autumn melancholy, freshening breath, supplementing nutrients, and regulating the spleen and stomach. When consuming floral tea, it's important to choose varieties according to your individual body constitution, avoid excessive intake of cold-natured types, and refrain from drinking on an empty stomach to prevent gastrointestinal irritation, thus maximizing the health benefits of floral tea.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Is squid considered a cold-natured food?
In general, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, squid is considered a cold-natured food. Moderate consumption is harmless for most people, but individuals with a cold body constitution should be cautious. Excessive consumption of squid by those with a cold constitution may increase internal coldness, leading to discomfort such as cold hands and feet or abdominal pain; therefore, large amounts should be avoided. When cooking, it is advisable to pair squid with warming ingredients such as ginger and garlic.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
Can patients with a stye eat crab?
Patients with hordeolum should avoid eating crab. Crab is considered a cold-natured and allergenic food that may exacerbate ocular inflammatory responses, delay recovery, and potentially trigger adverse symptoms, especially in individuals who are allergic. If symptoms such as worsened inflammation, itching, or rash occur after consumption, prompt medical attention is advised. Crab has a cold nature, whereas hordeolum is typically caused by accumulation of heat-toxin.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
What should not be eaten with Chinese chives?
Chives should not be consumed in large quantities together with cold-natured foods, spicy and irritating foods, greasy or rich foods, foods high in oxalic acid, or tonic ingredients, as this may cause gastrointestinal discomfort or affect nutrient absorption. If persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea, or allergic reactions occur after consuming such combinations, medical attention is recommended. Cold-natured foods include watermelon, pear, crab, etc., whereas chives are considered warm in nature.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
What should not be consumed with sago?
Sago is generally not recommended to be consumed with high-starch foods, cold-natured fruits, greasy foods, gas-producing foods, or foods high in tannins. Sago itself is extremely high in starch; when consumed together with high-starch foods such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn, it may lead to excessive starch intake. These foods are digested slowly in the intestines and are prone to accumulate and ferment, potentially causing digestive discomfort such as bloating and constipation.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
What are the禁忌 (taboos) for pregnant women drinking lamb soup?
Pregnant women should generally avoid eating undercooked lamb, control the amount consumed, refrain from combining it with cold-natured ingredients, avoid spicy seasonings, and exercise caution if they have special constitutions. Undercooked lamb may carry bacteria or parasites, which can easily cause infections when ingested, posing risks to maternal health and fetal development. Therefore, lamb should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
avatar
Dr. Yu Yongchao
View Full Answer
What foods should not be eaten with small silver fish?
Small silver fish should not be consumed together with persimmons, strong tea, hawthorn, mung beans, or cold-natured seafood, as combining these foods with small silver fish may impair nutrient absorption or cause gastrointestinal discomfort; therefore, proper dietary pairing is important. 1. Persimmons: Persimmons contain tannic acid, while small silver fish are rich in protein. When consumed together, they can form tannic acid-protein complexes that are difficult to digest and may accumulate in the stomach and intestines.
avatar
Dr. Yu Yongchao
View Full Answer
彩牛养生

Your trusted source for health information and wellness guidance.

Quick Links

Resources

Connect

© 2024 HealthPortal. All rights reserved.