Introduction: The health preservation for the Awakening of Insects solar term should also be adjusted according to natural phenological phenomena and individual physical differences, in terms of spirit, daily routine, and diet. So, what are the recommended dietary pairings for the Awakening of Insects?
For more health preservation recipes for the Awakening of Insects, we recommend the special feature: Awakening of Insects, All Things Revive, Seize the Time for Health Preservation
During the Awakening of Insects, all things are renewed and full of vitality. As the liver-yang energy in the human body continues to rise in accordance with the season, yin-blood is relatively insufficient. Dietary supplementation should follow the rise of yang energy, further benefitting the spleen-qi, and promoting the harmony of the five organs. Therefore, supplementation should be based on the body's nutritional needs, combined with the climatic characteristics of the Awakening of Insects, and adopt effective recipes for both disease prevention and fitness. The clever pairing of recipes for the Awakening of Insects is as follows.
Cabbage and Mung Bean Sprout Drink
[Ingredients] 1 cabbage root/stem head, 30g mung bean sprouts.
[Preparation] Wash and slice the cabbage root/stem head; wash the mung bean sprouts; place them together in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Strain out the dregs, let it cool slightly, and pour into a jar.
[Effects] For those with heat-clearing, detoxification, and dampness-draining needs.
Double Flower Drink
[Ingredients] 30g honeysuckle, 10g hawthorn, 250g honey.
[Preparation] Place the honeysuckle and hawthorn in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. After 3 minutes, pour the liquid into a small basin. Decoct it once more and pour out the liquid. Combine the two batches of liquid, add honey, and stir well.
[Effects] Relieves exterior syndromes with pungent and cool properties.
Mulberry and Longan Drink
[Ingredients] 60g fresh mulberries, 30g longan pulp.
[Preparation] Wash the mulberries and longan pulp, add an appropriate amount of water, and stew until soft.
[Effects] Suitable for those with palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia with many dreams, sweating, and dizziness.
Celery Juice
[Ingredients] 1 bunch of fresh celery.
[Preparation] Wash fresh celery with boiling water, chop finely, and extract the juice.
[Effects] Lowers blood pressure and prevents stroke.
Ginseng and Jujube Congee
[Ingredients] 6g ginseng, 15 pitted jujubes, 50g japonica rice.
[Preparation] Cook the jujubes, ginseng, and japonica rice together into a congee.
[Effects] Suitable for those with early, heavy, light-colored, and thin menstrual flow, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, palpitations, and a sensation of emptiness in the lower abdomen.
Milk Congee
[Ingredients] 250ml fresh milk, 100g japonica rice, a little sugar.
[Preparation] Wash the japonica rice and place it in a pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Then simmer over low heat to make a congee. Add milk and sugar, bring to a boil, and it is ready.
[Effects] Nourishes deficiency, benefits the lungs and stomach, replenishes qi and blood, promotes fluid production and moistens the intestines.
[Contraindications] Not suitable to be consumed with acidic foods. Use with caution if you have a weak spleen and stomach with diarrhea, or phlegm-fluid retention.
Celery Congee
[Ingredients] 40g celery, 50g japonica rice, 5g scallion, some peanut oil, salt, and MSG.
[Preparation] Wash and trim the celery. Heat peanut oil in a wok, sauté the scallions, add water, rice, and salt, and cook until the congee is 70% done. Then add the celery and cook until the congee is fully cooked. Adjust with MSG.
[Effects] Calms the liver, clears heat, cools the blood, transforms dampness, and promotes urination.
[Contraindications] Not suitable for those with spleen and kidney yang deficiency. Use with caution if you have cirrhosis, dysentery, diarrhea, gastric or duodenal ulcers, nephritis, or pediatric diarrhea.
Ginger Congee
[Ingredients] 6g fresh ginger, 2 red dates, 100g japonica (or glutinous) rice.
[P>[Preparation] Wash the ginger and slice it. Wash the red dates. Wash the japonica (or glutinous) rice. Place them all in a pot with water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until cooked.[Effects] Warms the spleen and stomach, dispels wind-cold.
[Contraindications] Too much ginger should not be consumed to avoid dry mouth, sore throat, constipation, etc. Contraindicated for those with exterior wind-heat, summer-heat excess pathogens, or yin deficiency with internal heat.
Boiled Four-Gill Sea Bass
[Ingredients] 750g live four-gill sea bass, 80g spring bamboo shoots, 1 egg white, 50g refined oil, 5g green onion segments, 5 slices of ginger, 10g yellow wine, 10g salt, 3g MSG, 760g water.
[Preparation] Clean and scale the sea bass. Peel and wash the spring bamboo shoots, then slice them. Crack the egg and beat the white into foam. Heat an iron wok over high heat, add oil, put in the green onion and ginger, and stir-fry until golden. Place the sea bass in the wok belly-side down and pan-fry for a moment. Flip the fish so the back is up, add the cooking wine, cover and simmer for a short while. After a while, uncover, add water, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. When the soup turns milky white, cover again and simmer over low heat for 6 minutes. Then uncover, add the spring bamboo shoots, salt, and MSG, bring to a boil over high heat, and pour in the egg foam before serving.
[Effects] Benefits the spleen and stomach, nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens muscles and bones, and secures the fetus.
[Contraindications] Not suitable for those with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, or excess heat and pathogens.