Introduction: After the Winter Solstice, the weather officially enters the cold winter season, and the climate also becomes drier. Many people experience dry, itchy, and painful skin. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that winter is an excellent time for nourishment. Many ingredients in Chinese herbal dietary therapy have excellent effects on skin care. Eating more of these foods can relieve skin dryness and restore a healthy complexion to the skin.
Pumpkin: Tonifies Qi and Moisturizes the Skin
Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, which can prevent rough skin, has a beauty and skin care effect, and can also prevent keratomalacia, night blindness, etc. Its large amount of linolenic acid can also relieve constipation and tonify the middle qi.
How to eat:
Peel the pumpkin and steam it in a steamer until 80% cooked, let it cool, then cut into small pieces for later use. Peel and wash the yam, cut into small pieces, and soak in water for later use. Next, simmer chicken bones to make a broth, add a few slices of ginger and cook for about 30-40 minutes. Then take the rice and add 500-600ml of the broth to simmer for 30 minutes. Finally, add the pumpkin, yam, and the remaining broth to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and chicken powder to taste.
Pumpkin and Tremella Sweet Soup
Jujube: Anti-aging
Jujube is rich in vitamin C, which can inhibit the oxidation of certain substances in the skin and reduce melanin formation. The vitamin A in it can also help improve skin wrinkles and fade skin spots.
How to eat:
Take 20 jujubes, 30 grams of processed He Shou Wu, 60 grams of japonica rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Peel and slice the processed He Shou Wu, decoct it in water to form a thick juice, then cook the thick juice with the jujubes and japonica rice to make a congee. When the congee is almost done, add brown sugar to season, and bring to a boil once more. Eat it on an empty stomach in the morning and evening daily. 7-10 days is one course. Repeat the second course after a 5-day break.
Goji Berry: Nourishes Blood and Moisturizes the Skin
Goji berries have the effect of tonifying qi. They are more suitable for people who are overworked from work, leading to qi and blood deficiency, dizziness, and vertigo. Modern office workers, especially women, drinking more goji berry tea can not only improve their complexion but is also very good for eye health.
How to eat:
Take a small handful of goji berries (about 20-30 pieces) and 3-4 jujubes into a teacup, add hot water to brew, cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink it as tea daily. It is especially suitable for women to nourish blood, moisturize the skin, and whiten and nourish the complexion.
Sweet Potato, Goji Berry, and Multi-Grain Health Congee
Longan Pulp: Tones the Body and Boosts Qi
The formal name for longan pulp in Traditional Chinese Medicine is Guiyuan. It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. For women who are weak, have a pale complexion, and rough skin, it has the effects of smoothing the skin and anti-aging. It is particularly rich in vitamin P and also has the effect of protecting blood vessels and preventing hardening of the arteries.
How to eat:
Take 8 grams of longan pulp, 30 grams of lotus seeds, 30 grams of Euryale ferox seeds, 50 grams of coix seed, and 10 goji berries. Add them to 500ml of water and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Season with a little honey and consume in one serving.
In addition, for allergic symptoms such as urticaria, you can also take 50 grams of longan shell, add 500ml of water, soak for two hours, then bring to a boil over high heat, followed by simmering over low heat for 1 hour. After the medicinal liquid cools, it can be applied to the affected area to treat allergic symptoms.
Black Sesame: Smoothes the Skin
Black sesame seeds are rich in cysteine and B vitamins, which can increase sebum secretion, improve skin elasticity, and keep the skin in a delicate state. Japanese scholars also call it the most recommended food for improving rough skin. Sesame and walnuts are both rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids, which have good effects on the brain and skin, delaying aging and nourishing the complexion.
How to eat:
Rinse, dry, and roast black sesame seeds until cooked, then grind them finely. Each time, take 25 grams. Separately, cook 100 grams of rice into a congee. Pour in 1 spoonful of honey and the sesame seeds to eat. Black sesame congee is very effective in promoting skin blood circulation and moisturizing the skin.
Walnut and Black Sesame Paste