Anemia in women often manifests as sallow complexion, dry hair, or frequent shortness of breath and fatigue. When our body feels unwell, it is often caused by a deficiency of qi and blood. As the saying goes in Traditional Chinese Medicine: "Blood is a woman's foundation." Therefore, to maintain good health, one must start by nourishing the qi and blood. The following foods are beneficial for women to nourish and replenish their blood.
Dried Purple Grapes
Purple grapes are an excellent fruit for replenishing blood. When grapes are sun-dried into raisins, every 100 grams contains 9.1 mg of iron. Moreover, during the sun-drying process, the grape skins are maximally preserved (the nutritional content of grape skins is far higher than the flesh), which also helps retain stable nutrients in the raisins, such as iron, zinc, manganese, protein, and antioxidants.
Dried Mulberries
Dried mulberries are currently the richest natural source of iron among fruits and their products, containing 42.5 mg of iron per 100 grams, living up to their title as the "blood-enriching fruit" among fruits. It is generally recommended to eat them cooked in congee. Consuming a bowl of mulberry congee daily not only replenishes blood but also has beautifying effects.
Black Jujubes
Among dried jujubes, black jujubes and honeyed jujubes are highly recommended, with an iron content of 3.7-3.9 mg per 100 grams, making them excellent choices for blood-enriching foods. Dried jujubes are also rich in Vitamin C, which is a crucial factor for promoting the absorption of iron ions, making the body's iron absorption much more effective.
Note: However, dried jujubes are rich in dietary fiber, which is not easy to digest, so they should not be consumed in large quantities daily. It is best to eat them in soups or congee.
Longan Flesh
Longan flesh contains about 3.9 mg of iron per 100 grams, which is quite rich in iron content among fruits. It can be used in dietary therapy for anemia and is generally best consumed in soups or congee.
Note: Longan flesh is considered a "warming" food and is not suitable for pregnant women or children.
What vegetables are best for enriching blood?
Black Beans: In ancient China, it was long believed that eating beans was beneficial. Most books would describe black beans as capable of darkening hair, but in fact, black beans can also generate blood. Black beans can be prepared according to personal preference. If consumed postpartum, it is recommended to cook them with Silkie chicken.
Fat Choy (Black Moss): Fat choy is very black and not very attractive, but it has a high iron content. Using it to make soups and dishes can help replenish blood.
Carrots: Carrots are very high in vitamins B and C, and also contain a special nutrient—carotene, which is extremely beneficial for enriching blood. Carrot soup is an excellent blood-enriching beverage. However, many people do not like eating carrots. My personal method is to juice the carrots and add honey to drink as a beverage.
Gluten: This is a traditional folk food. It is generally available in vegetarian restaurants and at braised food stalls. Gluten has a considerable iron content, and replenishing blood requires first replenishing iron.
Spinach: This is the most common vegetable and is also a well-known blood-enriching food. Spinach is rich in iron and carotene, so it can be considered an important food among blood-enriching vegetables. If you don't like carrots, then eat more of this vegetable.