Durians can kill you. It’s well known that its pungent smell intoxicates certain people (mainly guai-los). But did you know eating too much can “heat” you to death?

A Thai man literally burnt his insides out when he consumed too much of the durian fruit. The moral of the story? Alcohol and durian don’t go hand-in-hand.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/31/1085855496294.html

The Asians know what it means when you say certain foods are “heaty” or are “cooling”. I tried to explain the concept to a guai-lo, and had to use certain examples that I feel will be beneficial to all.

Go to McDonalds and buy a large order of french fries and finish it without drinking any water. Does your throat feel swollen and are your lips stinging from the salt on the fries? Do you feel unheathly and greasy? That’s “heaty”!

Head to any Asian supermarket and buy a can of grass jelly drink. Are finishing the can, do you feel cleansed? That’s “cooling”!

Eating excessive “heaty” or “cooling” food is not good for you. Both have detrimental effects. You must learn to balance the amount of “heaty” and “cooling” food.

Does that mean you should always have grass jelly drink with your fries? Absolutely not! It means you should stay away from both, and drink plain water instead!