It is very necessary to nourish the lungs in the summer. Which recipes can help with this? What foods should you eat to nourish the lungs? Follow the editor to learn more! In the summer, the lungs are also severely tested, but lung health can be maintained through dietary conditioning. So which recipes can achieve the effect of nourishing the lungs? What foods should you eat to nourish your lungs?
Recipes for Nourishing the Lungs
I. Carrot and Pork Rib Soup
Method:
1. Wash the carrots, pork ribs, and dried tangerine peel separately. Cut the pork ribs into pieces, chop the ginger, and peel the garlic.
2. Blanch the pork ribs in boiling water to remove scum, then set aside.
3. Add water to a pot, bring to a boil over high heat. Add all the ingredients above and a few drops of rice wine.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to simmer for 2 hours.
Medicinal Benefits:
Carotene can stimulate the body's metabolism, promote blood circulation, maintain the integrity of the respiratory mucosa, and protect the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Beta-carotene has strong antioxidant properties and indirect anti-cancer effects. The large amount of vitamin A it contains is an important nutrient for liver repair, and is especially needed by people who drink alcohol, stay up late, or take medication for long periods. The pork ribs have a suitable ratio of fat to lean meat, so you won't ingest too much cholesterol, and they also have the effects of nourishing yin, strengthening yang, replenishing essence, and enriching blood. The large amount of calcium phosphate, bone collagen, and bone mucin it contains are great materials for strengthening the body and supplementing calcium. Dried tangerine peel has the effects of harmonizing the middle jiao to treat the stomach, aiding digestion, and replenishing qi. When eaten with meat, even those who are usually afraid of greasy food and have indigestion can enjoy it.
II. Poria and Pomelo Drink
Method:
1. Cut the pomelo peel and pulp into small pieces. Clean 6g of poria and set aside.
2. Add cold water to a pot, put in the pomelo pieces and poria, and simmer over low heat until the juice is extracted.
3. Strain out the dregs, pour into a cup, add rock sugar to adjust the sweetness (omit for diabetics), and it is ready to drink.
Medicinal Benefits:
Modern pharmacological analysis shows that pomelo peel contains flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. Pomelo pulp is very rich in vitamin C and chromium, a component similar to insulin, which can help lower blood sugar, blood lipids, aid in weight loss, and improve skin. It also contains potassium, a trace element essential for people with high blood pressure. Because it contains almost no sodium, it is the best fruit for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and kidney disease (except for those with renal insufficiency and high potassium in the blood). Its folic acid component can prevent anemia and promote fetal development when consumed by pregnant women. Poria has the effects of promoting urination to remove dampness, strengthening the spleen and lungs, and calming the mind. The poria polysaccharide in it has significant anti-tumor, immune cell-activating, and liver-protecting effects.
III. Jade Pumpkin Soup
Method:
1. Peel and finely slice a small, tender pumpkin, the finer the better.
2. Beat the egg into a liquid mixture. Mix the minced meat with a little starch and a small amount of oil and salt, and marinate for 15 minutes.
3. Bring water in a pot to a boil, add the pumpkin slices. After 5 minutes, when the soup turns pale yellow, add the minced meat and stir. Before turning off the heat, pour the egg mixture into the soup in an arc shape.
4. Season with a small amount of salt to taste.
Medicinal Benefits:
Pumpkin is rich in vitamin B6 and iron, two nutrients that help the body convert stored blood sugar into glucose, the only fuel for brain function, which can create a good mood. In traditional Chinese medicine, pumpkin is described as warm and sweet in flavor, moistening the lungs and replenishing qi. Modern medical experiments have shown that pumpkin can also prevent prostate diseases, prevent arteriosclerosis, and protect the gastric mucosa. Pumpkin peel contains pectin, which helps the skin retain moisture. Eggs and minced meat are rich in complete amino acids and are very easily absorbed. Especially eggs, which contain a large amount of lecithin, cephalin, and steroids, are excellent brain foods that enhance memory and can increase the body's plasma protein level and promote liver cell regeneration. The vitamin B6 in meat and eggs also helps remove carcinogens from the body.
IV. Banana, Tremella, and Lotus Seed Soup
Method:
1. Soak dried tremella in water for 2 hours, pick out the old stems and impurities, then tear into small pieces.
2. Peel fresh lotus seeds. If using dried lotus seeds, soak them in water for 2 hours.
3. Peel the banana and cut it into small pieces.
4. Put all ingredients into a pot and simmer over low heat for half an hour.
Medicinal Benefits:
The banana is known as the "fruit of wisdom." Legend has it that the Buddha Sakyamuni attained wisdom by eating bananas. Bananas contain a large amount of the happiness hormone serotonin, which affects every aspect of brain activity, produces pleasurable neurotransmitters, and also protects brain cells from "neuroexcitotoxins." They contain vitamin A, which can improve the body's immunity and maintain normal reproductive function, and vitamin B1, which has a protective effect on neurons. Tremella replenishes qi, clears the intestines, nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, and strengthens the heart and calms the mind. Its polysaccharide components can increase the body's tolerance to strong stimuli. The alkaloids in lotus seeds have anti-arrhythmic, blood pressure-lowering, and sedative effects. The carbohydrates in it have a tonic effect on the weak, can restrain excessive desires, and can make one's mind calm and peaceful.
What Foods Nourish the Lungs?
1. Tremella (Silver Ear Fungus)
Tremella is known as "the poor man's bird's nest." Although bird's nest is nourishing, it is very expensive. Tremella is similar in color, texture, and功效 to bird's nest but is much cheaper. Tremella has the effects of strengthening essence, nourishing the kidneys, moistening the intestines, benefiting the stomach, replenishing qi, harmonizing blood, strengthening the heart, building the body, nourishing the brain, refreshing the mind, beautifying the skin, and prolonging life.
2. Olive
It has the effects of clearing the lungs, soothing the throat, promoting fluid production, and detoxifying. When you have a sore throat, sucking on some green olives can refresh the throat, and the effect is better if taken with a decoction of fresh radish. The liquid distilled from olives is called olive water, which can be used to treat sore throat, cough, and irritability.
3. Loquat
It has the effects of moistening the lungs, quenching thirst, and lowering qi. It can treat conditions such as lung atrophy and cough, hemoptysis, and vexation and thirst. Loquat leaf is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. After being stir-fried with honey, it has the effects of clearing the lungs and stomach, lowering qi, and resolving phlegm. It is often made into loquat paste, loquat syrup, loquat granules, etc., to treat lung-heat cough.
4. Fig
In addition to being eaten fresh, it can also be processed into dried fruit, candied fruit, canned fruit, etc. Both fresh and dried figs can be used as medicine. When you have a sore throat, eating a few can relieve the pain and help you recover quickly. For lung heat and hoarseness, taking a decoction of figs with rock sugar can help reduce internal heat and hoarseness.
5. Pear
It has the effects of promoting fluid production, moistening dryness, clearing heat, and resolving phlegm. It is applicable to conditions such as injury to body fluids by febrile diseases with vexation and thirst, diabetes, hot cough, phlegm-heat with manic agitation, dysphagia, thirst and loss of voice, red and swollen eyes, and indigestion. The pear is the most common food for clearing the lungs. You can steam it, boil it into a soup, or mash it into pear cake. It is extremely effective for clearing the lungs and treating sore throat.