The medicinal properties of coarse cereals can both prevent and treat diseases, are economical and practical, and have no side effects.
When it comes to nourishment, people's first thoughts are often various tonics, meats, or delicacies from mountains and seas. In fact, the coarse cereals we eat daily are also excellent tonics. Traditional Chinese Medicine has the concept that "medicine and food share the same origin." The medicinal properties of coarse cereals can be used to prevent and treat diseases, are economical and practical, and have no side effects. ◆ Rice:
Also known as japonica rice, it is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, and relieving vexation and thirst. In winter, indoor heating can be hot and the air dry. Drinking some rice porridge in the morning and evening can help alleviate the discomfort of a dry mouth and throat. A special reminder for diabetics: different cooking methods for rice have varying effects on blood sugar. Studies have shown that an equal amount of rice cooked into dry rice has a smaller impact on blood sugar than congee. Therefore, diabetics eating dry rice for breakfast is beneficial for blood sugar control. ◆ Millet:
Also known as foxtail millet, it is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, and is suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency heat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and for those who are weak postpartum or after illness. When millet is boiled into porridge, the delicate, viscous layer that floats on top is commonly called "miloil." Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that miloil is extremely nutritious and has the strongest tonic effect, with the saying that "miloil can replace ginseng soup." ◆ Wheat:
Wheat is sweet in taste, neutral and slightly cool in nature. It strengthens the spleen, benefits the kidneys, and nourishes the heart to calm the spirit. For those with vexation and insomnia, wheat can be cooked with rice and jujubes into a porridge for consumption. In addition, wheat bran is high in dietary fiber and has preventive and therapeutic effects on hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hemorrhoids, senile constipation, and colon cancer. ◆ Corn:
Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it strengthens the spleen to promote urination, stimulates the appetite, and benefits intelligence. It also calms the mind and invigorates blood. The linoleic acid in corn oil can prevent cholesterol from depositing on blood vessel walls, playing a positive role in preventing high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Furthermore, it has diuretic and blood sugar-lowering effects, making it especially suitable for diabetics. American scientists have also discovered that eating corn can stimulate brain cells and enhance human memory. The lutein and zeaxanthin in corn can prevent the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration in the elderly.◆ Job's Tears:
Also known as coix seed, its protein content is much higher than that of rice and flour, and it is easily digested and absorbed, which is beneficial for reducing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and enhancing physical fitness. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers job's tears to be sweet and bland in taste, slightly cool in nature, and it has the effects of strengthening the spleen, tonifying the lungs, clearing heat, and promoting urination. Modern research has proven that job's tears have effects such as anti-tumor, enhancing immunity, and lowering blood sugar. Cooking job's tears with rice into a porridge or consuming it with an appropriate amount of rock sugar can increase appetite in cancer patients and reduce the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, the coixenolide in job's tears has an inhibitory effect on striated muscles, which can reduce wrinkles. Those who love beauty might consider eating more. ◆ Sorghum:
Sweet in taste and warm in nature, it strengthens the spleen and benefits the stomach. For children with indigestion, sorghum can be stir-fried in a pan, hulled, ground into powder, and 2-3 grams can be taken with water each time. However, sorghum is warm in nature and contains tannic acid, which has an astringent effect to stop diarrhea, so it is not suitable for those with constipation. ◆ Soybean:
Neutral in taste and sweet in nature, it strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, making it suitable for regular consumption by those with a weak spleen and stomach. Various bean products made from soybeans, such as tofu and soy milk, also have medicinal properties: tofu can regulate the middle and replenish qi, clear heat and resolve blood stasis, and is especially suitable for those with phlegm-heat cough and asthma, external contraction from cold wind, and a sore throat.