When it comes to nourishing the blood, people tend to think of traditional Chinese medicines like donkey-hide gelatin and Angelica sinensis, as well as foods like pork liver and blood. But did you know that fresh fruits and vegetables are also excellent for blood nourishment? Many people mistakenly believe that anemia is caused only by a vegetarian diet. In fact, many plant-based foods not only contain iron, carotene, and other nutrients, but are also generally easy to digest, making them very suitable as blood-nourishing ingredients! The following will introduce several common fruits and vegetables for blood nourishment...
Longan Flesh──A Well-Known Blood-Nourishing Food
Longan flesh is the dried pulp of the longan fruit. Fresh longans are available every summer. Longans contain vitamins A and B, glucose, sucrose, and are rich in iron. Longan soup, longan wine, and other dishes are highly recommended for pregnant and postpartum women as excellent blood-nourishing meals!
Grapes──A Blood-Nourishing Treasure Recommended by TCM for Generations
Grapes are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins and amino acids. They are a great tonic for the elderly, women, those with weak constitutions and anemia, and those who are overly fatigued. Pregnant women are also advised to eat more grapes, as they are beneficial for the fetus's nutrition and can also give the mother a rosy complexion and improve blood circulation! If you can't find grapes sometimes, eating raisins is also a good option!
Pumpkin──A Wonderful Blood-Nourishing Food
Praised by the famous Qing Dynasty physician Chen Xiuyuan as "a wonderful blood-nourishing food," pumpkin is rich in plant-based protein, carotene, vitamins, essential amino acids, calcium, zinc, iron, cobalt, phosphorus, and more. Among these, cobalt is an important component of vitamin B12, which helps red blood cells function properly; zinc directly affects the function of mature red blood cells; and iron is the basic trace element for making hemoglobin. All of these are excellent nutrients for blood nourishment.
Sugarcane──The "Blood-Fruit"
Among winter fruits, the much-loved sugarcane contains a large amount of trace elements, including iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and more. Its iron content is the highest among fruits, reaching up to 9 milligrams per kilogram, earning it the name "blood-fruit." However, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, sugarcane is considered "cold" in nature, so those with a weak spleen and stomach should consume it in moderation.
Carrot──"The Japanese Ginseng"
Commonly known as the red carrot, it is called "ginseng" in Japan. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient that is extremely beneficial for blood nourishment. You can often use carrots to make soup, turning your post-meal soup into a blood-nourishing soup that you can drink anytime!
Red Dates──The Ultimate Treasure for Blood Nourishment and Beauty
Red dates are rich in vitamins, fructose, and various amino acids. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that red dates are "warming" in nature, nourish and protect the blood, and can improve blood circulation. Pharmacological research has found that certain components in red dates can increase the number of red blood cells in the blood, enhance bone marrow's hematopoietic function, and lead to a rosy complexion. When paired with longan, they not only nourish the blood and vital energy but also improve beauty. Ladies who care about their appearance might want to give it a try.