Autumn is approaching, and elderly people should eat Dhalu Noodles
As the weather gradually cools, a bowl of hot Dhalu noodles not only helps to expel cold from the body and stomach, but for the elderly, it is an excellent choice for a healthy lunch or dinner. It is nutritionally comprehensive and balanced, warming both the body and the soul.
Xu Hui from the Nutrition Department of the Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai said that Dhalu noodles can be considered one of the most favorite noodle dishes for people in the north, with a rich and savory flavor, serving as both a rice and a dish. The reason it is delicious mainly lies in the "卤" (lú, thick gravy), and its four main ingredients—pork belly, daylily, wood ear fungus, and eggs—are all very beneficial for the health of the elderly.
Pork belly is rich in high-quality protein and essential fatty acids, and provides heme (organic iron) and cysteine, which promotes iron absorption, and can improve iron-deficiency anemia. The health benefits of eggs and wood ear fungus for the elderly are already well-known to many.
Various mushrooms, such as shiitake and portobello, are also good choices for the "卤". Shiitake mushrooms can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Shiitake mushroom broth can be a natural "hypotensive agent" without side effects.
Shiitake mushrooms also contain ergosterol, which is generally lacking in vegetables, and can be converted into vitamin D, promoting the absorption of calcium in the body and enhancing the body's resistance to disease. In addition, eating more shiitake mushrooms can help prevent diseases such as colds.
Portobello mushrooms, rich in the trace element selenium, are a good source of selenium. After drinking portobello mushroom soup for a few hours, the selenium content and hemoglobin levels in the blood will increase. It can prevent peroxide damage to the body, lower blood pressure and blood viscosity caused by selenium deficiency, regulate thyroid function, and improve immunity. Portobello mushrooms contain various antiviral components, which have a good effect in assisting the treatment of diseases caused by viruses, such as colds.
For the choice of noodles, elderly people with good teeth can use hand-rolled noodles, preferably made from coarse grains like buckwheat or cornmeal. If their teeth are not strong enough to eat harder noodles, they can choose easy-to-chew noodles like cut noodles, dried noodles, or vermicelli. Softer noodles are easier for the gastrointestinal tract to absorb. People with a weak stomach can also benefit from eating Dhalu noodles regularly as it helps to nourish the stomach.
Elderly people have ample time to figure out how to eat healthier, so they can put all these healthy ingredients into the gravy.
How to make Dhalu Noodles:
First, soak shiitake mushrooms, daylilies, wood ear fungus, and portobello mushrooms in hot water until they rehydrate. After washing, do not discard the mushroom water; filter it for use in making the gravy.
Then, take a soup pot, add scallions, ginger, and pork belly, and cook until done. Slice the pork thinly. Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms, along with the daylilies, wood ear fungus, and portobello mushrooms to the pot. Add the pork and pork broth, along with the mushroom water, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Next, season with salt, chicken essence, and dark soy sauce, thicken the sauce with starch slurry. Then, add beaten eggs, pour the mixture into a soup basin, and pour it over the cooked noodles to serve.