[link|http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?isbn=1853752924|Here]. It's a 1 volume summary of a larger work that discusses things that the Chinese are believed to have invented first. Some things wouldn't work (like using an eggshell as the first hot-air balloon), but there's lots of interesting things there.

E.g. Many people believed that if you ate parts of a strong animal, then that strength would be transferred to you. Similarly, if you ate (small amounts of) mercury, then the magical properties of mercury would be transferred to you. Mercury was thought to [link|http://www.answers.com/topic/mercury|prolong life]. Keen observation led them to notice that certain plants grew in areas where mercury was found.

AFAIK, the food taboos have more to do with religion.

Cheers,
Scott.