"Health from eating" series | The weather is cold and dry, check here for winter food supplements

As the old saying goes, "Tonify in winter, fight the tiger in spring". Winter is cold and dry, our body metabolism is slow, and we should pay more attention to nourishing our energy and keeping our body happy, which is suitable for tonic. Many people think that tonify should be taken with tonics and big fish and meat, but it is not true. In winter, tonify can achieve good results through ordinary food tonify. Today, let's talk about the food suitable for tonify in winter.

1. White radish

White radish is a common vegetable in winter and is known as "little ginseng in winter". White radish is cold in nature and high in water content. Eating it properly can help regulate liver fire, relieve internal heat and improve the symptoms of skin dehydration. At the same time, white radish is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and trace elements, which can provide the body with corresponding nutrients, and also help promote intestinal peristalsis and improve constipation. When eaten, it is excellent for cold salad or soup.

2. Red dates

Red dates are a food and medicine with high edible value. Red dates are rich in nutrients such as protein, fat, sugar, vitamins, minerals, etc., which can enhance immunity, protect the liver, calm the nerves, etc. At the same time, they are beneficial for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, anemia, etc. Red dates are not only a good product for health care, but also a good product for skin care and beauty. They have the effect of nourishing blood and beautifying the face. When eating, it is better to stew or cook porridge with Tremella.

3. Sydney

Snow pear is a common fruit in winter, with white flesh as tender as snow. Snow pear is not only fresh and juicy, but also rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, minerals and other trace elements. Eating snow pear regularly can prevent constipation. It has low calorie and fat content. Eating it in moderation can soften blood vessels and help control blood pressure for middle-aged and elderly people. Boiling snow pear in water has certain effects of moistening the lungs and relieving throat pain.

4. Yam

Li Shizhen wrote: "Huai yam can moisturize fur"; Li Jing of the Yuan Dynasty wrote: "Use this to moisturize dry skin." Yam is a good winter tonic that is both a medicine and a food. It contains nutrients such as amylase and polyphenol oxidase, and has the effects of nourishing the stomach and spleen, strengthening the body, lowering blood sugar, and preventing arteriosclerosis. It also has the effects of moisturizing the skin and beautifying the face. When eating, it is best to steam or boil it, and avoid frying or stir-frying.

5. Lotus root

Lotus root is one of the common ingredients in winter. It can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a very high medicinal value and is especially suitable for the elderly, children, women and the weak and sick. Fresh lotus root has the effects of promoting body fluid, clearing heat, nourishing the spleen and stimulating appetite. When cooking, lotus root can be mixed with cold or lightly blanched and eaten raw, which has the effect of clearing heat and moistening the lungs; it can also be cooked, which has the effects of benefiting the stomach and spleen, nourishing blood and stopping diarrhea; cooked lotus root can also be cooked with pork ribs, which has the effect of nourishing the heart and blood.

6. Lamb

Mutton is sweet and warm in nature. It can nourish the body, warm the middle, nourish the kidney and strengthen the yang. It is an excellent warming and strengthening food. It is rich in protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals. It has low fat and cholesterol content, which can prevent and treat vascular sclerosis and heart disease.

After our bodies have experienced the consumption of the hot summer climate, winter tonic can be a good way to nourish the body's losses. However, winter tonic should also select appropriate ingredients according to the actual condition of your body.

Author: Cai Wenjin, Henan University of Science and Technology

**Audit expert: ** Wang Yao, Associate Professor of the School of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology