Autumn has arrived, and the weather is gradually turning cooler. This is a critical time to protect your gentle stomach. For autumn diet, avoid overindulging in greasy and spicy foods, as the digestive system cannot adapt quickly from the light summer fare. Porridge, however, can harmonize the stomach and nourish the spleen, while moistening dry lungs, making it an excellent choice for autumn health.
Drinking porridge in the morning is most nourishing
Experts believe that drinking porridge in autumn is particularly beneficial. In early autumn, after a summer of "bombardment" by cold drinks, the body's spleen and stomach functions can easily weaken, and immunity can decline. At this time, consuming warm foods, especially medicinal porridge made from japonica or glutinous rice, can be very effective for strengthening the spleen and stomach, and replenishing the body's vital energy. Waking up early, the stomach is empty and weak. Drinking a large bowl of hot porridge can nourish the gastrointestinal tract without burdening the digestive system or causing weight gain.
At the same time, it is also recommended to drink hot porridge when you have a cold, as it helps the body to sweat, dissipate heat, and expel wind and cold, effectively promoting recovery. Additionally, many people lose their appetite and have poor digestion after a cold. Porridge can promote nutrient absorption in the gut. Furthermore, some medications can be irritating to the stomach, and drinking porridge can help protect the gastric mucosa.
Pumpkin porridge is better than rice porridge
After a summer of sun and growth, pumpkin is now at its peak nutritional value, making pumpkin porridge the most suitable seasonal porridge for autumn nourishment. Pumpkin porridge is a "warm" type of porridge. Compared to "cool" porridges like century egg and lean pork porridge, the gentle pumpkin porridge is better suited for the body's need for warming in autumn.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, pumpkin porridge is neutral and slightly warm. Regular consumption can replenish vital energy, clear heat, and detoxify. It can also help with asthma and reduce swelling. Because pumpkin is sweet, it is beneficial for the dry autumn weather. Many people experience symptoms like chapped lips, nosebleeds, and dry skin. TCM attributes autumn dryness to insufficient body fluids and deficient lung yang. Pumpkin porridge has the effect of clearing heat, nourishing the stomach, and strengthening the spleen. When simmered with foods that generate fluids, moisten yin, and nourish the lungs, it is very beneficial for alleviating autumn dryness symptoms.
Elderly people should not drink porridge every day
There is a Chinese saying, "An elderly person who drinks porridge will have more blessings and longevity." As people age, their digestive systems decline, and drinking porridge in moderation can indeed aid digestion. However, doing so every day can be counterproductive.
There are several disadvantages to long-term porridge consumption: because porridge does not require much chewing, the lack of chewing can accelerate the degeneration of the chewing organs in the elderly. Porridge also has a low fiber content, which is not beneficial for detoxification.
Chewing is essential when eating. Chewing not only breaks down food with teeth but also stimulates saliva secretion. The enzymes in saliva begin the digestion of starch. Without chewing, the salivary amylase cannot fully break down the starch in porridge into maltose, thus affecting digestion. Saliva also neutralizes stomach acid and repairs the gastric mucosa. When drinking porridge, the mouth barely produces saliva, which is not conducive to protecting the stomach lining.
Porridge shops are all very busy. A bowl of porridge can cost as little as five or six yuan, or as much as twenty or thirty yuan, with a wide variety of options. However, when eating out, you should also pay attention to the following nutritional issues.
Cantonese-style porridge is not suitable for diabetics
First, prolonged保温 (heat preservation) leads to a loss of vitamins. Generally, restaurants cook the plain porridge before opening and then keep it warm. Porridge kept warm for several hours will inevitably suffer a significant loss of vitamins.
Second, Cantonese-style porridge is almost always savory, such as the most common century egg and lean pork porridge. These porridges include various ingredients like fish, meat, and eggs, which all contain some salt. Therefore, the total salt intake from such a porridge can be considerable. Calculating based on a 300-gram bowl, one bowl can contain 3 grams of salt, which is not suitable for patients with hypertension. Because Cantonese-style porridge is based on plain rice and the serving size is large, it is not suitable for diabetics.