"A year's plan starts in spring". After the Start of Spring, all things revive and thrive. Even if the spring chill is biting and there are sudden snowfalls, it cannot stop the vibrant spring. At this time, it is also when the human body's metabolism is most active. For spring health preservation, what should one pay attention to in their diet?
Stewed Chicken with Potato and Green Beans
Chicken: Warming and regulating immunity
Spring is characterized by frequent alternations between warm and cold. Eating warming foods can not only replenish physical strength but also regulate the immune system and prevent disease.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that chicken has the effects of warming the middle jiao, replenishing qi, benefiting the five organs, and tonifying deficiency. It can relieve fatigue caused by physical weakness and regulate the body's immune function. From a nutritional perspective, although chicken, beef, mutton, etc., are all protein-rich ingredients that strengthen the body, chicken contains a wider variety of amino acids in its protein, which is also more easily absorbed and utilized by the human body.
Recommended method: There are many ways to cook chicken. Stewing and clear stewing are the best ways to preserve its nutrition. As the saying goes, "When the body is weak, eat chicken to nourish." Therefore, in the spring, the elderly and children might drink some chicken soup to nourish themselves; additionally, one can make some home-cooked dishes like potato stew chicken and mushroom stew chicken.
Sweet Potato: Increasing sweetness and promoting digestion
Sweet Rice with Sweet Potato
According to the "Qian Jin Fang", a classic of traditional Chinese medicine, the diet in spring should "reduce sourness and increase sweetness to nourish the spleen qi". This is because eating too many sour foods in spring can make liver fire more vigorous, thereby damaging the spleen and stomach. Therefore, it is best to eat more foods that are warm in nature and sweet in taste to aid digestion. Starchy foods are highly recommended, such as japonica rice, glutinous rice, Chinese yam, pumpkin, and sweet potato.
Eating sweet potatoes regularly in the spring can also prevent "spring drowsiness". An excessive intake of rice, flour, meat, and eggs in the daily diet can cause the body's fluids to become more acidic, making a person prone to drowsiness. Therefore, eating some alkaline foods can alleviate "spring drowsiness". Sweet potatoes are alkaline and can neutralize acidity, ensuring the body's health.
Early spring is a good time for detoxification and fat loss. After a winter of rich and heavy food, it's a good idea to give your body a "spring cleaning".
Honey: Promotes bowel movements and moistens the intestines
Honey Grapefruit Tea
Honey has the effect of promoting bowel movements and moistening the intestines. At the same time, honey has a protective effect on the liver and can enhance resistance to diseases, making it the number one drink for spring.
Recommended method: The simplest way is to dissolve honey in warm water below 60°C to preserve its nutrition. It is recommended to drink one cup in the morning and one in the evening. Here is another recommendation: honey and jujube drink, which is suitable for the early spring season when the weather is getting warmer but can still be cold.
In spring, the flourishing liver qi can affect the spleen and stomach function. Jujube has the effect of tonifying the spleen. Place pitted dried red jujubes rock sugar in a pot, add enough water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer over low heat until the water is completely reduced, which takes about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool. When drinking, stir in two tablespoons of honey.
♪ Soybeans and potatoes ♪
Honey tea