As the weather turns colder, minor ailments often follow. Symptoms like cold hands and feet, a sore back, a dry throat, and mouth ulcers become more common. In fact, these minor ailments can be alleviated through dietary adjustments. From the perspective of Chinese health preservation, winter diets should be light, with less food, oil, and salt, and more fruits and vegetables. It's important to avoid warm, dry, and spicy irritants.
So, what should you eat for winter nourishment? Experts believe that from the perspective of the Five Elements and Five Colors in wellness, one should consume more "white" foods after the Start of Winter for significant health benefits.
The outer leaves of Chinese cabbage are the most nutritious
Winter is the best season to eat Chinese cabbage. When eating it, people often wonder whether to use the outer leaves or the inner core. In fact, the outer leaves of the cabbage contain nutrients like chlorophyll and dietary fiber, which are far more abundant than in the inner leaves and the heart.
Water chestnuts have many nutritional benefits
Water chestnuts, also known as马蹄 (mátí), are sweet and cold in nature. They have the effects of clearing heat, generating fluids, promoting urination to resolve dampness, and transforming phlegm. They are suitable for conditions like fever and thirst, cough with excessive phlegm, and more. Modern medicine has also confirmed that the components in water chestnuts have antibacterial properties. Additionally, water chestnuts can help prevent cancer and lower blood pressure.
Garlic-flavored Water Chestnuts--During the dry winter, it's easy to catch colds, fevers, and coughs. Here is a simple dietary remedy to clear heat and transform phlegm for you to try.
Ingredients: 150g fresh water chestnuts, 3 cloves of garlic, salt, sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil as needed.
Method: Wash the water chestnuts, peel them, and slice them thinly. Soak them in light salt water for 10 minutes, then drain and place in a dish. Sprinkle with salt and marinate for 15 minutes, then drain the salt water. Peel and wash the garlic, mince it finely, and sprinkle over the water chestnut slices. Place a wok over heat, add sugar and vinegar, and wait for the sugar to dissolve. Pour the mixture over the water chestnut slices, cover immediately with a bowl, and after 10 minutes, add sesame oil and mix well before serving.
Effects: Clears heat, transforms phlegm, generates fluids, and promotes urination. Suitable for fever, cough, dry mouth and throat, excessive phlegm, and dark urine.