Introduction: 3 p.m. is the most exhausting time of the day for most office workers on a 9-to-5 schedule. Health management experts believe that every office worker should keep some healthy snacks in their desk drawer to combat the afternoon slump at 3 p.m. Here are 3 recommended healthy office foods to eat your way to health and beauty.
Apple – An Antioxidant Powerhouse
Sitting in the office for eight hours straight can leave your skin dry and your body dehydrated, in urgent need of rescue from healthy foods. Now, bringing a fruit to work every day has become a habit for many meticulous office ladies. Among all fruits, the apple scores the highest. Western nutritionists believe apples are rich and comprehensive in nutrition, while traditional Chinese medicine considers apples a mild fruit suitable for all body types. Nutritionists have found that one apple can provide 4,000 to 6,000 antioxidants, making it a great helper for the body's anti-aging process. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a well-known Western proverb.
Honey Peach Apple Pie
Carrot – Supplementing Skin Nutrients
Beta-carotene is mainly distributed under the human epidermis and in mucous membranes to defend against free radicals and ultraviolet rays, responsible for protecting skin and mucous membrane health. Beta-carotene is called "skin nutrient" by nutritionists and is a natural "sunscreen". As summer arrives, even if you are in the office behind a floor-to-ceiling window, you should be mindful of protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. Bringing a medium-sized carrot to eat around 3 p.m., the most exhausting time of the day, can meet the body's need for beta-carotene.
Tip: It is commonly believed that carrots must be cooked to fully absorb beta-carotene. This is not entirely true. Cooking carrots can increase the absorption rate of beta-carotene, but not significantly. Moreover, heating partially destroys the B vitamins, vitamin C, and antioxidants in carrots, and also increases the sugar content. If you feel it's inappropriate to gnaw on a carrot in the office, you can cut it into small pieces, put it in a fresh-keeping container, and bring it to the office to eat with a toothpick.
Carrot and Two-Rice Porridge
Walnut – Boosting Brain Power
In the information age, all competition ultimately comes down to a battle of brainpower. Walnuts are the most famous brain-boosting food because they are rich in various nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. In particular, alpha-linolenic acid and vitamin E are very beneficial for improving memory. Additionally, alpha-linolenic acid can be converted into DHA, a main component of the brain, making walnuts the healthiest snack for those engaged in intense mental work.
Tip: It's best to eat raw, shelled walnuts, cracking them open just before eating, because the walnut kernels will be oxidized and damaged if exposed to the air for too long. Also, it's best to avoid heat-processed walnut products. Because when heated above 70 degrees Celsius, the alpha-linolenic acid in walnuts will be destroyed.
Soybean and Walnut Milk