The concept of 忌口 is a window into the Chinese approach to health, which is deeply influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It's not just about calories or nutrients but about the energetic properties of food. In TCM, foods are often classified as “hot” (热性 rèxìng), “cold” (寒性 hánxìng), “neutral” (平性 píngxìng), or “damp” (湿性 shīxìng). The core idea is to maintain balance. If you have a “hot” condition like a fever, acne, or a sore throat (a state known as 上火 shànghuǒ), you must 忌口 “hot” foods like chili peppers, lamb, and fried chicken. Instead, you'd eat “cooling” foods like cucumbers or watermelon. Comparison to Western “Dietary Restrictions”: A Westerner's “dietary restrictions” are typically based on scientifically defined reasons:
忌口 (jì kǒu) overlaps with these but is much broader. It includes a traditional, holistic dimension that may not have a direct Western scientific equivalent. For example, a Chinese doctor might advise a patient recovering from surgery to avoid seafood, not because of an allergy, but because seafood is considered a 发物 (fāwù)—a category of foods believed to aggravate inflammation or hinder healing. This advice is standard practice and deeply respected. The most famous example is during 坐月子 (zuò yuèzi), the one-month postpartum confinement period, where new mothers follow an extremely strict regimen that includes 忌口 of all “cold” foods and drinks (even room-temperature water!) to restore their body's balance.
忌口 is an everyday term used in various contexts.
The connotation is generally neutral and practical. It's seen as a sensible and responsible act of self-care.