Colds are common in spring, and many people easily catch a cold if they're not careful. In fact, there are many common foods in our daily lives that can boost our immunity if we eat more!! Now, the editor is here to recommend 5 foods that you can eat in the spring to stay healthy all year round!!
Spicy Drunken Cucumbers
What are the 5 best foods to eat in spring?
1. Cucumber——Clears heat and promotes metabolism
According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, cucumber is sweet in taste and cool in nature, with the effects of clearing heat, quenching thirst, promoting urination, and reducing swelling. It helps with common spring symptoms like irritability and sore throat. Modern medicine believes that the cellulose in cucumber promotes intestinal peristalsis and speeds up excretion. The cucumber acid in it can boost the body's metabolism and expel toxins. Cucumber's diuretic effect cleans the urinary tract and helps the kidneys remove toxins from the urinary system. Fresh cucumber also contains malic acid, which can inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. However, cucumber is considered cooling, so people with weak digestion or chronic illnesses should eat it in moderation. Cucumber is great for cold salads, like with wood ear fungus or with garlic. People with a weak digestive system can stir-fry it or use it as a filling for dumplings.
2. Black Fungus——"Blood Vessel Scavenger"
Black fungus is sweet and neutral in nature, with benefits such as detoxifying, promoting bowel movements, cleansing the stomach and intestines, and invigorating blood to stop bleeding. Modern medicine suggests that a type of plant gum in fungus has strong adsorption properties, which can concentrate and absorb residual dust and impurities in the digestive system and then expel them, thus detoxifying the body. At the same time, it is rich in nutrients like iron, which can give the skin a rosy complexion and prevent iron-deficiency anemia. Black fungus can be stir-fried, eaten in a salad, or used in soups.
3. Kelp——Absorbs fat and reduces swelling
Kelp contains a substance called fucoidan, which can absorb cholesterol from the blood and expel it, keeping blood cholesterol levels normal. Additionally, the slightly sweet white powder on the surface of kelp is mannitol, which has significant medical value and acts as a good diuretic to treat conditions like poisoning and edema. Kelp is an ideal food for detoxification and beauty. It is commonly eaten in salads or in soups, but those with a weak digestive system and pregnant women should not eat too much.
4. Asparagus——Clears heat and prevents dry mouth
Asparagus is sweet and cool in nature, with the effects of clearing heat and promoting urination. It can alleviate common spring symptoms like a dry mouth and irritability. The asparagine in asparagus has a diuretic effect, helping to expel excess water from the body, which is beneficial for detoxification. Asparagus is rich in water-soluble vitamins, but overcooking can easily deplete these vitamins and also affects its unique crisp texture. The best cooking methods are blanching and then stir-frying or serving as a salad.
5. White Radish——Aids digestion and prevents constipation
Radish is pungent in taste and cool in nature, with the functions of clearing heat and promoting fluid production, aiding digestion and resolving stagnation, and regulating qi to resolve phlegm. Modern medicine believes radish has a good diuretic effect, and its fiber content can promote bowel movements, which is beneficial for weight loss. If you want to use radish for detoxification, you can eat it raw, as a juice, or in salads and pickles.
Hot, drunk cucumber