The Spring Festival is approaching, and the tempting array of delicacies is sure to whet our appetites. However, after a satisfying feast, it's common to experience discomforts like bloating and indigestion. Not only is this unpleasant, but the worse part is stepping on the scale after the holiday to find you've gained a layer of fat. If you share these concerns, why not try these 6 healthy foods to alleviate your troubles? Food #1: Tomato
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Tomatoes can significantly reduce the risk of cancers such as pancreatic cancer and are also the best source of vitamin C.
The lycopene in tomatoes can prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases, reduce the incidence of prostate cancer, and unsalted tomato juice is more beneficial for the health of patients with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension.
Researchers at the Institute of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University believe that the lycopene in tomatoes has strong antioxidant capabilities, can free radicals in the human body, prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein in the blood, and can lower cholesterol levels, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, due to its strong antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, lycopene can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, USA, believe that heating or cooking tomatoes, or eating them with lipids like in Italian tomato sauce, improves the absorption and utilization of lycopene, making its antioxidant effect stronger.
Nutritionist's advice: It is best for people to eat one or two fresh tomatoes daily, or consume tomato products such as tomato juice. Patients with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension or heart disease should consume unsalted or salt-free tomato juice or tomato products. Food #2: Nuts
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Nuts can not only increase good cholesterol but also lower triglycerides in the blood, making them the best formula for preventing heart disease. Whether it's peanuts or almonds, they are all good choices.
Nuts are the essence of plants, generally rich in nutrients, high in protein, oils, minerals, and vitamins, and have excellent effects on human growth and development, strengthening the body, and preventing disease.
Longevity Fruit: Pine nuts contain oleic acid and linolenic acid, which can lower blood pressure, prevent arteriosclerosis, and prevent cardiovascular diseases caused by high cholesterol.
Kidney Fruit: Chestnuts are rich in soft dietary fiber. They strengthen the spleen and stomach, and nourish the kidneys and heart. Their glycemic index is lower than rice, so diabetics can have a small amount, about 6-7 pieces a day. Traditional Chinese medicine believes chestnuts are best for treating kidney deficiency and weakness in the lower back and legs.
Cancer-Fighting Nuts: Amygdalin, when acted upon by enzymes, produces a natural anti-cancer substance that can selectively destroy cancer cells. People in the South Pacific island of Fiji love to eat apricots and apricot products, and their country is known as the "cancer-free, long-living nation." Bitter almonds, which are slightly toxic, can treat coughs and asthma. Sweet almonds are non-toxic, nourish the body, moisten the lungs and intestines, lower cholesterol, and are suitable for the elderly and those with weak constitutions.
Heart's Friend: Pistachios are mainly composed of monounsaturated fatty acids. These fats are very stable, so pistachios are less prone to rancidity than other nuts. They can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Scientists calculate that eating 10 pistachios at once is equivalent to consuming 1.5 grams of monounsaturated fat.
Nutritionist's advice: Sunflower seeds are also among the best of the seed family. Sunflower seeds contain beta-carotene, which can prevent the necrosis of cells in the lower layers of human skin and can make hair soft and beautiful. Recent medical research suggests that sunflower seeds contain Vitamin B8, which can cure depression and neurasthenia. When eating nuts, one should note that a daily intake of about 30 grams is appropriate; eating too much can cause weight gain. If you accidentally eat too many nuts, you should reduce the oil and food intake in your three daily meals. Do not eat a large amount of nuts after being full. Food #3: Tea Food
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Drinking tea is associated with a lower risk of stomach, esophageal, and liver cancer. A Japanese study also found that drinking 10 cups of tea daily can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Experts say that most of the digestive enzymes in our bodies are acidic and work more easily in an acidic environment. Phenolic substances have an acidic pH value and can promote the generation of digestive enzymes after entering the body, which is very beneficial for our gastrointestinal digestive function. The polyphenols in tea can promote the secretion of digestive fluids in the human body and help them function better.
It is understood that due to environmental factors, vegetation, and possible pollution during production, tea can become unhealthy. To this end, the time-honored brand Wuyutai recently invited 10 consumers to be "Green Ambassadors," including a German water expert. They were selected during consumer follow-up visits. Their main responsibilities are to regularly check inspection reports and supervise tea quality to ensure that the products fully comply with national green and organic food safety standards. This is one of the activities in the "Green 100 Action" series. During the Spring Festival, Wuyutai will supply nearly 20,000 jin of green tea and scented tea to the Beijing market.
Nutritionist's advice: Here are a few simple digestive aids with tea.
1. Tea-Infused Rice The only difference is using water or tea water to cook the rice. The tea water should not be too strong. For an average family of three, about 3 grams of tea steeped for 10 minutes is sufficient. Follow the normal rice cooking procedure: pour the tea water into the rice pot and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, and then it's ready to serve.
2. Milk Tea First, boil milk and add sugar. Drink in a ratio of one spoon of milk to two spoons of tea infusion. It can strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite, and help treat indigestion.
3. Tea Porridge Use 6 grams of tea and 100 grams of rice. First, steep the tea in boiling water for 6 minutes, then filter out the tea infusion and add the washed rice to cook into a thin porridge. Eat once daily. Food #4: Oats
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Daily consumption of oatmeal can lower cholesterol. The rich fiber it contains makes you feel full quickly, which in turn reduces the intake of other greasy foods, helping to control weight.
Eating 35 grams of oats daily can provide a day's nutrition and maintain long-lasting vitality.
Nutritionist's advice: Don't think oats can only be eaten; they are also great for beauty! Here are a few examples: Mix half a cup of oatmeal, a quarter cup of milk, two tablespoons of honey, and half a tablespoon of pearl powder into a dry paste. Place these ingredients into a small cloth bag and soak it in the bathtub. The essence of oats and various nutrients will be diluted in the water, which can effectively remove dirt from deep skin and lock in moisture. These ingredients can also be made into a mask to apply to the face and neck for a whitening and moisturizing effect. Regular consumption of oatmeal can increase dietary fiber intake, which has the effect of smoothing the bowels, removing toxins, and beautifying the skin. Food #5: Garlic
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The taste of garlic is a bit "pungent," but its benefits have been repeatedly discovered by scientists. In addition to being rich in antioxidants, garlic has recently been found to be a master at preventing colon cancer.
Japanese scientists found that people who eat garlic daily or take one garlic supplement are less likely to develop colon cancer. For those in the early stages of colon cancer, eating garlic can also help them recover more quickly. Clinical data shows that people who like garlic have a 53% higher cure rate than those who never eat garlic.
Nutritionist's advice: Now, garlic has almost become an adjuvant in the treatment of colon cancer. Experts especially recommend that sedentary white-collar workers should eat more garlic. Food #6: Red Wine
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Red wine is mostly made from grapes, and the alcohol and tannins it contains have a natural inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. It also contains vitamins C and E, carotene, and oligomeric elements, all of which have antioxidant functions. They can effectively prevent the aging of the body's functions, cataracts, immune disorders, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and cancer. Especially the phenolic substances released from grape skins and seeds in red wine, such as tannins, red pigments, and flavonoids, are stronger antioxidants than vitamin E. They not only reduce the incidence of diabetes but are also beneficial for patients with hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, cancer, and arthritis.
Nutritionist's advice: Moderate consumption of red wine is very beneficial to health, but excessive drinking is absolutely harmful to the body. Generally, 1-3 glasses per day (each glass is 120 ml) consumed with meals is best. Those who are not good with alcohol should drink according to their actual capacity and not drink blindly for health benefits.