The fast pace of modern life has led to excessive psychological stress for women, causing some to experience premature symptoms of hidden menopause. Medical experts remind: urban women should pay attention to protecting themselves to prevent premature aging.
Medical research has proven that diseases related to body aging and gene mutations are associated with damage from free radicals. Therefore, maintaining sufficient antioxidant substances in the body and promptly eliminating free radicals are important means of anti-aging. The two key elements to resist aging are vegetables and fruits.
Vegetables and fruits play a very important role in preventing and treating some diseases related to free radical damage and in the anti-aging process. Dietary guidelines from all over the world list the intake of vegetables and fruits as an important part. When the United States revised its latest dietary guidelines in 2000, it changed the guideline "Choose a diet rich in grains, vegetables, and fruits" to "Choose a variety of vegetables and fruits daily."
A large number of scientific tests have proven that vegetables and fruits not only provide some vitamins, minerals, and fiber needed by the human body, but also contain many plant antioxidants. For example, some vegetables and fruits are rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids and anthocyanins. The antioxidant effects of some of these substances are even stronger than the well-known antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotene.
Recently, personnel from the Tianjin Institute of Environmental Medicine measured and compared the antioxidant activity of 66 common vegetables and fruits in China, with the following results—— Anti-aging ranking of 36 vegetables (from strongest to weakest)
Lotus root 4.57, Ginger 2.24, Rapeseed 1.55, Cowpea 1.43, Taro 1.03, Garlic 0.87, Spinach 0.84, Sweet pepper 0.82, Kidney bean 0.75, Broccoli 0.71, Green soybean 0.71, Scallion 0.69, White radish 0.60, Coriander 0.59, Carrot 0.55, Cabbage 0.49, Potato 0.46, Chive 0.44, Onion 0.41, Tomato 0.40, Eggplant 0.39, Cucumber 0.36, Cauliflower 0.31, Chinese cabbage 0.30, Pea 0.30, Mushroom 0.28, Winter melon 0.27, Luffa 0.24, Garlic stalk 0.20, Lettuce 0.19, Mung bean sprout 0.14, Yellow chive 0.12, Pumpkin 0.12, Celery 0.12, Chinese yam 0.08, Lettuce 0.06 Anti-aging ranking of 30 fruits (from strongest to weakest)
Hawthorn 13.42, Winter jujube 6.98, Guava 6.07, Kiwi fruit 4.38, Mulberry 4.11, Strawberry 3.29, Agate pomegranate 3.10, Tangerine 2.29, Seedless green-skinned orange 2.19, Orange 1.89, Lemon 1.43, Cherry 0.99, Longan 0.94, Pineapple fruit 0.87, Red banana apple 0.80, Pineapple 0.80, Banana 0.73, Plum 0.71, Lychee 0.59, Kumquat 0.50, Rose grape 0.49, Pomelo 0.39, Mango 0.38, Jium peach 0.38, Apricot 0.34, Hami melon 0.24, Crystal pear 0.22, White muskmelon 0.19, Watermelon 0.16, Persimmon 0.14. Apple — The most beneficial fruit for health
In addition, among the many fruits and vegetables, Americans have ranked the most beneficial fruit for health. Apple ranks first because it is rich in fiber, which can supplement the body with sufficient fiber, reduce the incidence of heart disease, and also aid in weight loss. Many Americans consider apples a must-have for weight loss, and they have a "Apple Day" once a week, on which they only eat apples. Related link: Eating lotus root in autumn moistens the lungs and nourishes the blood
During the autumn season, fresh lotus root is in season. Although the lotus root grows in mud, it is as white as jade once it emerges from the mud. Its flesh is crisp and tender, and it is rich in nutrients. In addition to containing a large amount of carbohydrates, it is also rich in protein, various vitamins, and minerals.
Lotus root can be eaten as a fruit or as a delicacy, and it is suitable for both raw and cooked consumption. Whether raw or cooked, lotus root has great medicinal value. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that raw lotus root is cold in nature, sweet and cool in the stomach, and can eliminate blood stasis, cool the blood, clear heat, and relieve nausea and thirst. It is suitable for conditions such as vexation and thirst, drunkenness, hemoptysis, and hematemesis. Postpartum women are advised to avoid raw and cold foods, but they do not avoid lotus root because it has a great effect on eliminating blood stasis. Therefore, there is a saying in folklore that "newly picked tender lotus root is better than a great doctor." Cooked lotus root changes in color from white to purple and has the effects of nourishing the stomach, nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen, and replenishing qi. It is a very good food tonic. Lotus root powder, processed from lotus root, is not only nutritious but also easy to digest. It has the effects of nourishing blood, stopping bleeding, regulating the middle jiao, and whetting the appetite, making it an ideal nutritional food for the old, young, and those with a weak constitution.
When eating lotus root, people often discard the lotus root nodes, but in fact, the lotus root node is an excellent hemostatic medicine. It is sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature, and contains rich tannins and asparagine. It is specifically used to treat various types of bleeding, such as hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, hemafecia, and uterine bleeding. Folk remedies often use six or seven lotus root nodes, crush them, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar, and decoct them for oral administration to stop bleeding, which has a very good effect. A healthy food: Hawthorn
Hawthorn is sour, sweet, and slightly warm. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hawthorn has the effects of strengthening the stomach, aiding digestion, lowering blood pressure, and reducing blood lipids, making it an excellent health food.
Long-term consumption can prevent and treat the following diseases:
1. For indigestion: Take 200 grams of hawthorn, add water to decoct and take the juice as tea. This can prevent and treat indigestion caused by eating too much meat.
2. For coronary heart disease: The flavonoids contained in hawthorn can dilate the coronary arteries and increase coronary blood flow. Therefore, patients with coronary heart disease (including those with angina) should often drink hawthorn and sugar water.
3. For hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and fatty liver: Patients with these conditions can eat 5-10 hawthorns daily. Persisting for a period of time has the effects of lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, and regulating lipids.
4. For constipation: Take 50 grams of fresh hawthorn, 150 grams of walnuts, and 25 grams of sugar. Add a small amount of water to cook slightly. Drink it frequently as tea and eat the hawthorn and walnuts. This has the effects of nourishing the body and relieving constipation, and can be used to prevent and treat dry mouth and constipation caused by fluid deficiency.
5. For gynecological diseases: Take 30 grams of hawthorn, add an appropriate amount of sugar, decoct to extract the juice, and take it for 7 consecutive days. This can remove blood stasis and activate blood circulation, and can be used to prevent and treat amenorrhea and lower abdominal distension in women.
It is worth reminding that although hawthorn is good, pregnant women and patients with peptic ulcers should not eat too much of it. It is also not advisable to eat too much on an empty stomach.