Eight delicious recipes to nourish the spleen and stomach.

In the Five Elements, yellow corresponds to the Earth element. Therefore, after consuming yellow-colored foods, their nutrients are primarily concentrated in the spleen and stomach regions. Foods like pumpkin and corn, when consumed regularly, can be greatly beneficial to the spleen and stomach. The body's five vital organs and six bowels all rely on the nourishment from the spleen and stomach, which is the main source of energy.

Tomato, Goji Berry, and Corn Soup

I. Corn: A Healthful Treasure Among Whole Grains

Corn is a healthful treasure among whole grains. It is high in fiber, which can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, accelerate bowel movements, and is the best food for lowering blood lipids, treating constipation, improving skin beauty, and preventing colon cancer. Corn also has a diuretic effect for lowering blood pressure. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which promotes normal growth and reproduction of the body, prevents respiratory infections, protects vision, and has anti-cancer effects.

Recommended Recipe: Colorful Goji Berry and Corn Soup

Method:

1. Wash and soak the goji berries until soft. Peel the pineapple and carrot, and dice them. Clean the corn kernels and peas.

2. Add an appropriate amount of water to a pot, add the corn kernels and sweet peas, and cook until done.

3. Add the rolled oats and bring to a boil. When serving, add the pineapple pieces.

Pumpkin and Millet Porridge

II. Pumpkin: A Master for Strengthening the Stomach and Aiding Digestion

In terms of its nature and flavor, pumpkin is sweet, warm, and neutral, and non-toxic. It enters the stomach and large intestine meridians. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said to warm the body, moisten the lungs, tonify the spleen, stimulate appetite, and treat stomach pain, relieve pain, and prevent miscarriage. People who often have cold hands and feet, are easily tired, have poor strength, or are anemic can eat more of it. Pumpkin is rich in nutrients; its starch and sugars are easily broken down and absorbed by the body. Its carotene content is the highest among all gourds. Carotene is converted into Vitamin A in the body, which protects the skin and mucous membranes and is quite effective for treating cold deficiency, stomach ulcers, preventing colds, and for beauty.

Recommended Recipe: Pumpkin, Millet, and Red Bean Porridge

Method: Wash the old pumpkin, peel it, and cut it into small pieces. Wash the millet and cook it into porridge. When it boils, add the pumpkin and cook until the porridge is done.

Efficacy: Porridge is the number one health food in the world, easily digested and absorbed. This porridge moistens the five organs and nourishes qi and blood, and is especially suitable for the elderly with a weak spleen and stomach. You can add some red beans, which are also warm in nature, to the porridge to enhance its stomach-warming effect.

Candied Sweet Potato

III. Sweet Potato: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, and Boosts Energy

Sweet potato has the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach, boosting energy, and widening the intestines. It is suitable for those with a weak spleen and stomach, thinness, fatigue, poor appetite, and diarrhea. Eating too much can easily cause acid reflux, heartburn, and bloating.

Sweet potato is rich in nutrition. The mucoprotein it contains is a mixture of polysaccharides and proteins, which helps maintain the elasticity of the body's blood vessel walls and prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis. It is also rich in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is not absorbed in the intestines, has good water absorption properties, and can prevent constipation and certain intestinal diseases.

Recommended Recipe: Candied Sweet Potato

Main Ingredients: 500g sweet potato

Seasonings: 150g sugar, 100g water, 30g sesame oil, 1000g peanut oil

Method:

1. Wash the sweet potato, peel it, and cut it into irregular chunks.

2. Add peanut oil to a wok and heat to 90°C. Put the sweet potato chunks into the oil and fry until they are thoroughly cooked and golden in color, then remove and drain the oil.

3. Clean the wok, add water and sugar, and simmer the sugar over low heat. Cook it from large bubbles to small bubbles; from large sugar bubbles to small sugar bubbles until it becomes thick and changes color. Pour in the fried sweet potato, remove from the heat, and toss the wok to coat the sweet potato completely with the syrup.

4. Pour it onto a plate that has been brushed with sesame oil. When serving, a bowl of water should be provided to dip it in, so it doesn't stick to the teeth.

Potato and Pumpkin Soup

IV. Potato: Tonifies Qi and Strengthens the Spleen

Potato is sweet and neutral in nature. It has the effect of tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen. It is suitable for those with a weak spleen and body, poor appetite, and indigestion. Sprouted potatoes, including the sprouts and skin, are toxic and should not be eaten.

Recommended Recipe: Potato and Pumpkin Soup

Main Ingredients: Potato, pumpkin

Ingredients: Dried apricots, red dates, goji berries, salt, mushroom powder

Method:

1. Cut the potato and pumpkin into small pieces. Dice the dried apricots and red dates. Soak the goji berries in water.

2. Add a little oil to a pot, add the chopped potato and pumpkin and stir-fry for a few moments, add water, then add a little salt and mushroom powder.

3. Pour step 2 into a pressure cooker, add the chopped dried apricots, red dates, and the soaked goji berries, and simmer for 5-8 minutes (or you can cook it slowly in a stew pot until the potato and pumpkin are tender).

Carrot, Shitake Mushroom, and Chicken Liver Porridge

V. Carrot: Strengthens the Spleen, Aids Digestion, and Moistens the Intestines

Carrot is sweet and neutral in nature, and has the effect of strengthening the spleen to aid digestion and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. Eating carrots regularly can help with weight loss, improve the skin, and also clear the liver and brighten the eyes. Carrot is rich in plant fiber, which has strong water absorption capacity and expands easily in the intestines, creating a significant feeling of fullness and controlling food intake. At the same time, it also contains blood sugar-lowering substances, making it an essential food for daily health maintenance for diabetics.

Recommended Recipe: Carrot, Shitake Mushroom, and Chicken Liver Porridge

Ingredients: Carrot, shitake mushroom, chicken liver, japonica rice, coriander, MSG, salt, pepper powder, vegetable oil, sesame oil.

Method:

1. Wash the shitake mushroom and carrot and shred them. Wash the chicken liver and slice it. Wash the japonica rice.

2. Heat a wok with oil, add the carrot, shitake mushroom, and chicken liver and stir-fry. Add the japonica rice and an appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil over high heat.

3. After boiling, reduce the heat and cook until the rice is soft. Add chopped coriander, salt, MSG, and pepper powder, and mix well. Drizzle with sesame oil before serving.

VI. Soybean: Moisturizes the Skin

Braised Pork Trotter with Soybeans

Soybeans are rich in soluble fiber, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, have a laxative effect, and at the same time lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Regular consumption of bean products can supplement protein, moisturize the skin, muscles, and hair, making the skin smoother and more delicate and elastic; making the muscles fuller and firmer; and making the hair darker and shinier.

Recommended Recipe: Braised Pork Trotter with Soybeans

Ingredients: Soybeans, pork trotter, celery, ginger, scallion, cooking wine, pepper powder, cooking oil, MSG, salt.

Method:

1. Wash the pork trotter and chop it into small pieces. Wash the ginger and slice it. Wash the celery and cut it into sections. Cut the scallion.

2. Add an appropriate amount of water to a pot, bring to a boil over high heat, add the pork trotter and cooking wine to blanch and remove the blood, then remove and set aside.

3. Heat a wok with oil, add the pork trotter and ginger slices and stir-fry briefly. Transfer to a clay pot, add soybeans and an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Add salt, MSG, celery, scallion, and pepper powder.

VII. Mango: Promotes Bowel Movements

Mango contains a large amount of dietary fiber, and regular consumption can provide more moisture to the skin. Mango is rich in nutrients, Vitamin C, and minerals, which can prevent arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Mango contains a large amount of fiber, which has the effect of promoting bowel movements.

Recommended Recipe: Stir-fried Fresh Scallop with Mango

Ingredients: Mango, fresh scallop, red pepper, asparagus, scallion, garlic, salt, cooking oil, sugar, starch.

Method:

1. Peel and pit the mango, and cut it into thick slices. Wash the asparagus and cut into sections. Cut the scallion. Slice the garlic. Slice the fresh scallop in half diagonally.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, blanch the asparagus, red pepper, and fresh scallop until just heated through, then remove and drain.

3. Heat a wok with oil, sauté the garlic and scallion until fragrant. Add a small amount of water and seasonings, add the ingredients, and stir gently. Thicken with a starch slurry.

Rock Sugar, Tremella, and Lotus Seed Soup

VIII. Lotus Seed: Tonifies the Middle Jiao, Calms the Mind, and Stops Diarrhea

It is astringent and strengthening, and can tonify the middle jiao, calm the mind, and stop diarrhea. Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" says: "Lotus seed can thicken the intestines and treat leukorrhea." Lotus seed has an astringent effect, and regular consumption can treat diarrhea due to spleen deficiency. For children with poor digestive function, who are fussy all day, or whose food intake is decreasing, lotus seed can be used. For the elderly who suffer from insomnia with many dreams and a restless mind, lotus seed can be used to calm the spirit and aid sleep.

Recommended Recipe: Rock Sugar, Tremella, and Lotus Seed Soup

Ingredients: 15g dried tremella, 15g lotus seeds, 30g red beans, rock sugar to taste.

Method: Soak the dried tremella for 2 hours, remove impurities, wash it, and tear it into small pieces. Wash the lotus seeds and red beans separately. Put the lotus seeds and red beans in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the tremella and rock sugar, and cook for another 15 minutes.

Efficacy: This soup has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving vexation and thirst, nourishing the heart to calm the mind, and strengthening the spleen. It is an excellent nourishing and health-preserving soup, but it is not suitable for those with indigestion and constipation.