Eat tofu to nourish your body in autumn and eat the "three treasures" to replenish your qi and blood

As people's living standards improve, their requirements for food have evolved from "eating enough" to "eating well". Faced with a wide variety of foods, how can we eat to satisfy our taste buds and be healthy? Let's take a look.

Eating tofu in autumn is the most nutritious

Tofu has a history of more than 2,100 years. It was invented by Liu An, the King of Huainan in the Western Han Dynasty, and was born in Shou County, Lu'an City, Anhui Province. It has always been widely welcomed by people and has been praised as "vegetable meat". There is a saying among the people that "tofu in autumn is like ginseng". "Sui Xi Ju Diet" believes that "tofu clears heat, moisturizes dryness, promotes body fluid, detoxifies, replenishes the middle, widens the intestines, and reduces turbidity." "Compendium of Materia Medica" believes that "tofu can clear heat and disperse blood." "Food Mirror Materia Medica" says that "tofu can widen the middle and replenish qi, harmonize the spleen and stomach, reduce turbid qi in the large intestine, and reduce bloating."

According to traditional Chinese medicine, tofu is cold in nature, sweet and salty in taste, and has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, clearing the lungs and moistening dryness, clearing away heat and detoxifying, lowering qi and eliminating phlegm, and nourishing the skin and preventing aging. It is suitable for red and swollen eyes, swollen and painful gums, sore throat, cough with yellow phlegm, restlessness and insomnia, dry mouth and nose, hot flashes and night sweats, restlessness, fatigue, forgetfulness and dreaminess, facial spots, itchy skin, acne, insufficient milk, short and red urine, and constipation. It is effective for bronchitis, pharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, malnutrition, memory loss, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, vascular sclerosis, coronary heart disease, obesity, insufficient milk after childbirth, osteoporosis, menopausal syndrome, acne, anxiety, insomnia, chloasma, polycystic ovary syndrome, and prostatic hyperplasia.

Tofu is extremely nutritious, containing iron, magnesium, potassium, niacin, copper, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, folic acid, vitamin B1, yolk and vitamin B6. Tofu does not contain cholesterol, and is a medicinal food for patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease; it contains sterols and stigmasterol, which are effective ingredients for cancer suppression; the lysine content is quite high, which has a significant effect on children's development and memory enhancement; it contains soy isoflavones, which can maintain normal levels of estrogen in the body, postpone menopause, and achieve the effect of delaying aging; it contains soy isoflavones that help inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells; it can increase the body's absorption of calcium, reduce bone loss, increase bone density, and has a good effect on preventing and treating osteoporosis. The lecithin contained in soy milk can reduce brain cell death, improve brain function, and enhance memory. Tofu is suitable for cooking, stir-frying or deep-frying. It is worth noting that because tofu contains a lot of purine, gout patients with abnormal purine metabolism and patients with increased blood uric acid concentration should avoid eating tofu; people with weak spleen and stomach, frequent diarrhea and loose stools should avoid eating tofu; consuming too much tofu will increase the burden on the kidneys and further deteriorate renal function, so people with renal insufficiency should use it with caution.

Eat the "Three Treasures" to replenish Qi and blood

Chinese yam. It is sweet and mild in nature, and can nourish both qi and yin. It can nourish qi without causing stagnation and internal heat, and nourish yin without causing dampness and greasiness. It is the most peaceful product for nourishing the middle qi, and has always been widely praised by doctors. The Compendium of Materia Medica says: it can nourish kidney qi, strengthen the spleen and stomach, stop diarrhea, resolve phlegm and saliva, and moisturize the skin and fur. The Complete Book of Jingyue says: Chinese yam can strengthen the spleen and replenish deficiency, nourish essence and strengthen the kidney, treat all kinds of deficiency and damage, and cure five kinds of fatigue and seven kinds of injuries... The Meaning of Medicine says: Chinese yam can warm and nourish without being sudden, slightly fragrant without being dry, and has the function of regulating the lungs. It can treat chronic cough caused by lung deficiency. How reliable it is.

Zhang Xichun, the most famous physician in the late Qing Dynasty, highly praised this medicine. In his medical monograph "Medical Records of Chinese and Western Medicine", he repeatedly used large doses of raw yam to treat many critical and severe diseases such as severe asthma and excessive diarrhea. He said: "The nature of yam can nourish yin and eliminate dampness, can be smooth and astringent. Therefore, it can nourish the lungs, kidneys, spleen and stomach... It is truly the best among tonic medicines, and its properties are very peaceful. It is better to take it regularly."

There are many varieties of yam, and the quality is the best in Huaiqing Prefecture, Henan. Therefore, yam is usually called Huaishan (or Huaishan). It is usually dried and sliced ​​for medicinal purposes. There are two types of yam: fried yam and raw yam in pharmacies. It is recommended to use dried raw yam.

Barley. If you feel that you have dampness in your body, such as effusion, edema, eczema, abscesses and other problems related to turbid water in the body, barley is your best helper.

“Job’s tears are the best at promoting diuresis without depleting the true yin energy. They are most suitable for those with excessive dampness in the lower body.” Job’s tears are slightly cool in nature, so they are not suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach, or those who are more afraid of cold limbs.

The main effect of coix seed is to strengthen the spleen and remove dampness. Strengthening the spleen can nourish the lungs, and removing dampness can resolve phlegm. It can also be used to treat lung heat, lung abscess, and lung atrophy.

When used together with Chinese yam, they complement each other and complement each other's deficiencies. "Chinese yam and coix seed are both medicines that nourish the spleen and lungs. However, if Chinese yam is used alone, it will become sticky and greasy over time, and if coix seed is used alone, it will become light and penetrating over time. Only when they are used in equal parts can they be taken for a long time without any harm."

Modern doctors have reported that using 50 grams of each of the two medicines to make porridge every day has a significant effect on ascites caused by liver cirrhosis.

Gorgon fruit. Chen Shize, a doctor in the Qing Dynasty, said it best: "Gorgon fruit can relieve pain in the waist and knees, make the ears and eyes sharp, and long-term consumption can prolong life. It is considered normal and has great benefits. Gorgon fruit can not only stop sperm, but also produce sperm, remove damp phlegm in the spleen and stomach, and produce real water in the kidney." Therefore, Gorgon fruit is the best choice for strengthening the spleen and kidney. If it can be used together with yam, the tonic effect will be even better.

Some people suffer from long-term diarrhea and loose stools; some people suffer from spermatorrhea and loose stools, which is difficult to control; some people have frequent urination at night and cannot sleep well; at this time, you will discover the magic of water chestnuts.

Chinese yam, coix seed and Euryale ferox are brothers of the same origin, all of which have the magical effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach. However, they also have different focuses when used. Chinese yam can nourish the five internal organs, spleen, lungs and kidneys, nourish qi and yin. It also has the function of astringency.

Job's tears strengthen the spleen and clear the lungs, promote diuresis and benefit the stomach, nourishing while clearing, and is good at removing dampness and turbidity.

Gorgon fruit can strengthen the spleen and kidney, stop diarrhea and nocturnal emission, and has the most powerful astringent and firming effect.

Some people grind the three medicines into powder, cook them into porridge and then add dates to treat anemia, with significant results.

Eat fish to nourish the brain, Spanish mackerel wins

The saying "eating fish can nourish the brain" has been around among the people for a long time, but scientific research has found that only by understanding what kind of fish to eat, how much to eat, and how to eat it correctly can you spend less money and nourish your brain more.

Fish contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, commonly known as "brain gold") and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which belong to "omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids" and are essential fatty acids for the human body. They are important for the early development of the brain and vision, and are found in high levels in the cerebral cortex and retina. Almost all of the DHA/EPA obtained by fetuses and newborns comes from the mother's umbilical cord blood or breast milk. Mothers can deliver these beneficial substances to their children by eating some foods rich in DHA/EPA. Children who are not breastfed can choose formula milk with added DHA/EPA. After adding complementary foods, you can gradually give your baby some foods containing DHA/EPA. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Society of Perinatal Medicine recommend that pregnant women and nursing mothers should not consume less than 0.2 grams of DHA per day. The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the daily intake of aquatic products is 40 to 75 grams.

It should be noted that fish contains methylmercury, and it is often accompanied by DHA/EPA. Scientists have confirmed that methylmercury is neurodevelopmentally toxic, especially negatively affecting the neurodevelopment of fetuses and newborns. However, after careful research, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization believe that eating fish generally has more benefits than disadvantages, but the specific amount and type of fish cannot be generalized. Chinese scientists investigated more than 30 kinds of marine fish that people eat most often in Zhoushan Fishery, and estimated the changes in IQ (Intelligence Quotient) caused by eating fish. The results showed some interesting findings. 1. The DHA/EPA content of flathead bonito (a relative of tuna) is the highest, but the more you eat, the worse the brain-enhancing effect. 2. The scimitar shark has the most methylmercury (the same is true for shark fins), and eating it will actually reduce your IQ, so don't think that expensive things are necessarily good. 3. The methylmercury content of mullet is the lowest, but the DHA/EPA content lags behind, and the brain-enhancing effect is average. 4. According to the dietary structure of ordinary people, the best brain-enhancing effect is Spanish mackerel; the second is knife fish, but its price is relatively high. 5. Golden pomfret, sea bass and small yellow croaker are also very good for the brain and are relatively affordable.

In addition, different fish require different amounts to achieve the best brain-boosting effect. The four types of fish recommended above, Spanish mackerel, golden pomfret, sea bass and yellow croaker, have the following optimal weekly intakes: Spanish mackerel 2.5 liang; golden pomfret 3.5 liang; sea bass 3.5 liang; yellow croaker 4 liang. Farmed salmon is also a good choice. Eating about 3 liang a week can provide enough DHA/EPA, but its price is slightly higher than the above four types. Since some common marine fish were not included in the study, such as cod, saury, sea catfish, turbot, etc., no specific suggestions can be given here. In general, the more wild, deep-sea, large and carnivorous fish are, the more careful you should be. Other studies have shown that the content of fatty acid DHA per 100 grams in breast milk of women in coastal and river and lake areas is 0.47 and 0.41 grams respectively, so some researchers suggest that freshwater fish and marine fish can be eaten in half.

Considering the nutritional content, price, and appropriate intake, there are several suggestions for pregnant women and nursing mothers to choose fish: 1. Try to avoid large carnivorous fish such as tuna, marlin, swordfish, shark, and tilefish. 2. Follow the "three-three principle": eat fish three times a week, about 3 taels each time, and eat marine fish at least once. Marine fish recommended include Spanish mackerel, salmon, sea bass, golden pomfret, and small yellow croaker. 3. DHA/EPA is not heat-resistant. The best way to eat it is to eat it raw (such as salmon, but pay attention to hygiene) or steam, cook soup, fry, and grill. Processing methods such as frying and grilling are least recommended. 4. Fish liver often contains high levels of methylmercury and other organic pollutants, which pregnant women and nursing mothers should try to avoid. 5. If you do not have the conditions to eat fish frequently, you can take dietary supplements as needed. Finally, we need to remind everyone that a balanced diet is the basic guarantee for ensuring the health of children. We should not put the cart before the horse and pin our children's future on DHA/EPA.