Chinese medicine believes that the stomach is responsible for digestion, and the spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation. The two complement each other. Therefore, people often associate the spleen and stomach together. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy spleen and stomach is essential for nourishing qi and blood. If you want to have abundant qi and blood, you must first take care of your spleen and stomach. Below are some recommended foods for nourishing the spleen and stomach.
1. Porridge
Porridge is easily digestible, especially eight treasure porridge, which contains peanuts, almonds, white sugar, and so on. It has higher calorie content and is beneficial for the stomach. Fresh peanuts are rich in protein and fat, which can effectively protect the stomach. The principles for selecting suitable breakfast foods for nourishing the stomach are: easy to digest, non-irritating, and nutrient-rich. Examples include: egg custard, egg soup, boiled eggs, soybeans, soy products, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Recommended recipe: 1 bottle of yogurt or 1/2 pound of fresh milk, oatmeal porridge, steamed or boiled egg, fruits (watermelon, banana) or noodles. Recommended duration: about 20 minutes.
2. Lotus Root
Chinese medicine believes that lotus root tastes sweet and has a cooling nature, which can clear heat and generate body fluids, cool blood and stop bleeding, and nourish the twelve meridians' blood and qi. Cooked lotus root can nourish the spleen and stomach, stop diarrhea, nourish blood, and promote skin regeneration. Lotus root emits a unique fragrance and contains tannins, which have a certain effect in nourishing the spleen and stopping diarrhea. It can improve appetite, promote digestion, open the appetite, and benefit those who have poor appetite and loss of appetite to regain their health.
3. Apple
Apple is a health-promoting fruit with the effects of nourishing the spleen, replenishing qi, benefiting the stomach, and generating body fluids. It can improve symptoms such as reduced food intake due to spleen deficiency, stomach yin deficiency, and stomach pain caused by yin deficiency. Take 500 grams of apples, 100 grams of sago and white sugar each, add an appropriate amount of water, and cook into a porridge. Apple porridge has the functions of generating body fluids, moistening the lungs, relieving restlessness, relieving heat, and benefiting the stomach. It is suitable for those with insufficient energy, nausea, indigestion, enteritis, constipation, high blood pressure, etc.
4. Cabbage
Cabbage has the effects of nourishing the spleen and stomach, relieving urgent pain, detoxifying and reducing swelling, and clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It can be used for symptoms caused by internal heat, such as chest tightness, thirst, sore throat, urinary obstruction, poor hearing, poor sleep, joint discomfort, and abdominal pain. Its components such as vitamin C have analgesic and ulcer healing effects. Cabbage stewed with coix seed, tangerine peel, and honey can be used to treat stomach distension, upper abdominal fullness, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Stewing cabbage with adzuki beans, winter melon, and rock sugar can reduce swelling and promote diuresis. It is not suitable for those with loose stools and weak spleen and stomach.
Cabbage is rich in anti-aging antioxidant ingredients, which can improve immune function and promote overall health. Potassium is beneficial for preventing and treating hypertension. Vitamin K helps prevent blood clotting and strengthens bones. Vitamin U protects mucosal cells and is said to have a good effect on preventing and treating gastric fire and gastric ulcers.
5. Chinese Yam
Chinese yam contains substances such as amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which are beneficial for the digestion and absorption functions of the spleen and stomach. It is a medicinal and edible item that can tonify the spleen and stomach. It can be consumed whether there is spleen yang deficiency or stomach yin deficiency. It is commonly used with Gastrodia elata to treat symptoms such as weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, and diarrhea.
6. Glutinous Rice
Glutinous rice is rich in B vitamins, which can warm the spleen and stomach and tonify the middle qi. It has a certain relieving effect on spleen and stomach deficiency cold, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Therefore, there is an ancient saying that "glutinous rice porridge is a wonderful food for warming and nourishing the stomach qi". Glutinous rice cooked with Chinese yam can strengthen the spleen and stomach. Adding lotus seeds to the porridge can warm the middle and stop diarrhea. For those with poor appetite, glutinous rice can be cooked with pork stomach and consumed.
7. Pork Stomach
Pork stomach is an excellent food for nourishing the spleen and stomach. It has long been regarded as a "tonic" and is a staple in medicinal diets. Pork stomach has the effect of tonifying deficiency, strengthening the spleen and stomach. It is used to treat deficiency and fatigue, stomach pain, gastric prolapse, and childhood malnutrition, etc. It can be boiled and consumed as a soup. For example, pork stomach and astragalus soup can help improve the phenomenon of poor appetite in autumn and also have the effects of strengthening the spleen, replenishing qi, and aiding digestion. It is also suitable for those with gastric prolapse and chronic gastritis.
8. Potato
Some people say that eating potatoes can easily cause bloating because potatoes are starchy. However, it should be known that potatoes have a special effect in regulating indigestion and are excellent medicine and high-quality health products for people with stomach problems.
Chinese medicine believes that potatoes have a "neutral nature, sweet taste, non-toxic, can invigorate the spleen and stomach, tonify qi, regulate the middle, relieve urgency and pain, and promote bowel movements. It has a significant effect on patients with weak spleen and stomach, indigestion, indigestion, abdominal pain, and constipation." Friends with poor spleen and stomach function must have potatoes appear more frequently on their dining tables.
