Core Tip: With the Spring Festival just around the corner, more and more people are taking the time to buy festive goods. Faced with a dazzling array of New Year's products, people find it hard to choose. Whether for food, drinks, daily use, or clothing, there's still a strong emphasis on health and wellness elements. So, which festive goods are the most health-beneficial and nourishing?
I. First Choice for Nourishing Meat Festive Goods: Fish
【Shopping Guide】A fish dish is indispensable in Chinese family banquets, especially the New Year's Eve dinner. Typically, the fish is not finished in one meal, symbolizing the wish for "surpluses year after year" (年年有余). This year is the Year of the Dragon, and since ancient times, there has been the blessing of "a fish leaping over the dragon gate" (鱼跃龙门), making fish the top choice for meat festive goods this Dragon Year. When buying live fish, choose ones that are active and swim vigorously, with a keen reaction to external stimuli. They should generally be free from injury, have intact scales, and a bright body color, preferring to swim at the bottom or middle of the tank. When selecting fresh fish, look for a firm body that doesn't bend, bright, full, and protruding eyes with a clear and transparent cornea. The gill cover should be tightly closed with bright red gills, scales should be firmly attached to the body, the sides of the body should be shiny, and the flesh should be firm and elastic with a slight fishy smell—these are the best. If the eyes do not protrude, the pupils are dilated, or there is blood accumulation inside, the fish is not fresh.
【TCM Advice】In winter, all things wither. Coupled with work and life pressures, many readers, especially young professionals, often experience mild symptoms of depression during the New Year. Eating fish can help fight depression because fish contains a special fatty acid related to the "happy hormone" in the human brain, which helps relieve mental tension and balance emotions. During the cold New Year season, with frequent gatherings, large amounts of rich food can hide the risk of stroke. Eating fish during the New Year can help prevent stroke because the higher the protein and sulfur-containing amino acids in the diet, the lower the incidence of hypertension. Fish protein is rich in methionine and taurine, which are mostly sulfur-containing amino acids. They can affect the blood pressure regulation mechanism, increase sodium excretion in urine, thereby inhibiting the effect of salt on blood pressure and reducing the incidence of stroke.II. Recommended Nourishing Fruit Festive Goods: Longan
【Shopping Guide】In recent years, the fruit market during the Spring Festival has become increasingly bustling. More and more people are paying attention to health issues during the New Year, making nutritious and health-beneficial fruits the most popular. Some more expensive fruits have also become common guests on people's tables. For the Year of the Dragon, fruits like longan are indispensable, and many readers enjoy them. But do you know what the health and wellness benefits of longan are? And who should avoid eating it?
【TCM Advice】The famous Ming Dynasty pharmacologist Li Shizhen recorded in his works that longan is "greatly nourishing" (大补). "Among foods, lychee is the most precious, but for nourishment, longan is superior." (食品以荔枝为贵，而资益则龙眼为良). "Riyong Bencao" (日用本草) states it has the effect of "improving intelligence and calming the mind" (益智宁心). "Depei Bencao" (得配本草) believes that longan "benefits the spleen and stomach, preserves the heart's blood, moisturizes the five organs, and treats palpitations" (益脾胃，葆心血，润五脏，治怔忡). "Quanzhou Bencao" (泉州本草) considers longan to "strengthen yang, replenish qi, and nourish the spleen and stomach" (壮阳益气，补脾胃). It should be noted that patients with phlegm-dampness or heat syndromes, such as those with a cold, fever, or a cough with phlegm, should not eat longan or drink longan tea. Pregnant women cannot eat dried longan. This is because pregnant women are often yin-deficient and prone to internal heat, manifesting as dry stools, yellow urine, and a dry mouth. Eating longan at this time not only fails to provide nourishment but can increase internal heat, triggering symptoms of threatened miscarriage such as spotting, abdominal pain, and bloating.III. First Choice for Nourishing Alcohol Festive Goods: Yellow Wine
【Shopping Guide】On Chinese New Year's Eve dinner tables and when welcoming guests for the New Year, alcohol is almost a must-have. Whether it's baijiu, beer, red wine, or yellow wine, it seems that the festive atmosphere isn't complete without a bit of alcohol. As public health awareness grows, more and more readers are choosing red wine and health wines as festive goods. However, compared to more expensive health wines, yellow wine, which is more affordable, also offers many health benefits. You might consider trying yellow wine this New Year.
【TCM Advice】Yellow wine is a specialty of China, rich in nutrients and known as "liquid cake." Many of its nutritional values exceed those of beer, known as "liquid bread," and nutritious red wine. Yellow wine is an important auxiliary material in traditional Chinese medicine preparations. It is often used to soak, decoct, steam, or process Chinese herbs in prescriptions, or to make pills and various medicinal wines. Drinking yellow wine warm in winter can invigorate blood, dispel cold, and unblock meridians, effectively protecting against cold stimulation and preventing colds. Moderate, regular consumption helps improve blood circulation, promote metabolism, and nourish blood and skin. Warm drinking is the most traditional method. It enhances the rich aroma and mellow taste of yellow wine. There are generally two ways to warm it: one is to place the vessel in hot water to heat it, and the other is to warm it over a flame. However, yellow wine should not be heated for too long, or the alcohol will evaporate, leaving it bland and tasteless. Generally, warm drinking is popular in winter. The best temperature for tasting yellow wine is around 38°C.IV. First Choice for Nourishing Beverage Festive Goods: Dairy Products
【Shopping Guide】During the Spring Festival, many people purchase beverages to entertain visiting friends and relatives. The most common beverages are carbonated drinks. However, apart from sugar, which provides energy, carbonated drinks contain almost no other nutrients. The carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks can irritate the stomach. If consumed in large quantities, the released CO2 can easily cause bloating, affect appetite, and even lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction. The high acidity of carbonated drinks is also an important cause of tooth decay in teenagers. Carbonated drinks can also affect calcium absorption. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for bone development, so excessive consumption should be avoided. Experts recommend dairy products as the top choice for nourishing beverages.
【TCM Advice】During the Spring Festival, frequent social engagements and busy schedules, combined with lower temperatures, can easily lead to a decrease in the body's resistance. Dairy product drinks containing whey protein can provide a major source of glutamine, a substance essential for immune function. This helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, pollution, and toxins. Compared to other protein sources, whey protein has the ability to increase glutathione, thereby enhancing human immunity. During the New Year, when alcohol consumption is high, the phospholipids in milk can form a thick hydrophobic layer on the surface of the gastric mucosa, which can resist the erosion of alcohol on the gastric mucosa and play a role in preventing alcohol poisoning.V. First Choice for Nourishing Nut Festive Goods: Pumpkin Seeds
【Shopping Guide】After tea and meals, chatting with family, watching shows, and snacking on nuts are some of the more pleasant things to do during the Spring Festival when visiting relatives and friends. Many readers buy extra nuts when purchasing festive goods, with the most common being pistachios, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and watermelon seeds. However, experts suggest eating more pumpkin seeds during the New Year, as their health benefits should not be ignored.
【TCM Advice】During the Spring Festival, oral health risks are everywhere, especially concerning gum health. Pumpkin seed kernels are rich in two types of nutrients vital for gums and alveolar bone. First, they contain a large amount of phosphorus; every 100 grams of pumpkin seed kernels contain 1159 milligrams of phosphorus, and alveolar bone atrophy in the elderly is related to phosphorus loss. Second, they are rich in carotene and vitamin E, which can directly nourish the gums and prevent atrophy. In addition, pumpkin seeds are rich in amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and carotene. Regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can not only prevent the occurrence of kidney stones but also promote the expulsion of stones in patients. More importantly, the active ingredients and rich zinc in pumpkin seeds have a health-promoting effect on the prostate, so male friends might want to eat more pumpkin seeds during the New Year.VI. First Choice for Nourishing Vegetable Festive Goods: "Root Vegetables"
【Shopping Guide】Citizens who have experience buying vegetables before the New Year know that due to possible rain or snow during the holiday and the risk of rising prices, many people stock up on vegetables in advance. Compared to leafy green vegetables that are not easy to preserve, some "root" and stem vegetables are more popular among citizens.
【TCM Advice】For vegetable festive goods during the New Year, it's a good idea to prepare more "root" vegetables like radishes and lotus root. For example, there's a folk saying: "Winter radishes are better than ginseng soup, no need for a doctor to write prescriptions" (冬季萝卜赛参汤，不劳医生开药方). During the New Year, the climate is dry, and pollution from fireworks increases, making many people feel discomfort in their lungs, especially a dry throat upon waking. In TCM, the lungs are considered a "delicate organ" (娇脏) and the first to be invaded by external pathogens, requiring special care after the start of winter. White radish has a certain effect of moistening the lungs and relieving cough. Eating raw radish promotes digestion, while cooked radish replenishes qi. Another example is lotus root, which contains mucin and dietary fiber that can bind with bile salts, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the body, causing them to be excreted in feces and thus reducing lipid absorption. Lotus root also emits a unique fragrance and contains tannins, which have a certain effect of strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. It can increase appetite, promote digestion, and whet the appetite, making it especially suitable for consumption during the New Year, especially for those with poor appetite.
VII. First Choice for Nourishing Pastry Festive Goods: Mung Bean Cake
【Shopping Guide】Every festival, some traditional foods evoke memories. Pastries like osmanthus cake, dragon's beard cake, and mung bean cake are things people usually buy less often, but they naturally come to mind during the New Year; it seems the festive atmosphere isn't complete without them. Some readers say that traditional pastries are popular because they evoke a sense of nostalgia and remind people of their childhood. For the Year of the Dragon, dragon's beard cake is a must, but experts also recommend stocking up on mung bean cake. Why is that?
【TCM Advice】Many readers returning home for the New Year or visiting relatives often face what seems like a "水土不服" (水土不服, literally "not adapting to the local water and soil") issue on their faces after a few social gatherings, and acne can easily break out. What should you do? You might be familiar with the saying: "Sesame and mung bean cake, eat it and no pimples will grow." The "pimples" in this saying mainly refer to acne, a chronic inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. TCM believes that stagnation of heat in the spleen and stomach is closely related to the occurrence of acne, and patients with acne often have varying degrees of constipation. Mung beans in the cake are sweet in taste and cold in nature, possessing effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, detoxifying, relieving summer heat, and quenching thirst. The Spring Festival falls in the coldest season of the year. People wear thick clothes, are less active, and the air is dry, which can easily cause internal heat to build up without timely release. If you eat too many warming foods at this time, it's easy to develop internal heat, making it even more appropriate to eat some "cooling" mung bean products. Normal mung bean cake should be pale yellowish-green. Mung beans are pale green, and oil is yellow. During production, oil with a small amount of water is mixed, resulting in a delicate flavor and a color that is not too green or too yellow, somewhat like the color of cooked mung bean soup.VIII. First Choice for Plant Festive Goods: "Air-Purifying" Plants
【Shopping Guide】When the Spring Festival arrives, flowers become popular. As the material standard of living continuously improves, flower plants have also become a purchase item for many readers during their New Year shopping.
【TCM Advice】Do not grow too many indoor plants. Generally, in a 12-16 square meter space, do not have more than 3 large-leaf plants or 5 small ones. Also, remember to move plants out of the bedroom at night. For many citizens who move around the Spring Festival, the most suitable choice for a new home is evergreen plants or varieties that can absorb toxic gases, such as spider plants, asparagus ferns, cacti, monstera deliciosa, and ivy. Many people like to have spider plants and aloe vera at home; these two plants can eliminate formaldehyde pollution and purify the air. Monstera deliciosa has a strong ability to absorb carbon dioxide at night, more than six times that of other flowers. Canna has a strong absorption capacity for sulfur dioxide. Keeping one or two pomegranate plants indoors can reduce lead content in the air. Pittosporum can absorb photochemical smog and also prevent dust and sound absorption. Dianthus can absorb sulfur dioxide and chlorides. Roses and Chinese rose absorb harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, phenol, and ether, reducing environmental pollution. Chrysanthemums, sago palms, and pothos can reduce benzene pollution.IX. First Choice for Ornament Festive Goods: Charcarving Ornaments
【Shopping Guide】During the Spring Festival, toxic gases from guests smoking at home and harmful particulate matter from outdoor fireworks can affect human health. Many people also like to buy decorations to celebrate the New Year and beautify their homes. What kind of decoration can both decorate the home and have health benefits? Carved charcoal ornaments, which have become popular in recent years, are a very good choice.
【TCM Advice】Charcarving ornaments can continuously absorb various toxic gases in the air (nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene and its homologues, ammonia, radon, sulfur dioxide, etc.), smoke, and odors, effectively purifying the air, eliminating air pollution, and maintaining human health. Charcarving ornaments can effectively curb the proliferation of mold and microorganisms, inhibit bacteria and mites, and regulate humidity to prevent mold. Charcarving ornaments also have sound-absorbing effects, helping to create a fresh, relaxed, and healthy environment that is beneficial to physical and mental health.X. First Choice for Clothing Festive Goods: Scarves
【Shopping Guide】New Year, new look! New clothes are naturally on the list of festive purchases. Adding new clothes, new hats, and new shoes for the New Year, experts also remind you not to forget to buy a scarf for yourself, even gentlemen, because a scarf has unexpected health and wellness benefits during the cold Spring Festival.
【TCM Advice】During the cold and dry Spring Festival, wearing a scarf helps protect the cervical spine. From a TCM perspective, the cervical spine is located at the position of the Du Meridian in the human body. The Du Meridian is also known as the "Sea of Yang Meridians." If the cervical spine gets cold, it can easily damage yang energy. Some readers, after their neck is exposed to cold, often feel stiff, painful, and have limited movement in the neck and shoulders, with a heavy feeling in the back and weak arms. This can actually be a mild symptom of cervical spondylosis. Therefore, in the cold of the Spring Festival, one should wear a woolen or cashmere scarf to protect the cervical spine. It should be reminded that it's best not to develop the bad habit of covering your mouth with a scarf. Because scarves are mostly made of wool, rabbit hair, or blended yarn, their fibers are very easy to fall off and easily absorb dust and bacteria. Since scarves are not washed often, when they come into contact with a person's mouth and nose, the fallen fibers, dust, and bacteria can easily enter the body with breathing, making one susceptible to respiratory diseases. Because scarves are often exposed outside, they get covered in a lot of dust and bacteria, so they should be washed about once a week.