Seasonings are indispensable in our lives; they can make our food rich and delicious. However, some people say that consuming too many seasonings is not good. The several seasonings introduced below, however, are masters of longevity. Come and take a look!
1. Sichuan Pepper
Sichuan pepper is the pericarp of the Zanthoxylum bungeanum plant, a member of the Rutaceae family. It has a rich fragrance and is an essential seasoning for any household. It has the effects of numbing the taste, enhancing fragrance and spiciness, and removing fishy and gamey odors. It ranks first among the "Thirteen Spices" and is honored as the "King of Seasonings." Sichuan pepper is also a traditional Chinese medicine, listed as a medium-grade herb in the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). Its medicinal nature is pungent and hot, and it acts on the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. Its effects include invigorating the spleen with its aroma, warming the middle to dispel cold, removing dampness to relieve pain, killing parasites and detoxifying, and stopping itching. Li Shizhen wrote in the "Ben Cao Gang Mu" (Compendium of Materia Medica): "Sichuan pepper strengthens the teeth, blackens the hair, sharpens the vision, and with long-term use, improves complexion, delays aging, prolongs life, and invigorates the spirit." Modern medical research has shown that Sichuan pepper contains volatile oils, alkaloids, coumarins, and organic acids, and possesses pharmacological activities such as local anesthesia, analgesia, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and insecticidal effects. The seasonings in the kitchen are not just for making dishes more delicious; they also have certain health benefits.
2. Mustard
Mustard is pungent, hot, and non-toxic. It has the effects of warming the middle to dispel cold, promoting the flow of the five organs, benefiting the diaphragm, and stimulating the appetite. It can open the nine orifices and invigorate the stomach to aid digestion. The pungent and spicy flavor of mustard can stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juices, which has an appetizing effect and enhances a person's appetite. It also has a detoxifying function and can counteract the toxins of fish and crab, which is why it is often served with raw foods like salmon.
3. Ginger
Ginger is an aromatic, pungent, and stomachic remedy. It has warming, stimulating, sweat-inducing, anti-emetic, detoxifying, and warming the lungs to stop coughing effects. It is particularly effective for detoxifying from fish and crab poisoning, as well as from poisoning by herbs like Pinellia and Arisaema. It is suitable for external contraction of cold wind, headaches, phlegm-fluid retention, coughs, and vomiting due to stomach cold. After exposure to ice, water, or cold, drinking ginger tea can improve blood circulation and expel cold pathogens. The role of ginger in life is not just as a seasoning; it can also treat many diseases.
4. Vinegar
Vinegar contains 0.4% to 0.6% acetic acid, which can inhibit the growth and reproduction of many bacteria to a certain extent. Therefore, when local bacterial and viral diseases are prevalent, people can add an appropriate amount of vinegar to stir-fries and cold dishes. This can both stimulate the appetite and inhibit bacteria, achieving "two birds with one stone." The effects of vinegar are numerous and significant. It is not only used in cooking but also has many therapeutic applications in diet.