Introduction: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes that food therapy is superior to medicinal supplements. Therefore, knowing what to eat for health preservation in winter and how to eat it for the best effect is a subject of great knowledge. In this issue, we have created a TCM version for you—the "Winter Health Preservation Yanlu List."
The Best for Stomach Health—Hawthorn
Hot pot is an indispensable choice for many people's winter feasts, but this type of diet is often rich in oil and meat, belonging to the category of greasy and heavy foods. Eating too much of it is not easy to digest. This is where hawthorn comes into play.
Hawthorn is the most medicinal and edible fruit of the season with the effect of strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion. The Ming Dynasty pharmaceutical work "Ben Tong Xuan" records that hawthorn can "dissolve the accumulation of grease and grime"; "Ben Cao Gang Mu" says it "transforms food and dissolves meat accumulation"; "Ben Cao Zai Xin" records that hawthorn can "treat spleen deficiency and damp-heat, promote digestion and grind accumulation, and benefit urination and bowel movements." Modern research shows that the citric acid in hawthorn can significantly increase the activity of pepsin, enhancing the function of digesting meat and other proteins. It should be noted that hawthorn has the effects of activating blood to resolve stasis and stimulating uterine contractions, so pregnant women should not consume too much hawthorn to avoid inducing miscarriage.
Luo Han Guo Hawthorn Jam
The Best for Spleen Tonification—Chinese Yam
Overindulgence in food, irregular eating, combined with mental stress and high pressure, have led many people to varying degrees of spleen and stomach damage. In winter, which emphasizes tonification, how can the body absorb nutrients if the spleen and stomach are not in good condition? Zhang Ming, a standing committee member of the Sub-health Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, pointed out that winter tonification must first start with regulating the spleen and stomach; otherwise, the tonification is in vain and will instead increase the burden on the spleen and stomach.
TCM believes that Chinese yam is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It tonifies Qi without causing stagnation or heat, and nourishes Yin without promoting dampness or greasiness. It is the most moderate product for nourishing the middle Qi and has been praised by physicians throughout history, making it the first-class medicine for spleen tonification. "Ben Cao Gang Mu" records its function of "strengthening the spleen and stomach and stopping diarrhea and dysentery." "Jing Yue Quan Shu" says that Chinese yam can "strengthen the spleen, tonify deficiency, treat various deficiencies and damages, and remedy five strains and seven injuries." Modern pharmacology reveals that Chinese yam contains substances such as amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which help enhance digestive and absorption functions. It can be consumed by people with either Spleen Yang deficiency or Stomach Yin deficiency.
The Best for Kidney Tonification—Chestnuts
In the five organs, the kidney governs water and belongs to the Yin organs. The cold pathogen corresponds to kidney Qi, and winter is the time when kidney Qi is in command. At this time, the body's Qi and blood begin to converge, and the essence needs to be stored and nourished. Therefore, winter health preservation especially emphasizes nourishing the kidney, and it is particularly suitable to consume chestnuts for tonification at this time. Sun Simiao, a famous Tang dynasty physician known as the "King of Medicine," recorded in his "Qian Jin Fang": "Chestnut is the fruit of the kidney; it should be eaten by those with kidney disease." Li Shizhen, a Ming dynasty pharmacologist, recorded in "Ben Cao Gang Mu": "Chestnut treats kidney deficiency, weakness of the waist and legs, and can tonify the kidney and benefit Qi."
Braised Chicken Wings with Chestnuts
[NextPage] The Best for Lung Nourishment—Lily Bulb
TCM believes that the cold and cool Qi of autumn and winter can easily injure the lungs. Lily bulb is sweet and slightly bitter, with the effect of moistening the lungs, and has a good therapeutic effect on dry cough due to lung dryness. "Ben Shu" records that "the function of lily bulb is to benefit Qi and also promote Qi, to nourish the righteous Qi and also expel evil." Therefore, lily bulb is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly friends to eat regularly.
Double Rice and Yam with Lily Bulb Porridge