In the cold and dry winter, the principle of diet is to focus on "sweet and neutral" foods, which means eating more foods that have the effect of clearing the liver, such as bean sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, celery, etc. The ways of eating them are also diverse.
Cabbage
Its vitamin C content is 3.5 times that of tomatoes, and its calcium content is 2 times that of cucumbers. Cabbage also contains a relatively high amount of trace elements molybdenum and manganese, which are essential raw materials for the body to produce active substances such as enzymes and hormones. It can promote the body's metabolism and is very beneficial for children's growth and development. Its large amount of vitamin C can enhance the body's anti-cancer ability.
Bok Choy
In traditional Chinese medicine, bok choy is believed to nourish the stomach and harmonize the middle jiao. It has a slightly bitter and cold taste and is effective in promoting stomach Qi. Bok choy is rich in vitamin C and calcium, and also contains iron, phosphorus, carotene, and B vitamins. There is also cabbage, which is also known as head cabbage. It has a bitter and neutral taste, can benefit the heart and kidneys, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and has the effect of relieving pain and promoting healing for gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Bean Sprouts
Soybeans and mung beans contain large amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as dietary trace elements such as sodium, phosphorus, iron, and calcium that are essential for the human body. After beans sprout, they not only retain their original substances but also increase their vitamin content, which helps to eliminate fatigue. The chlorophyll in bean sprouts can prevent rectal cancer.
Cauliflower
It is rich in vitamins. Every 200 grams of fresh cauliflower can provide adults with more than 75% of their daily vitamin A requirement. Its vitamin C content is even more outstanding, reaching 80 milligrams per 100 grams, which is 3 to 4 times higher than common Chinese cabbage and soybean sprouts, and twice as much as oranges.
Lettuce
Lettuce has a tender and delicate texture, suitable for both raw consumption and stir-frying. Eating lettuce often in autumn can enhance the secretion of gastric and digestive juices and promote bile secretion. The potassium content in lettuce is 27 times that of sodium, and the vitamins it contains help promote urination and maintain water balance, which is very beneficial for patients with high blood pressure and heart disease. Lettuce has a high iodine content, which has a beneficial effect on the body's basal metabolism and physical development. The nutritional value of lettuce leaves is far higher than that of lettuce stems. The fluorine element in the lettuce diet can participate in the formation of tooth enamel and dentin and bone growth. In addition, people with cough in autumn can also relieve their cough by eating more lettuce leaves.
Celery
In traditional Chinese medicine, celery is considered to have a cool nature, can calm the liver and strengthen the stomach. It has a sweet, pungent, and non-toxic taste and is rich in protein, carbohydrates, carotene, vitamin C, amino acids, etc. It can excite the central nervous system, increase gastric juice secretion, improve appetite, and has an expectorant effect. Celery can be stir-fried with dried tofu, shredded pork, etc., with a colorful appearance and a fresh aroma.
Sweet Potato
It is a relatively nutritious food among grains. Because sweet potatoes can supply the body with a large amount of mucoprotein, sugar, vitamin A, and vitamin C, it has the effects of tonifying deficiency and fatigue, replenishing Qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, strengthening the kidney Yin, as well as harmonizing the stomach, warming the stomach, and benefiting the lungs. Therefore, eating sweet potatoes often can prevent the atrophy of connective tissue in the liver and kidneys and prevent the occurrence of collagen diseases.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that carrots are rich in vitamins, have a sweet and neutral taste, and can tonify the spleen and strengthen the stomach. At the end of autumn, stewing carrots is the best way to eat them, followed by stir-frying. Stewing can retain more than 93% of the carotene, while stir-frying can also retain more than 80% of the carotene.
Carrot
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that carrots are rich in vitamins, have a sweet and neutral taste, and can tonify the spleen and strengthen the stomach. At the end of autumn, stewing carrots is the best way to eat them, followed by stir-frying. Stewing can retain more than 93% of the carotene, while stir-frying can also retain more than 80% of the carotene.
Radish
Radish contains a lot of water, vitamin C, a certain amount of calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates, and a small amount of protein, iron, and other vitamins. It also contains beneficial components such as lignin, choline, oxidase, amylase, and mustard oil. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that radish has a cool nature and a pungent, sweet taste. It acts on the lung and stomach meridians, can eliminate stagnation, resolve phlegm-heat, promote Qi downward to harmonize the middle jiao, and detoxify. It is used for symptoms such as food stagnation and abdominal distension, and dysuria. It can be seen that radish plays a significant role in regulating the spleen and stomach, which is why there is a saying that "radish after autumn is better than ginseng." It also has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on common autumn diseases such as indigestion, wind-heat type colds, tonsillitis, cough with excessive phlegm, and sore throat.
Taro
Taro is rich in starch and nutritious. Every 100 grams of fresh taro contains 91 calories, 2.4 grams of protein, 0.2 grams of fat, 20.5 grams of carbohydrates, 14 milligrams of calcium, 43 milligrams of phosphorus, 0.5 milligrams of iron, 10 milligrams of vitamin C, 0.09 milligrams of vitamin B1, and 0.04 milligrams of vitamin B2. It also contains galactan. Its texture is soft and smooth, easy to digest, and has a stomach-strengthening effect. It is very suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach, intestinal diseases, tuberculosis, and those in the recovery period. It is an excellent food for infants and the elderly.