Introduction: Spring is the season when nature awakens and all things come back to life. It is also the best time for people to recover their "vital energy" after a winter of rest. At this time, attention should be paid to adjusting diet and nourishing the spleen and stomach. The following ten health-preserving vegetables will make you feel refreshed this spring.
Carrot
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It affects the Spleen and Lung meridians. It can nourish blood and improve eyesight, strengthen the spleen and aid digestion, replenish qi and generate blood, and promote qi circulation to resolve stagnation. Modern research suggests that carrots are rich in alpha and beta-carotene, two powerful antioxidants that can reduce the damage of harmful substances to cells. Carotene is a fat-soluble substance, so it is best to cook it with vegetable oil.
Carrot and Potato Stewed with Cured Duck
Celery
Sweet and pungent in taste, cool in nature. It affects the Lung, Stomach, and Liver meridians. It has the effects of calming the liver to reduce heat, promoting urination to treat strangury. Modern research has shown that celery is high in iron and rich in vitamins and dietary fiber. It can clear liver heat, lower serum cholesterol, promote the excretion of waste from the body, and purify the blood. There is water celery and dry celery, with dry celery being the main one used for medicinal purposes. People with a weak spleen and stomach should not eat too much.
Sautéed Spinach with Shredded Pork
Spinach
Sweet in taste, cool and slippery in nature. It affects the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Bladder meridians. It can nourish blood and stop bleeding, moisten dryness, benefit the five organs, unblock the intestines, open the chest and diaphragm, promote the descent of qi, regulate the middle jiao, and quench thirst. Modern research believes that spinach also contains magnesium, a mineral that women and middle-aged and elderly people are more likely to be deficient in. When cooked, spinach's nature becomes more neutral and has less impact on people with a weak and cold stomach; however, when consumed in soup, it has a cold and slippery nature, so it is contraindicated for those with cold deficiency syndrome, diarrhea, and urinary tract stones. Spinach contains a lot of oxalic acid, which can be reduced by blanching it in boiling water for a short time.
Shredded Pork and Spinach Noodles
Cabbage
Also known as headed cabbage. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It affects the Liver, Intestine, and Stomach meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat to dissipate nodules, strengthening the stomach and unblocking collaterals. Modern research has shown that cabbage is rich in nutrients and the trace element molybdenum, as well as pectin and cellulose. It can enhance the body's immune function, prevent cancer, and resist hypercholesterolemia.
Potato
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It affects the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians. It can tonify qi and strengthen the spleen, harmonize the stomach and regulate the middle jiao. It is suitable for those with spleen deficiency and weakness, listlessness and fatigue, loss of appetite, and indigestion. Potatoes are very rich in nutrients. Different countries have many affectionate names for potatoes: the French call it "ground apple," the Germans call it "ground pear," and the Russians call it "the second bread." Germans often use potatoes to treat indigestion. The method is to peel two potatoes, blend them in a juicer, and drink the juice. Many nutrients in potatoes are water-soluble, so after peeling or cutting, try not to soak them in water to avoid a large loss of nutrients.
Potato and Cured Chicken Rice