Introduction: Modern life is affluent, and rich, fatty foods have become the mainstream of daily life. Over the long term, this can lead to the onset of "wealthy diseases" such as high blood pressure and high blood lipids. In traditional Chinese diets, some lesser-known foods also contribute to health and longevity.
Pine Nuts for Detoxification and Anti-inflammation
Pearl-like pine nuts have been widely used in traditional imperial cuisine and are always considered to have nourishing and strengthening effects. The rich oil content in pine nuts not only aids bowel movements but also moisturizes the skin. At the same time, pine nuts are an excellent source of oil, containing polyunsaturated fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation.
How to eat healthily: Pine nuts are high in calories. It's best to sprinkle a small handful on your food.
Porridge for Stomach Health and Vitality
During the cooking process, the active ingredients in the food are released and dissolved into the soup, making it easy to digest and absorb. It is suitable for people with poor appetite or a weak constitution. The therapeutic effects of porridge are varied; porridge with scallions has a sterilizing effect, celery porridge can promote urination and bowel movements, and sprinkling fresh scallions in hot porridge can prevent colds... Additionally, porridge can help medicinal herbs achieve better effects. For example, traditional Chinese medicines like almonds and Poria must be eaten with porridge to maintain their efficacy and achieve better results.
How to eat healthily: Hot porridge is best. Cooking a savory porridge with broth, vegetable stock, or vegetables is even better, allowing the nutritional essence of the food to be absorbed at once.
Dried Scallop and Eel Porridge
Seaweed for Regular Bowel Movements Without Weight Gain
Low in calories and rich in gelatin and minerals, seaweed is a very suitable beauty and health food for modern people. Seaweed is rich in soluble fiber, which is easier to digest and absorb than ordinary fiber, helping to promote smooth bowel movements. The biggest advantage is that seaweed is low in calories, so you don't have to worry about gaining weight if you have it as a late-night snack.
How to eat healthily: Seaweed pairs best with vinegar. Vinegar can soften the seaweed, so you can try a seaweed salad with vinegar. Adding ice cubes to seaweed soup can enhance the sour taste of the vinegar, making the taste more refreshing.
Buckwheat for Lowering Blood Pressure and Aiding Sleep
Buckwheat contains powerful antioxidants that can lower blood lipids, enhance blood vessel elasticity, and prevent blood clotting, making it an excellent heart-protecting food. In addition, its effects of lowering blood pressure and aiding sleep are also very good. Buckwheat is also a great "intestinal cleanser," with a fiber content six times that of ordinary white rice, hence it is known as "intestinal cleansing grass."
How to eat healthily: You can serve buckwheat noodles cold in a salad or in a soup. You can also steam buckwheat with rice or cook it into a porridge.
Buckwheat Noodles with Soybean Paste
Cabbage for Relieving Coughs, Phlegm, and Cancer Prevention
In winter, when all things wither, cabbage remains as green as a pine tree and is widely popular. In traditional Chinese medicine, cabbage is believed to reduce fever, relieve heat, stop coughs, and resolve phlegm. Modern science has discovered that cabbage is highly nutritious, comes in many varieties, and can be eaten year-round, making it a popular "star" in cancer prevention. Winter is the best season to eat cabbage, as its abundant fiber and vitamin C can compensate for the lack of fruits and vegetables consumed in winter. However, people with a "deficient-cold" constitution are not suitable for eating large amounts of raw, cold cabbage, such as in pickles.
How to eat healthily: When eating hot pot, don't forget to add as much cabbage as possible to counteract the "heatiness."
Garlic for Anti-inflammation and Sterilization
In the era before antibiotics, garlic played an important life-saving role. In the past, salt and garlic were essential for armies; salt was used to supplement minerals, while garlic was used for sterilization and disease prevention. Recently, garlic has also been found to lower cholesterol. However, raw garlic is pungent and irritating, so people with gastritis, sore throat, hemorrhoids, red eyes, or acne should not eat it raw.
How to eat healthily: Avoid eating garlic on an empty stomach. You can reduce its pungency by boiling, stir-frying, or making pickles with it. Alternatively, eating it with dumplings or noodles is less likely to irritate the stomach.
Stir-fried Pork Tripe with Garlic