Freshwater crab is considered a delicacy in rural areas of Vietnam. During freshwater crab season, dishes like crab soup, fermented crab, stir-fried freshwater crab... become increasingly popular. Especially in the summer, freshwater crab soup is an indispensable dish on Vietnamese dining tables. However, when paired with certain foods, freshwater crab can pose health risks. Let's find out what freshwater crab dislikes and what foods to avoid after consuming it!
1. Freshwater crab soup - a popular summer dish
Freshwater crab is a highly nutritious source, containing important proteins for daily diets and providing good protein for the body. Moreover, freshwater crab is not only nutritionally valuable but also regarded as a traditional remedy, known as 'health reinforcement.' Freshwater crab meat helps improve blood circulation, effectively strengthens bones and joints.

Freshwater crab soup - A refreshing dish for summer
It's truly unfortunate that such a nutritious dish like crab soup can pose health risks when combined with certain foods. Let's find out what freshwater crab dislikes below!
2. What does freshwater crab dislike?
Dishes like freshwater crab soup or crab noodle soup are often paired with tomatoes, tofu, or water spinach,... However, according to expert research, freshwater crab is incompatible with certain foods such as:
2.1. Freshwater crab soup conflicts with sweet potatoes
Freshwater crab should not be paired with potatoes and sweet potatoes. This is because potatoes and sweet potatoes contain phytic acid, while freshwater crab is rich in calcium. When these two substances enter the body, they interact and form salts.
This phenomenon prevents the body from absorbing calcium from freshwater crab and 'excretes' these salts through the excretory system, causing a deficiency of both salt and calcium in the body. Additionally, calcium is prevented from reaching other organs by phytic acid. This can lead to calcium accumulation in the kidneys and potential risks of kidney failure and inflammation. Instead of having these two types of food together in one meal, we can separate them, having one dish today and another dish tomorrow.
2.2. Freshwater crab soup conflicts with fruits rich in vitamin C
Fruits such as oranges, kiwis, pomegranates,... are rich in vitamin C, but also contain a large amount of tannic acid. When this substance combines with the nutrients in crab, it can lead to harmful precipitates for the digestive system and may cause poisoning if consumed excessively.
2.3. Freshwater crab soup conflicts with honey

Consuming freshwater crab soup should not be accompanied by honey
According to traditional medicine, honey and freshwater crab are two types of food that are not suitable when combined. The cooling nature of freshwater crab and the heat of honey create a strong reaction in the digestive system. When consumed together, it can lead to diarrhea for several days or even crab poisoning, posing a health threat.
2.4. Freshwater crab soup conflicts with tea
According to experts, tea should not be used to cook crab and should not be consumed within 1 hour after eating crab.
The reason is that tea contains tannic acid which, when combined with crab meat, makes it difficult to digest and absorb other nutrients. Additionally, tea can cause stomach pain and have negative effects on the digestive system.
2.5. What freshwater crab conflicts with: Catfish
Combining freshwater crab and catfish is not recommended. Both are highly nutritious food groups beneficial to the body when consumed separately. However, if consumed together, it can lead to acute poisoning, causing nausea, low blood pressure, and potential death if not promptly treated. This is extremely dangerous, so it is important to avoid combining freshwater crab and catfish.
2.6. Freshwater crab soup conflicts with which vegetable: Celery
Freshwater crab conflicts with which vegetable: Freshwater crab should not be paired with celery. The combination of these two foods is not a good idea for health. According to research, combining freshwater crab and celery will create inhibitors that affect the absorption of protein in the body, leading to nutrient deficiencies and being detrimental to health.

Avoid eating freshwater crab soup with dishes containing celery
In reality, we rarely cook crab together with celery. However, we can have crab soup with dishes containing celery such as stir-fried beef with celery, celery juice,... Invisibly, they create an unfavorable combination. So, pay attention right from the beginning when purchasing ingredients!
3. What not to eat after consuming crab?
After eating crab, it is not advisable to consume cold foods? Cold foods like ice cream or ice are often favored by many people, especially on hot summer days. However, these foods can cause stomach discomfort and weakness. Meanwhile, freshwater crab has cooling properties, so if consumed together with cold foods, there is a risk of diarrhea and other digestive issues.
Especially when consuming freshwater crab soup, also limit the intake of foods rich in vitamin C. If you have a habit of drinking tea, make sure to do so an hour after eating!
4. Some notes about freshwater crab soup
Apart from understanding what freshwater crab conflicts with, we also need to pay attention to some things when consuming crab soup as follows:
4.1. Do not eat raw freshwater crab, cook only dead crabs
Many housewives often buy pre-ground freshwater crab from the market to filter broth for cooking. However, this method carries many unforeseen dangers that many people are unaware of. This is because when handling freshwater crab, many vendors lack care and do not remove dead crabs.

Choose fresh, good-quality crab, do not consume dead freshwater crab
Dead freshwater crab contains a chemical called histidine, which can be toxic, causing stomach pain, nausea, and even severe poisoning. The level of histidine in crab increases over time when the crab is dead.
In many rural areas, people have a habit of eating raw freshwater crab salad. However, the reality is that this practice is very dangerous because raw freshwater crab meat contains lung flukes. If not cooked at high temperatures, the risk of contracting 'lung fluke infection' is very high.
4.2. Is overnight crab soup safe to eat?

