Fruits such as pears, shaddocks, oranges and tangerines can relieve coughs, reduce phlegm, moisten the lungs and help with digestion, but, if too many are eaten, they might cause indigestion, toothaches and/or yellow spots on the skin. Therefore, those who suffer from stomach ailments had better not eat them, or have just a little bit of them.
Experts stress that people who lack energy and whose spleens cannot function normally should be careful when eating cold fruits, such as watermelons, muskmelons, mangoes, pears and bananas. People who lack energy tend to have slight builds, look pale in the face and have poor appetites. People whose spleens cannot function normally usually have poor digestive systems.
According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, cold fruits will reduce peristalses of stomachs and intestines, and result in indigestion and abdominal distension. Therefore, the elderly and children who suffer from indigestion should avoid eating cold fruits. If they want some, they are advised to eat a little after lunch or before supper.
