Traditional Chinese medicine theory holds that "medicine and food share the same source," and that "herbs and food share the same source." Many Chinese herbal medicines can be used as drugs to treat diseases, and are also excellent foods. Many of the vegetables and fruits in our daily lives often possess both food and medicinal properties. Therefore, these foods, being both sustenance and medicine, form a rich material basis for dietary therapy. Below, we briefly list 19 examples of food versus disease, to see which one comes out on top. 1. Chocolate-covered nuts are good for the brain
Eating chocolate-covered nuts is good for brain health? That's right! But the credit doesn't go to the chocolate itself, but to the almonds inside. Vitamin E in almonds can effectively delay brain aging caused by age. Scientists also believe that the psychological reasons for why chocolate-covered nuts are beneficial to the brain cannot be ignored. When feeling anxious, depressed, or in a bad mood, eating a bag of chocolate-covered nuts is undoubtedly a small treat and reward for yourself.
Expert analysis: Almonds are also known as apricot kernels. Almonds are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin P, as well as nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. [Food China]
Among them, the content of carotene is second only to mangoes among fruits, and people call almonds the "anti-cancer fruit." Almonds are rich in fatty oil, which has the effect of lowering cholesterol, so almonds have a good effect on preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases; Traditional Chinese medicine theory believes that almonds have the effects of promoting fluid production to quench thirst, moistening the lungs, and calming asthma, and are often used for health care and treatment of patients with conditions such as dry lung cough. A new research result from American researchers shows that people with normal or slightly high cholesterol levels can replace low-nutrient-density foods in their diet with almonds to lower blood cholesterol and maintain heart health. Researchers believe that the various nutrients rich in almonds, such as vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and dietary fiber, work together to effectively reduce the risk of heart disease. The total cholesterol level of 85 middle-aged and elderly volunteers (average age 56) in the sample decreased by 7.6%, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased by 9%. There was also no increase in body weight. 2. Blurred vision and green vegetables
As long as your eyes are open, they are always susceptible to infection. Green vegetables can provide sufficient antioxidants, thus protecting eye health and shielding the eyes from external harm. So, it's a good idea to add more green vegetables to your daily table, such as celery and cucumbers, which are very beneficial to health.
3. Fish for treating asthma
The latest research has found: eating more fish can moisten and nourish the lungs, thereby alleviating the symptoms of asthma. This is because fish contains a rich amount of magnesium, no wonder emergency room doctors use magnesium-containing drugs to treat asthma patients. For patients with severe asthma.
Doctor's advice: It is best to ensure eating at least one meal of fish or other seafood in your three daily meals. In addition, among green vegetables, spinach has the same effect. 4. Heart disease and beer
It's no longer news that beer can beautify the skin, but beer has another benefit: it can reduce the possibility of developing heart disease. Experiments have shown that if you maintain drinking one glass of beer a day, the possibility of getting heart disease will be minimized.
Interestingly, the health benefits of beer are only effective when strictly controlled to one glass per day; two or more glasses a day will not prevent or treat heart disease. It seems that while beer is good, it's not a case of "the more, the better," and it also requires moderation. [Food China] 5. Bleeding gums and grapefruit
Gingivitis is an annoying thing, but once you encounter this situation, there's no need to worry, because gingivitis is actually a symptom of vitamin C deficiency in your body. It's your body's distress signal, reminding you to replenish vitamins. At this time, eating some fruits rich in vitamin C, such as grapefruit, lemon, and kiwi, will be very helpful, especially grapefruit, whose effect is immediate. Therefore, as long as you develop the habit of eating one grapefruit every day, it will help you solve the problem of gingivitis.
6. Bad breath and drinking more water
For people who often need to socialize, bad breath is the biggest taboo. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bad breath is closely related to "stomach fire," so in addition to paying attention to brushing your teeth every morning and evening, you should also arrange your diet reasonably. Another simple and easy method can also help you get rid of this embarrassing problem, which is to drink as much water as possible every day. This method not only treats bad breath but also replenishes the water your body needs daily.
Scientific research has found: The reason for bad breath is a substance called sulfur in the mouth. To make it disappear quickly, just drink plenty of water every day. [Food China] 7. Fatigue and bananas
Loving sports is a good thing, but you must also pay attention to "moderation," because excessive exercise can lead to fatigue. During exercise, the body excretes a large amount of sweat. While losing water, many minerals in the body are also excreted with sweat, mainly potassium and sodium.
The body's "inventory" of sodium is relatively large, and it is also relatively easy to replenish from food; but the content of potassium in the body is relatively small, so after exercise, it is more important to choose foods rich in potassium to replenish in time. The most ideal choice for replenishing potassium is bananas, because bananas are rich in potassium. So next time you go to the gym, don't forget to bring one or two bananas for yourself. 8. Drunkenness and tomatoes
Getting drunk is indeed troublesome, and the constant vomiting is enough to make you feel miserable. Vomiting after being drunk is not only embarrassing but also causes a large loss of elements such as potassium, calcium, and sodium in the body. After drunken vomiting, it is essential to replenish nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and sodium in time. The simplest way is to drink some tomato juice, because the rich potassium, calcium, and sodium components in tomato juice just replenish the deficiency of elements lost in the body.
9. Hiccups and sugar
For treating hiccups, people have always had many folk remedies. The most effective method at present is to startle the person unexpectedly, but if this still doesn't stop the hiccups, here is a method that is not instant but has been proven very effective: you can try putting a spoonful of sugar under your tongue. The scientific explanation for this practice is not yet very clear. Some doctors explain that sugar can stimulate the nerves at the back of the throat, and once the nerves are stimulated, it will interrupt the body's nerve signals, including the nerve that causes hiccups.
10. Vegetables and arthritis
Recent experiments by Greek scientists have shown: the more green vegetables you eat, the smaller the possibility of developing arthritis. This is the conclusion drawn by scientists from an experiment on 330 people.
Moreover, people who love to eat vegetables are one-fourth as likely to develop arthritis in old age as those who don't. Therefore, for healthy bones, don't forget to add more green vegetables to your dining table. 11. Diarrhea and red wine
Experiments have shown that when diarrhea symptoms first appear, drinking one or two glasses of red wine can cure it. Moreover, it has been found that red and white wines are more natural and effective than the anti-diarrheal medicines sold in pharmacies. Especially in killing PB E. coli, the power of red wine is more obvious. Red wine not only treats diarrhea but can also prevent it from happening in the first place. No wonder some people drink wine with seafood.
12. High blood pressure and orange juice
Loving to drink orange juice is a good habit, especially for those with high blood pressure or a family history of it. Orange juice is not only delicious but can also treat diseases. This is because if the content of potassium and calcium in the diet increases, blood pressure will naturally decrease. Orange juice is rich in calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. Experiments have shown that people with sufficient vitamin C in their blood are much less likely to die from heart disease.
13. Colds and garlic
When you start to feel a sore throat and your runny nose starts to get out of control, it's a precursor to a cold. To prevent cold viruses from attacking your body on a large scale, eating some garlic quickly will help you kill the viruses that have not fully manifested in their cradle. Why does garlic have such a magical effect? This is because garlic is rich in antiviral components that enhance the body's immunity. Therefore, eating more garlic during the changing seasons will help you cope with colds.
14. Heart disease and apple juice
Among all fruits, the apple has the "best reputation" and is suitable for people of different ages and constitutions. Recently, research from the University of California, USA, has discovered another advantage of apples: drinking apple juice frequently can reduce the incidence of heart disease.
This is because the antioxidants in apple juice are beneficial to the healthy functioning of the heart. In an experiment with 25 men and women, scientists found that cholesterol is divided into "good" and "bad" types. Drinking more apple juice can delay the time when "bad" cholesterol blocks blood vessels compared to normal circumstances. The longer "bad" cholesterol blocks blood vessels, the greater the chance of developing heart disease. Therefore, the Western saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," has a basis in fact. [Food China] 15. Toothache and tea
When you gather with friends to drink tea, you may not have thought: tea is not only good for your health, but recently scientists have also discovered another advantage of tea, which is: tea has a protective effect on teeth. Tea is rich in components such as fluoride and tea polyphenols, which can prevent cavities and strengthen teeth. Therefore, rinsing your mouth with tea after a meal can maintain oral hygiene. In addition, components in tea such as sugar and pectin react with saliva to moisten the mouth while also enhancing the mouth's self-cleaning ability.
16. Bruising and broccoli
Some people's skin turns blue and purple from minor bumps and injuries. This is because the body lacks vitamins (especially vitamin K). The best way to supplement vitamin K is to eat more broccoli. According to surveys, eating broccoli several times a week will thicken and strengthen the walls of blood vessels, making them less likely to rupture.
17. Hair loss and steak
If you say that eating steak can treat baldness, I believe most people would be very surprised. But scientific research has found that steak does have this effect. If you don't want to become "surrounded by central" at a young age, be sure to eat some lean beef every time you eat.
Science has proven that even if it cannot be fully promised that eating lean beef often will solve the problem of hair loss, at least it can delay the arrival of that day. [Food China]
[NextPage] 18. Prostate cancer and vanilla ice cream
Prostate cancer has always been the biggest killer of men. It is said that eating more tomatoes can help, because tomatoes contain lycopene. If you don't like tomatoes, another method that can both treat the disease and satisfy your craving is to eat vanilla ice cream. This is because vanilla ice cream contains an element called boron. The more boron in the body, the smaller the chance of developing prostate cancer.
19. Memory and coffee
In addition to helping you get rid of sleepiness quickly in the morning, coffee has many other functions. Dutch scientists once conducted an experiment: before the test, after the subjects drank coffee containing 32 mg of caffeine, not only did their memory improve and their reading speed increase, but their minds also became clearer. Therefore, if you want to stimulate your brain's memory speed and improve work efficiency, it's best to drink a cup of coffee half an hour in advance. However, you need to be reminded: you can't drink too much coffee. Otherwise, it will produce a dependency reaction, and over time, it can also lead to addiction. Once addicted, it will be difficult to quit.