Reviewing the Do's and Don'ts of "Chinese Medicine Snacks"
Core Tip: Nowadays, many consumers pay close attention to the healthiness of snacks when purchasing them. Compared to traditional snacks, "Chinese medicine snacks" are more favored by young women. But how much do you know about the pros and cons of these "Chinese medicine snacks"?
In life, many people love snacks but worry about their impact on health. Therefore, savvy businesses have "married" health-beneficial Chinese herbs with snacks, calling them "Chinese medicine snacks." Due to their appealing taste, nutritional value, and packaging, these snacks are very popular among consumers. Chinese medicine snacks like donkey-hide jujube paste, guilinggao, Poria cakes, and sour plum juice are particularly prevalent among female office workers and are common staples in office drawers.
A reporter learned from supermarket food sales staff that many consumers now pay close attention to the healthiness of snacks when purchasing them. Compared to traditional snacks, Chinese medicine snacks are more favored by young women, and their sales figures are often at the top of the food sales charts.
Donkey-hide Jujube Paste
In supermarkets, a type of jujube is particularly popular, especially among female friends. The special feature of this jujube is that it is made with donkey-hide gelatin. Since both donkey-hide gelatin and red jujubes have the effect of nourishing blood, especially donkey-hide gelatin which also tonifies the spleen and stomach, replenishes qi and calms the spirit, and nourishes yin and moistens dryness, it is a common snack for many office women.
For people with qi deficiency or blood deficiency constitution, eating donkey-hide jujube paste regularly can be beneficial, helping to improve symptoms like listlessness and fatigue. However, although jujubes are good, you should not eat too many, especially donkey-hide jujube paste. Eating too much is not good for digestion and absorption. If you have stomach heat or indigestion, eating too much of this rich and greasy food can hinder the stomach, affect appetite, and easily lead to "heatiness" over time. Therefore, it is best not to eat more than 7 pieces of donkey-hide jujube paste at a time.
Guilinggao (Turtle Jelly)
Authentic guilinggao is mainly made from precious ingredients like the soft-shelled turtle and Smilax glabra, and is meticulously prepared with other medicinal herbs such as Rehmannia root, dandelion, honeysuckle, and chrysanthemum. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, eliminating acne, and moistening the intestines to promote bowel movements. Guilinggao is very popular among young people and is also one of the favorite Chinese medicine health snacks for some elderly friends.
Guilinggao has the effect of clearing heat and expelling toxins and is偏向于 cold-natured. People with a cold stomach or weak spleen and stomach should eat it less. Some reports say that tortoise shell has the effect of stimulating the uterus and promoting blood circulation, so pregnant women and women during their menstrual period should also avoid eating too much.
Poria Cake
Poria has a sweet and neutral taste, and it strengthens the spleen and aids digestion. Eating Poria cake helps to improve appetite and promote digestion. It is suitable for picky children and the elderly with weak constitutions. Poria can also stop diarrhea, so people who often have diarrhea can eat it in moderation.
Currently, Poria cakes on the market often contain ingredients like honey and white sugar, so they have a high sugar content. Therefore, diabetic patients should avoid them.
Herbal Tea Drinks
Herbal tea was generally a summer specialty for relieving summer heat, but now it has almost become a year-round health beverage. Modern people's eating habits easily lead to "heatiness," so herbal tea with its heat-reducing effects has naturally become their first choice for gatherings. In addition, due to busy work, many readers have the habit of staying up late and working overtime. After being a "night owl" for a long time, the "heat" in the body accumulates, and at this time, herbal tea seems to become an emergency drink.
The main ingredients of herbal tea on the market often include Chinese herbs like chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, Prunella vulgaris, and licorice. It has the effects of clearing heat and dampness, and nourishing yin to reduce fire, which can help relieve symptoms like swollen gums, mouth ulcers, and constipation. However, people who often have cold hands and feet, a cold stomach, yang deficiency, or loose stools should try to drink less herbal tea to avoid aggravating their existing symptoms.
Sour Plum Juice
Sour plum juice is a traditional Chinese summer drink. In the past, when summer arrived, adults would buy dark plums to make it at home, adding some sugar to reduce the sourness, and drinking it chilled for a very refreshing taste. Nowadays, many beverage manufacturers have also started producing sour plum juice, which has been well-received by consumers and is gradually becoming a fashionable health beverage.
The citric acid in the main ingredient, dark plum, in sour plum juice helps with the absorption of vitamins and enzymes, and can also prevent diseases and relieve fatigue. The malic acid in dark plum guides an appropriate amount of water to the large intestine, forming feces to be excreted. Dark plum is also very effective for treating bad breath and indigestion. However, people with colds, fever, cough with a lot of phlegm, and a feeling of stuffiness in the chest should avoid eating dark plums. Patients with initial stages of bacillary dysentery or enteritis should also avoid it.