Introduction: The diet during the Spring Festival is mainly composed of rich and heavy foods such as large amounts of meat and fish. These types of food are very difficult to digest, and excessive consumption can lead to indigestion. Once symptoms of indigestion appear, it is essential to eat more foods that promote digestion to alleviate the discomfort. The following introduces ten foods that can ease the burden on the digestive system.
1. Barley and Barley Malt
Barley is sweet and salty in taste, and neutral in nature. It has the effects of replenishing Qi and harmonizing the stomach, and eliminating vexation. It contains vitamins A, B, E, and amylase, maltose, glucose, invertase, allantoin, protease, fat, and minerals. The large amount of vitamin B1 and digestive enzymes in barley germ are very beneficial for young children, the elderly, and those deficient in vitamin B. It can also refresh the mind and relieve mental fatigue. The large amount of dietary fiber in barley can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, promoting bowel movements, and can lower blood cholesterol levels, preventing diseases such as arteriosclerosis and heart disease. It is rich in calcium, which is very beneficial for children's growth and development. Moreover, barley has a nutty aroma, a high carbohydrate content, and can quench thirst and clear heat. It can also enhance physical strength, moisturize the skin, and benefit the respiratory system. Furthermore, allantoin in barley can promote the healing of gastrointestinal ulcers, making it an excellent remedy for overeating and indigestion.
Barley Grass Juice Hokkaido Toast
2. Yogurt
In addition to containing all the nutrients of milk, yogurt is rich in lactic acid, which can break down milk sugar into lactic acid. For people who lack lactase in their gastrointestinal tract or who experience diarrhea from drinking fresh milk, yogurt can be a substitute. Lactic acid can inhibit the growth of mold in the body and prevent the imbalance of intestinal flora caused by the use of antibiotics. Lactic acid can also prevent the accumulation of toxins produced by spoilage bacteria decomposing proteins, thus having a cancer-preventing effect. Yogurt has a mild laxative effect and can prevent constipation in the elderly. Yogurt can also aid in weight loss. The calcium in yogurt can trigger fat cells to produce less cortisol, which can reduce the accumulation of fat in the abdomen, achieving a weight loss effect. In other words, the intake of calcium in yogurt helps the body burn fat rather than store it.
Strawberry Yogurt Mousse Cake
3. Apple
Apples are an alkaline food that can both stop diarrhea and relieve constipation. They have the characteristic of promoting intestinal excretion. Apples contain pectin, which can absorb excess water in the intestines and provide a gentle, moderate stimulus to the intestinal lining. This stimulation helps intestinal peristalsis and, in turn, maintains the natural excretory function of the intestines. While the iron content in apples is not high, the iron in apples can help other organs. Apples also contain some calcium, which can help other organs absorb calcium from other foods. Apples are also rich in vitamins. Notably, among all fruits containing vitamin C, apples have the highest content, making them the best fruit for promoting digestion and growth.
Apple Pineapple Smoothie
4. Tomato
Tomatoes are cool in nature and sweet and sour in taste. They have the effects of clearing heat, promoting the production of body fluids, nourishing yin, and cooling the blood. They are particularly effective for fever and thirst, dry mouth and tongue, bleeding gums, a bitter taste in the mouth due to stomach heat, and rising deficiency fire. They are rich in organic acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and formic acid, which protect vitamin C from being destroyed during processing and cooking, increasing the utilization rate of vitamins. The organic acids, such as malic acid and citric acid, can promote gastric juice secretion, increase gastric acid concentration, and regulate gastrointestinal function, aiding in the recovery of gastrointestinal diseases. The rich fiber aids digestion and has a laxative effect, preventing constipation. Tomatoes also contain a special component—lycopene, which aids digestion and urination, helps gastric juice digest fat, and can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, treating angular cheilitis.
Tomato Egg Drop Soup
5. Cabbage
In addition to being eaten as a vegetable, cabbage also has medicinal value. According to traditional Chinese medicine, cabbage is slightly cold and sweet in taste, and has functions such as nourishing the stomach, promoting the production of body fluids, eliminating vexation and quenching thirst, promoting urination and bowel movements, and clearing heat and detoxifying. It is an excellent vegetable for supplementing nutrition, purifying the blood, unblocking the intestines, preventing diseases, and promoting metabolism, suitable for the general public. There is a common saying, "Fish causes fire, meat causes phlegm, but cabbage and tofu ensure peace." Regular consumption of cabbage can prevent vitamin C deficiency (scurvy). The pectin in cabbage can help the body eliminate excess cholesterol. More importantly, cabbage also contains a small amount of molybdenum, which can inhibit the formation and absorption of nitrosamines in the human body, playing a certain role in cancer prevention. In addition, cabbage itself contains very few calories and will not cause calorie storage. It is also low in sodium, so it will not cause the body to retain excess water, thus reducing the burden on the heart. It is rich in a large amount of crude fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility, aid digestion, and prevent dry stools.
Sweet and Sour Gluten Cabbage