Durian is the undisputed King of Fruits here in Malaysia. Hardly helps that we Malaysians love durian so much that we add it to almost everything. Durian coffee, durian chocolate, durian ice-cream, durian pizza; need we go on?
Before we add durian to literally everything, are you aware that some types of food make poor pairings with durian? They may actually be hazardous to your health. Here are just some examples and the reasons why you shouldn’t pair durian with them:
- Cow’s milk
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If you dream of having a durian-scented milk, think again. While cow’s milk may be good in its own way, it also happens to be rich in fat. Guess which thorny, aromatic fruit is also rich in fat content?
Eating both is likely to put pressure on your digestive system, especially your gut and intestines. These can lead to issues such as stomach bloating, nausea and even diarrhoea!
- Crabs
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Malaysians and seafood are never far apart, but seafood, especially crabs, and durian should stay far apart? Why? It is down to the Chinese belief that there are some “hot” foods as well as “cold” foods which affect how the body feels.
According to this belief, crab and most other seafood are cold, whereas durian is hot. Combining the two will thus result in a bad stomach. The more sensitive that gut, the higher the chance you will end up with diarrhoea or gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Caffeinated drinks
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Some Malaysians cannot operate without their morning cup of joe, while others need a fizzy drink to enjoy at lunch. Whether you have either of these, you should not drink them when eating durian.
Durian is rich in potassium and coffee and most soft drinks contain caffeine. Excessive potassium and caffeine can lead to your heart overworking itself. Thus, people with heart disease or high blood pressure are at risk with this heart-pounding combo.
- Red meats
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If combining hot and cold foods results in an upset stomach, what about putting two hot foods together? As it turns out, that is still a bad idea! You can see this when you eat durian together with red meats, which are considered to be hot food.
Causing the body to overheat can lead to a variety of health issues. These include sore throats, mouth ulcers, constipation and acne. In the most serious of cases, you can end up with high blood pressure or cardiovascular issues.
- Liquor
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This is probably the most well-known combo to stay well away from. Durian is rich in sulphur compounds, which in turn counteract acetaldehyde-degrading enzymes. These enzymes normally help the body to digest alcohol, so you can see how this can be a problem.
While it is not true that combining both at any given time will kill you, consuming durian and alcohol in excess will likely lead to high blood pressure and irregular heart rates.
- Lychee
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Did you know lychees, sweet as they are, are a “hot” fruit? When paired with durians, all you have on your plate are two “heaty” fruits. Eating too much of both can lead to excessive internal heat, causing dry mouth, sore throat and nosebleeds.
- Mangosteen
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The mangosteen is the Queen of Fruits, thus it should be paired with the King of Fruits, yes? Well, it is complicated. While mangosteens counteract heat, they are highly fibrous and eating them together with durians can overload your intestines.
This can result in constipation and bloating, especially if you are dehydrated. Thus, if you do want to pair durians with mangosteens, it is best to stay hydrated.
You should also check out: 10 of the best cendol in KL & PJ to check out during this hot season
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