After a whole Spring Festival of indulgence and strain, the stomach needs a break. Experts have some advice on this.
Stir-fried Lily Bulb and Black Fungus
Add: Oats and Black Fungus to Cleanse the Intestines
Overeating during the Spring Festival puts a heavy burden on the intestines, requiring a proper cleanse. Cui Jun from the Nutrition Department of Beijing Electric Power Hospital recommends oats and black fungus.
Oats can promote bowel movements by increasing fecal volume and moisture, and work with fiber to boost intestinal peristalsis, exerting a laxative effect. The most common way to eat oats is as congee. Cui Jun also suggests "drinking oats." This involves blending cooked oats into a juice, which is a great option. You can add other ingredients like apples or raisins while blending for extra nutrition and to promote bowel movements!
Then there's black fungus, known as the "meat among vegetables." This is because it's rich in mucopolysaccharides, and regular consumption can also help cleanse the intestines.
Reduce: Cut Down on Oily Foods
"Gaining ten pounds during every holiday" is a reality for many. Without the pressure of work and study, people exercise less, sleep in more, and eat greasier food. Cui suggests that post-holiday meals should be light, focusing on less oil and grease.
During the New Year, we prepare a lot of food, including fried items like fried meat, fried fish, and fried lotus root. Frying transforms low-fat grains, tubers, and vegetables into high-fat, high-calorie foods with over 20%, or even more than 30%, fat content. Regular consumption of fried food leads to excessive energy intake, increasing the risk of being overweight or obese. Furthermore, improper frying can produce carcinogens like benzopyrene.
When cooking, try to use less oil and salt. If it's hard to suddenly make your food less flavorful, you can use substitutes, like increasing sourness. "Less oil" doesn't mean no oil at all; just enough to cover the bottom of the wok, so the finished dish isn't swimming in a layer of grease.
Sesame and Kelp Strands
Multiply: Try Sesame with Kelp
An improper diet can reduce nutrient absorption and impair the immune system. However, with clever pairing, you can get a 1+1>2 effect, doubling the nutritional value. Cui suggests trying sesame mixed with kelp.
Sesame can improve blood circulation and promote metabolism. Kelp not only purifies the blood and promotes thyroid hormone synthesis, but more importantly, when eaten with sesame, it has the effects of purifying the blood, beautifying, anti-aging, and even boosting brain power. Those who use their brains a lot might want to give it a try.
Eliminate: Break Bad Habits
The period after the Spring Festival is a peak time for visiting friends and relatives, often involving drinking. Cui reminds everyone that it's best not to drink beer when eating seafood. Shrimp, crab, and other seafood form uric acid in the body after metabolism, and excessive uric acid can cause gout, kidney stones, and other ailments. Consuming large amounts of seafood while drinking beer can accelerate the formation of uric acid. Therefore, when eating a lot of seafood, absolutely do not drink beer, as it will have adverse effects on your body.
Sesame Belt
Toast eggs