In recent years, research has proven that many popular snacks on the market are often detrimental to health and are even considered "junk food." Consequently, savvy merchants, drawing on the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "medicine and food sharing the same origin," have quickly launched a series of so-called "Chinese medicine snacks." These snacks satisfy cravings while providing nourishment, making them extremely hot-selling items in the market, especially during the Chinese New Year period. However, experts point out that since they contain "medicine," they should not be consumed casually or excessively. Only when eaten correctly can they be beneficial to health and provide a nourishing effect.
1. Gu Yuan Gao
Gu Yuan Gao contains various Chinese medicinal ingredients such as donkey-hide gelatin, black sesame, red dates, walnut kernels, longan pulp, rock sugar, and yellow wine. Among these, donkey-hide gelatin and red dates can nourish the blood, while black sesame and walnut kernels can tonify the kidneys, and rock sugar can moisten dryness. It is not suitable for people with poor spleen and stomach functions, women with a "cold uterus," or children with a weak spleen and stomach. Moreover, do not believe advertisements that suggest consuming it for 1-2 months consecutively. While Gu Yuan Gao is beneficial, its ingredients are too rich and greasy. Most people will experience side effects from continuous use, such as bloating or diarrhea, especially those with poor gastrointestinal function. Gout patients may experience an onset or worsening of symptoms after taking it.
Winter Nourishing Gu Yuan Gao
2. Fu Ling Bing
During the Southern Song Dynasty in China, there were records of making Fu Ling Bing: "Four liang of Poria, two liang of white flour, mixed with water to make a cake, and fried熟 with yellow wax." The modern production process has been improved; the cakes are shaped like full moons, as thin as paper, as white as snow, and are exquisite, sweet, fragrant, and have a unique flavor. Fu Ling Bing promotes urination to drain dampness, strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, and also calms the mind. It helps improve the body's own immunity and prevent colds. Due to its diuretic properties, Poria also has certain dietary therapeutic value for symptoms like edema in the limbs and difficult urination.
Currently, many commercially available Fu Ling Bing are overly sweet, often containing honey, white sugar, and other ingredients. Due to their high sugar content, people with high blood sugar should consume them sparingly or not at all, and those with indigestion should also avoid eating too many.
Rose Poria Sandwich Cookies
3. Hawthorn Foods (Hawthorn slices, Tanghulu, hawthorn cake, hawthorn jam, etc.)
Hawthorn contains various vitamins, tartaric acid, citric acid, hawthorn acid, malic acid, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. The lipase it contains promotes the digestion of fatty foods. It also functions to promote gastric juice secretion and increase gastric enzymes. Hawthorn contains terpenes and flavonoids, which have significant effects on expanding blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hawthorn has the effects of resolving food stagnation, stopping diarrhea with astringent properties, invigorating blood, and dispelling stasis. It is primarily indicated for food stagnation, chest and epigastric fullness, hernia, blood stasis, and amenorrhea.
However, it should be noted that hawthorn only resolves stagnation and does not nourish, so people with a weak spleen and stomach should not consume it excessively. Even healthy individuals should consume hawthorn in moderation, especially children who are in a period of tooth replacement. Prolonged overconsumption of hawthorn or its products like hawthorn slices and cakes is detrimental to dental development.
Tanghulu Windmill
Rose tarts
Shrimp tofu
Carrot