At the beginning of summer, the climate becomes warmer and fresh fruits and vegetables are on the market. There is a folk saying in the festival: "Try three delicacies at the beginning of summer." Among them, the three delicacies produced in the fields are amaranth, broad beans, and pea cake; The three delicacies growing on the tree tops are cherries, green plums, and toon tops. Among the "six fresh foods", everyone knows more about the nutritional value and therapeutic effects of broad beans, cherries and Chinese toon heads, but what are the effects of amaranth, pea cake and green plums? Experts from Nanjing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine gave answers.
There are differences in the therapeutic effects of red amaranth and white amaranth
Careful readers may find that some amaranths sold on the market are very red, while others are green and have no roots. Red is white. Are there any nutritional and dietary differences between these two types of amaranth?
Wang Dongxu, chief traditional Chinese physician at the Geriatrics Department of Nanjing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, said that these two kinds of amaranth have already been studied in my country's first local herbal monograph, the Ming Dynasty's "Southern Yunnan Materia Medica": "The white ones enter the Qi, and the red ones enter the blood. The white ones stir up phlegm, and the red ones break up the blood. It can cure constipation and urination, unblock the blood vessels, and remove blood stasis." What does it mean? Red amaranth can expel congestion, so patients with congestion can eat more in moderation. White amaranth (white roots and green leaves) can regulate qi. Patients with phlegm, especially hot phlegm, can eat more. Generally speaking, people with constipation can eat some to help clear their bowels. To prevent atherosclerosis, people who are afraid of high blood lipids should eat more red amaranth, because it can "open the blood vessels and remove blood stasis."
It is worth noting that Wang Dongxu reminded that red amaranth has It has the effect of breaking blood and makes it easier for pregnant women to give birth. Pregnant women should try not to eat too much. Those with weak spleen and stomach should not eat as it may dissipate stomach qi. In addition, avoid eating with turtles.
Green plums promote fluid production, quench thirst, appetize and relieve depression
Plums can be eaten fresh, or can be made into plum tea, plum wine, plum preserves, etc., and can also be used in various snacks or dishes. Ingredients. But generally not many green plums are eaten raw nowadays, but green plum wine is generally sold in supermarkets.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that raw green plums can produce fluid, quench thirst, whet the appetite and relieve depression; salted green plums can relieve heat and dispel wind and cold; and dried black plums can cure dryness and cough, typhoid, dysentery, consumptive consumption, alcohol poisoning and stomach ulcers. Green plum juice can help treat enteritis and dysentery. Green plums are suitable for patients with lung deficiency and chronic cough, deficient heat and polydipsia, chronic diarrhea, chronic malaria, dysentery, and abdominal pain due to roundworms.
Xia Gongxu said that people with excessive gastric acid should use plums with caution. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "acidity controls convergence", and plums are a bit sour, and those with stagnant dampness and heat should not eat more. In addition, eating too much prunes is bad for your teeth.
Pea cake nourishes Qi, protects skin and prevents summer heat
Regarding pea cake, there is a book that specifically records the seasonal customs and customs of Nanjing from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China - "Jinling Chronicles" There is such a record in the book: "At the beginning of summer, children are asked to ride on the threshold and eat pea cakes, which means they will not be hungry in summer." This means that letting children eat pea cakes will prevent them from anorexia throughout the summer.
Peas are rich in crude fiber, which can promote large intestine peristalsis and improve constipation symptoms. They contain high-quality protein, which can enhance immunity, improve disease resistance and recovery ability. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that peas have the effect of "removing dark spots and making the face shiny". Modern research has found that peas are rich in provitamin A, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body, and vitamin A has the effect of moisturizing the skin. Therefore, Xia Gongxu suggested that you might as well eat some pure pea cakes to take care of your skin after the beginning of summer.
Correspondent Yang Pu
Image source Visual China
Proofreading Sheng Yuanyuan