Introduction: When it comes to nourishment, people's first thoughts often turn to various tonics, meats, or delicacies. In fact, the common grains we eat daily can also be considered excellent "tonics." Traditional Chinese Medicine has a concept called "medicine and food share the same origin." The medicinal properties of grains can be used to prevent and treat diseases, are economical and practical, and have no side effects.
Rice: Also known as japonica rice, it is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the middle energizer, replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, and relieving vexation and thirst. In winter, indoor heating can be quite hot and the air dry. Drinking some rice porridge in the morning and evening can help you avoid the discomfort of a dry mouth and throat. A special reminder for diabetic patients: different cooking methods for rice have varying effects on blood sugar. Studies have shown that an equal amount of rice cooked into dry rice has a smaller impact on blood sugar than congee. Therefore, diabetic patients benefit from eating dry rice for breakfast to help control their blood sugar.
Millet: Millet has relatively balanced nutrition, with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in relatively high amounts. Millet's greatest characteristic is that it is easy to digest and absorb, so it doesn't place a heavy burden on the stomach, which is why there's a saying that "millet protects the stomach." Millet can not only be used to make porridge but can also be cooked with rice to make "dual-rice porridge."
Jujube and Millet Porridge
Wheat: Wheat is sweet in taste, neutral and slightly cool in nature, with the effects of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the kidneys, and nourishing the heart to calm the spirit. For those with vexation and insomnia, wheat can be cooked with rice and jujubes to make a porridge for consumption. In addition, wheat bran is high in dietary fiber and has preventive and therapeutic effects on hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hemorrhoids, senile constipation, and colon cancer.
Mung Bean: From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, mung bean is cool in nature, therefore it has the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. From a nutritional perspective, the health benefits of mung beans come from their antioxidant components, such as flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, which have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Mung beans can be used in soups, porridge, or can be soaked and added to rice to make mung bean rice.
Corn: Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it has the effects of strengthening the spleen to promote urination, stimulating the appetite to benefit intelligence, and calming the mind to invigorate blood. The linoleic acid in corn oil can prevent cholesterol from depositing on artery walls, playing a positive role in preventing hypertension and coronary heart disease. Additionally, it has the effects of promoting urination and lowering blood sugar, making it especially suitable for diabetic patients. American scientists have also discovered that eating corn can stimulate brain cells and enhance human memory. The lutein and zeaxanthin in corn can prevent the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration in the elderly.
Cranberry Cornflake Cookies
Job's Tears: Also known as coix seed, its protein content is much higher than that of rice and flour, and it is easy to digest and absorb, which is beneficial for reducing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and enhancing physical fitness. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers coix seed to be sweet and bland in taste, and slightly cool in nature, with the effects of strengthening the spleen, tonifying the lungs, clearing heat, and promoting urination. Modern research has proven that coix seed has effects such as anti-tumor, enhancing immunity, and lowering blood sugar. Coixenol found in coix seed has been shown to have a good function in controlling the growth of cancer cells, making it an ideal anti-cancer food.
Sorghum: Sweet in taste and warm in nature, it has the effect of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. For children with indigestion, sorghum can be stir-fried in a pot, hulled, ground into powder, and 2-3 grams can be taken with water each time. However, because sorghum is warm in nature and has an astringent effect that stops diarrhea, it is not suitable for people with constipation.
Sorghum Flour and Nut Bread Rolls