Sugar, as one of the seasonings, brings great benefits to our diet, but the effects of various sugars cannot be generalized. When used properly, sugar can have healthy effects, but when used improperly, it can have the opposite effect.
When using sugar for seasoning and pairing with food, the first thing to master is the warming and cooling nature of different sugars to determine when to use which one.
I. Rock sugar moistens the lungs and clears heat:
Opposite to brown sugar, rock sugar is cooling in nature. If brown sugar is used for a cold caused by wind-cold, then rock sugar is used for a cold caused by wind-heat.
Brown sugar is suitable for summer and winter, while rock sugar is suitable for spring and autumn. In spring, as the weather slowly starts to warm, many people are prone to coughing with heat, dry coughs. For a dry cough without phlegm, rock sugar can be used. It can clear heat and moisten our lungs, eliminating lung heat.
We have more opportunities to use rock sugar than brown sugar in spring. If you usually drink brown sugar water, you can reduce the amount appropriately in spring, because brown sugar is warming and may cause heatiness.
II. White sugar detoxifies and treats acute conditions
White sugar is the most common condiment we use in daily life, but because it is refined, its nutritional content is relatively reduced, and its main role is for seasoning. Moreover, white sugar contains a large amount of sugar, and eating too much can affect health.
Sometimes we also use white sugar in dietary health care because it has a certain effect of moistening the lungs and clearing lung heat. However, rock sugar is more effective for clearing lung heat, so it is the first choice for stewing soups.
> Drinking white sugar water can also neutralize the toxins from fish and shrimp. For example, when eating crab, brown sugar should not be added. Because crab is cooling in nature, it conflicts with brown sugar. Therefore, after eating crab, it is recommended to drink a bowl of ginger sugar water.We are accustomed to using white sugar for cooking, one reason is that white sugar dissolves quickly, and another reason is that brown sugar is not suitable for long cooking.
However, white sugar is a slightly acidic food. After consumption, it will make our blood more acidic. The human body needs to be in a slightly alkaline state to maintain health. If the blood is acidic for a long time, toxins will accumulate in our body. Therefore, when using white sugar, try to control the amount for better health.
III. Brown sugar nourishes blood invigorates blood circulation
Although it is not a refined sugar, do not consider it inferior. Brown sugar is a very good thing, and women are generally familiar with it. It nourishes qi and blood. Women must drink brown sugar water after childbirth, not only to nourish qi and blood, but also to help expel lochia; in addition, when treating a cold caused by wind-cold, we use brown sugar, and it is also indispensable for regulating a weak spleen and stomach.
Women want to nourish their blood, but sometimes expensive blood-tonifying medicines don't work well. This is because the method is wrong. Just blindly tonifying is not enough; the old stagnant blood must be resolved for new blood to be produced easily. Therefore, it is very beneficial for women to eat more brown sugar regularly, as it both nourishes and invigorates the blood, improving your complexion. Moreover, brown sugar is a warming substance and can be used to treat all kinds of cold-related diseases.
Brown sugar is not exclusive to women. People with a weak constitution or the elderly can also benefit from it. Brown sugar is rich in nutrients and has a lower sugar content. Among white sugar, brown sugar, and rock sugar, if you use the same amount, brown sugar has the least sugar because it is the initial榨出来的糖 (first-pressed sugar), with a sugar content of only 95%; the rest is minerals and vitamins.
Regarding the taboos of brown sugar, it belongs to the warming category. People with a heat constitution should use it with caution, as eating too much can easily generate damp-heat. It is also not suitable for children to eat too much brown sugar. Among the four seasons, brown sugar should also be eaten less in spring.