Winter Health: 3 Things to Remember
Winter is a great time for nourishing the body. Many people have already started to supplement their diet with food or health products. We recommend a few common dietary therapies to help you stay healthy through the winter.
Too Many Fresh Dates Can Upset Your Stomach
Fresh dates, which are crisp and sweet, are a nutrient-rich, natural "vitamin pill." Compared to dried dates, they are more tender and refreshing, and it's easy to overeat them. However, nutritionists warn that you should not eat too many fresh dates, as they can harm your digestive system.
This is because, first, fresh dates have a low water content. Most fruits are 80% to 90% water, while fresh dates are only 67%. So when you eat other fruits in excess, you're mostly consuming water. But when you eat too many dates, you're consuming more "solid" nutrients.
Second, fresh dates are very high in dietary fiber, significantly more than other common fruits. Dates contain as much as 1.9% dietary fiber (especially insoluble fiber), which is not digested in the stomach and small intestine. A small amount can promote bowel movements and prevent constipation, but a large amount can irritate the digestive tract, causing stomach discomfort. The dietary fiber in dates is mainly concentrated in the skin, which is very thin and hard. If you swallow it and your stomach lining has inflammation or ulcers, it's like rubbing salt in a wound, causing pain or discomfort.
How many fresh dates should you eat a day? Generally, a handful a day is enough to meet the body's needs. If you don't have any inflammation, ulcers, or wounds in your stomach, it's fine to eat a few more. However, even if you have a healthy stomach, people have different tolerances to certain irritants. Therefore, people with stomach problems should eat fewer fresh dates. For those with a healthy digestive system, it's best to eat them slowly and stop if you feel bloated or uncomfortable.
Green Tea Boiled Eggs Relieve Cough and Phlegm
Fragrant tea eggs are a breakfast favorite for many. Traditional tea eggs are boiled with black tea, but if you use green tea instead, the therapeutic benefits are even better.
Green tea contains polyphenols that lower blood sugar and lipids, tannic acid that prevents cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and fluoride that maintains oral and dental health. Eggs are rich in protein. Together, these substances are very beneficial to human health.
Green tea boiled eggs are not only nutritious but can also help to resolve phlegm and relieve coughs, and are helpful in alleviating symptoms such as coughs, bronchitis, and asthma.
The method for making green tea boiled eggs is simple: Use 15 grams of green tea and 2 eggs, boiled together in water. After the eggs are cooked, peel the shells and continue boiling until the water has evaporated. Finally, green tea boiled eggs should not be cooked for too long, otherwise the eggs will become denatured and change their flavor, affecting the taste. Also, because they are nutritious and can spoil easily, they should not be stored for long and are best eaten right after cooking.
Longan and Red Date Tea: Not for Those with "Excess Heat"
Longan and red date tea is popular among many women for its ability to improve complexion and delay aging. However, because longan is "heaty" in nature, drinking too much can easily lead to "internal heat" and qi stagnation. Therefore, people with colds, coughs, and other symptoms should avoid it. Young people with strong constitutions should also drink it in moderation to prevent "internal heat." Additionally, because dates are high in sugar, diabetics should be mindful.
Best way to drink: Use 5 longans and 5 red dates, steeped with boiling water. It's best to slit the red dates open.