Friends who often have health check-ups in winter may find that their indicators such as blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar are often higher than usual. This is actually related to the climatic characteristics and dietary preferences of winter. In winter, when the weather is cold, eating three types of foods can help with health preservation and wellness.
The cold weather in winter causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to an increase in blood pressure. People's diets in winter tend to be high in calories and fat, and a rich, greasy diet is one of the main reasons for high blood lipids.
For health preservation in winter, eat more of the "Three Winters"—Winter Sugarcane.
After entering winter, many office workers often feel dizzy, drowsy, and have a reduced reaction ability. At this time, eating fruits that promote saliva production, quench thirst, and moisten the throat can help alleviate these discomforts.
Experts suggest that office workers might eat some sugarcane in winter, as it can not only nourish the blood and moisten dryness but also has the effect of refreshing the mind. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugarcane is classified as a "tonic medicine" because it has special effects of clearing heat, promoting saliva production, lowering qi, moistening dryness, and nourishing the lungs and stomach. The "Shiliao Bencao" records that sugarcane "primarily replenishes qi, and also lowers qi." The "Suixiju Yinshipu" records that sugarcane can "benefit the throat, strengthen muscles and bones, calm wind and nourish blood, and greatly supplement the spleen yin." Secretary-General Wang Chengsheng introduced that iron is one of the main raw materials for blood production, so replenishing blood starts with replenishing iron. Sugarcane also contains a large amount of essential trace elements for the human body, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and zinc. Its iron content is particularly high, earning it the reputation of a "blood-enriching fruit."
Bamboo Sugarcane and Lamb Soup
For health preservation in winter, eat more of the "Three Winters"—Winter Jujube.
Currently is the peak season for winter jujubes. Some unscrupulous vendors, in order to make more profit, purchase green jujubes and simply blanch them in hot water at 70-80 degrees Celsius. After drying, the green jujubes will gradually turn red. In addition, the blanched jujubes are soaked in a pool with added saccharin and sodium saccharin, which makes the jujubes sweeter, crispier, and heavier. Normally sold winter jujubes have a patchy red color on the sun-facing side, turning completely red, with a reddish-brown color. The uncolored underside has a milky white color, and the peel is glossy.
For health preservation in winter, eat more of the "Three Winters"—Winter Melon.
Friends who experience the above situations might eat some winter melon in winter. Winter melon is very high in dietary fiber, containing about 0.9g of dietary fiber per 100g. Foods high in dietary fiber are effective for improving blood sugar levels, as a person's glycemic index is negatively correlated with the dietary fiber content in food. In addition, dietary fiber can also lower cholesterol in the body, reduce blood lipids, and prevent atherosclerosis. Both potassium and sodium affect blood pressure. Reducing sodium salt intake and moderately supplementing potassium is a good way to control high blood pressure. Winter melon has a high potassium content and a low sodium content, making it an excellent dietary therapy for patients with high blood pressure.
Winter Melon, Shiitake Mushroom, and Kelp Soup is a good health-preserving soup after the "Major Snow" solar term. The main ingredients include 40 grams of dried shrimp, 400 grams of winter melon, 200 grams of fresh kelp, and 20 grams of fresh shiitake mushrooms. The auxiliary ingredient is 5 grams of Astragalus root, in addition to a little green onion, ginger, soy sauce, cooking wine, and salt. The specific method is: wash the kelp and cut it into pieces. Wash the dried shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, and Astragalus root separately. Peel and cut the winter melon. Place the kelp, dried shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, and Astragalus root (along with the water they were soaked in) in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, add green onion and ginger, and cook for about 30 minutes. Then add the winter melon and cook until it is done. Season with soy sauce, cooking wine, and salt.
Bamboo Shoot and Winter Melon Pork Rib Soup
Bamboo cane mutton soup
Hammelon ice cream