Dietary Taboos for Women During Menstruation
Menstruation is a special period for women. Due to unique physiological conditions during this time, certain foods should be avoided to prevent harm to the body.
Caring for Women's Menstrual Health
These foods fall into three main categories:
1. Cold-type foods: As described in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these include pears, bananas, lotus root, stone ear mushrooms, sea moss, and earth ear fungi. While these foods have benefits such as clearing heat, detoxifying, nourishing yin, and reducing fire when consumed normally, they should be avoided or eaten sparingly during menstruation. Otherwise, they may trigger menstrual pain, irregular periods, and similar issues.
2. Spicy foods: Such as cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, cloves, and black pepper. These are common seasonings used to enhance flavor in cooking. However, women during menstruation should avoid spicy and stimulating foods, as they may lead to menstrual pain or excessive bleeding.
3. Foods affecting sexual function: Water chestnuts, bitter gourd, winter melon, Chinese kale, fiddlehead ferns, rabbit meat, black fungus, and hemp seeds.