Nutritionists have proposed that the nutritional value of various natural foods grown in nature is closely related to their color, with their nutritional value ranked in the following order: black foods are the best, followed by red, then yellow, and then white. Therefore, a trend of "black food fever" has emerged in recent years. More recently, other nutritionists have suggested that a healthy diet should be close to the "Three Blacks": black rice, seaweed, and black sesame; and distant from the "Three Whites": white sugar, salt, and lard.
Black Rice
A treasure among rice varieties. Black rice is known as the "black pearl." According to ancient Chinese medical texts, black rice has the functions of stimulating appetite, benefiting the middle jiao, strengthening the spleen and warming the liver, nourishing essence, improving vision, and relaxing muscles and activating blood. Modern nutritional analysis shows that black rice is rich in protein and 17 amino acids, with lysine and arginine content being three times that of white rice, and its iron content is about six times that of regular rice.
Black Sesame
A nourishing delicacy. Black sesame is rich in iron and can improve anemia. It is also rich in vitamin E, which can delay cellular aging. Regular and moderate consumption of black sesame can nourish the skin, darken hair, benefit the brain, nourish the liver and kidneys, lower blood lipids, and prolong life while resisting aging. It is especially beneficial for those who are weak, have prematurely gray hair, suffer from dry stools, or have anemia, as it can nourish the liver and kidneys and moisten the five organs.
Seaweed
A household delicacy. Seaweed is a high-quality, affordable household seafood product and also an essential health food for the home. It is rich in iodine, calcium, alginic acid, mannitol, crude fiber, and B vitamins. Regular consumption can lower cholesterol, soften blood vessels, and prevent and treat goiter caused by iodine deficiency.
Salt
The onset and exacerbation of many diseases, such as hypertension and coronary heart disease, are closely related to excessive salt consumption. The World Health Organization stipulates that the daily sodium intake for adults should not exceed 6 grams.
White Sugar
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as diabetes. These diseases are major causes of shortened human lifespan and mortality. Too much sugar can affect the development of children's teeth and bones, greatly increasing the risk of cavities.
Lard
Because animal oils mainly contain saturated fatty acids, the melting point of animal oils high in saturated fatty acids is generally high, and they are often solid at room temperature. Therefore, they are not easily digested and absorbed after consumption. Furthermore, consuming too much of this type of fat can increase cholesterol levels in the blood. Excess saturated fatty acids can also lead to atherosclerosis.