As the late autumn season brings cooler weather, it's no longer suitable for outdoor health cultivation. At this point, some friends might ask, besides exercise therapy, dietary therapy is the most convenient for health preservation. So, what foods are suitable for autumn wellness? Let me introduce you to these three treasures of autumn diet: Chinese yam, yellow wine, and cuttlefish. Come and find out why these are the three treasures!
Autumn's Number One Tonic: Chinese Yam
The best food for autumn nourishment is Chinese yam, which not only has the reputation of "food of the immortals" but also the功效 (efficacy) of "medicinal food."
Chinese yam contains substances like amylase, which is beneficial for the spleen and stomach to absorb nutrients. It also contains a large amount of mucoprotein, which can prevent cardiovascular diseases, prolong life, and benefit the lungs and relieve coughing. Chinese yam is best eaten steamed to minimize nutrient loss.
If eaten alone, Chinese yam can be paired with goji berries to make a goji berry and Chinese yam porridge, which can better enhance its nourishing effects.
Autumn's Number One Drink: Yellow Wine
The functions of yellow wine are deeply rooted. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that yellow wine is warm in nature with a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and has therapeutic effects such as unblocking meridians, promoting blood circulation, warming the spleen and stomach, moisturizing the skin, and dispelling dampness.
There has always been a folk saying, "When the chrysanthemums bloom, drink yellow wine." Yellow wine is a specialty of our country, one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world, and a drink that contains a relatively comprehensive range of essential amino acids for the human body, containing 18 amino acids, which is rare among nutritional wines in the world.
Yellow wine also contains a high amount of functional oligosaccharides, which can improve immunity and disease resistance, something that wine and beer cannot compare to. Best way to drink: Yellow wine is best served warm to warm the stomach and dispel cold. The traditional way to drink yellow wine is to heat it in hot water or over a flame, with an optimal temperature of 35°C to 45°C. During the heating process, trace amounts of organic compounds in yellow wine that are not beneficial to human health will volatilize as the temperature rises, reducing harm to the body.
Best pairing: Dark plum. Autumn diet emphasizes "gathering," and pairing with dark plum fits this concept, having the effects of nourishing yin, promoting body fluids, moistening the lungs, and protecting the liver.
Autumn's Number One Meat: Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish is delicious and nutritious. Every 100 grams of its meat contains 13 grams of protein and only 0.7 grams of fat. It also contains carbohydrates and essential substances like vitamins A and B, as well as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, making it a high-protein, low-fat nourishing food. Eating cuttlefish in autumn is especially nourishing for women.
Cuttlefish has the功效 (efficacy) of nourishing blood and kidneys, strengthening the stomach, and regulating qi. Eating cuttlefish in autumn can nourish yin and promote body fluids.
Best ways to cook: Braising, stir-frying, quick-frying, stewing, cold dressing, or making soup are all suitable. However, to prevent autumn dryness, making soup with cuttlefish is a more appropriate choice.
Best pairing: Tofu, which is also a food that nourishes yin and promotes body fluids. Eating them together can also have a complementary protein effect.
Although the health foods for each season are largely similar, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "gathering in autumn and storing in winter." Autumn is the most suitable season for nourishment. The three foods mentioned above are readily available. For those who find it troublesome, they are both convenient and delicious. So what are you waiting for? Start nourishing yourself now!