Introduction: In this vast world, there are countless types of food. Among these, there are certainly foods you love and foods you don't. Some foods are disliked by many and become recognized as "unpalatable foods." However, some of these "unpalatable" foods are actually very beneficial to the human body.
1. Coarse Food
The reason food is coarse is that it is rich in insoluble fiber, such as coarse grains, celery stalks, and cabbage leaves. It is these dietary fibers that help prevent constipation, protect against colon cancer, aid in the excretion of metal ions, help the body detoxify, and reduce weight.
If you are worried about gaining weight after eating a high-fat meal, you can eat these foods, as this is the best time for coarse food to be effective.
2. Sour Food
Such as sand pears, hawthorns, and pickles. Their sourness comes from organic acids like citric acid and malic acid. These natural acidic substances can promote the absorption of minerals, such as iron.
Among fruits of the same variety, the sourer ones generally have a higher vitamin C content, which is also more stable and easier to preserve. From a nutritional perspective, eating sour food is beneficial for both the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus.
Sourness can stimulate gastric acid secretion, increase the activity of digestive enzymes, increase a pregnant woman's appetite, and alleviate morning sickness.
3. Bitter Food
Such as lemon peel, tea, and dark chocolate, which are rich in various glycosides, terpenes, and polyphenols. It is these substances that make food bitter. For example, naringin in lemon peel and grapefruit peel, polyphenols in tea, and polyphenols in red wine and chocolate can prevent cancer and heart disease, and also bring a slightly bitter flavor to food.
Among the many bitter foods, bitter melon is probably the most widely accepted. Bitter melon has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, nourishing blood and replenishing qi, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the liver and improving eyesight.
In addition, bitter melon is very high in vitamin C, which can prevent scurvy, protect cell membranes, prevent atherosclerosis, improve the body's stress resistance, and protect the heart.
4. Astringent Food
Unripe persimmons, purple grape skins, etc., are foods with a strong astringent taste. Their astringency comes from tannins, phytic acid, and oxalic acid in the food. These substances are all powerful antioxidants and are beneficial for preventing diabetes and high blood lipids.
Moreover, for the same type of fruit, the astringent variety has higher nutritional value. For example, a small, sour apple is better than a large, sweet Fuji apple.
Tannins (highly polymerized compounds in polyphenols) in astringent foods are widely used in beauty products, with main effects including astringent, sun protection, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant. Therefore, astringent foods are truly rare and precious beauty foods for women.
5. Spicy Food
The spiciness in food is generally provided by capsaicin or volatile sulfur compounds. Capsaicin has analgesic effects and can also increase metabolism, helping to burn fat and lose weight.
Mustard has a strong spicy flavor and a strong stimulating effect. It can regulate the endocrine system in women, enhance sexual function, and also stimulate blood vessel dilation to enhance facial blood circulation, making a woman's complexion ruddier.
The main component that makes mustard pungent is isothiocyanate. This component not only prevents cavities but also has certain effects in preventing cancer, preventing plaque deposition in blood vessels, and assisting in the treatment of asthma. In addition, mustard can also prevent high blood lipids, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease, and reduce blood viscosity.
6. "Pungent" Food
Such as radishes, garlic, and onions. These foods have a very strong flavor, and you might even have a bad taste in your mouth after eating them. The reason is that they contain substances like glucosinolates and diallyl disulfides, which are very helpful in preventing cancer.
For example, garlic is a "health guard" for people. Numerous epidemiological surveys have shown that the cancer incidence rate in garlic-producing areas and among populations who regularly consume garlic is significantly lower. After eating these "pungent" foods, you can have a bad taste in your mouth. You can eat foods high in protein like tea, peanuts, walnuts, or almonds to reduce the garlic flavor.
7. "Unusual Fragrance" Food
Some foods are named with the word "fragrant" but have a very strange taste, such as cilantro and toon sprouts. Cilantro contains a lot of boron, a substance that helps the body absorb minerals and protect bones, making it most suitable for middle-aged and elderly people over 40.
Cilantro is also rich in iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C, which helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and can prevent cancer. Toon sprouts contain volatile aromatic organic compounds such as toonin, which can strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite, increasing appetite. It has the effects of clearing heat and dampness, promoting urination and detoxification, and is a good adjuvant for treating enteritis, dysentery, and urinary tract infections.
Studies have shown that toon sprouts contain vitamin E and substances related to sex hormones, which have anti-aging effects and can tonify yang and nourish yin. It also has a certain therapeutic effect on infertility, hence it is known as the "pregnancy-assisting element."
8. "Smelly" Food
The durian has a strong odor, and it's no exaggeration to say it "stinks to high heaven." However, in Thailand, due to its high nutritional value, it is often used as a tonic for patients and postpartum women to nourish their bodies.
Durian is a "hot" nature food that can invigorate blood and dispel cold, alleviating menstrual pain. It is especially suitable for women troubled by menstrual pain. It can also improve symptoms of a cold abdomen and can promote body temperature, making it an ideal tonic for people with a "cold" constitution.
Although durian has many benefits, you should not eat too much at once, otherwise it can easily lead to body heatiness, and because the gastrointestinal system cannot fully absorb it, it can cause "internal heat."