With the rise in temperature in spring and the end of winter snow, spring rain begins to follow closely. However, due to the humid weather and the unstable climate during the transition from winter to spring, it is more likely for old illnesses to relapse. Therefore, it is important to supplement appropriately. The following are some recommended spring medicated diets to nourish the body and enhance vitality.
Medicated Diet 1: Pork Spine Soup
Ingredients: 250g pork spine, 4 Codonopsis pilosula roots, 3 red dates, 8 longan flesh, 20 wolfberries, 40 Euryale ferox seeds, salt to taste.
Preparation: Cut the pork spine into pieces and wash them. Blanch the pork spine in boiling water to remove the blood, then rinse with cold water. Wash the pot, add Codonopsis pilosula roots, red dates, longan flesh, and Euryale ferox seeds with an appropriate amount of water. Cover the pot and boil over high heat, then simmer over medium-low heat until there are 3 bowls of water remaining. Add wolfberries and simmer for another 10 minutes before serving.
Benefits: This soup has beauty-enhancing effects for most women. It is also effective in improving insufficient qi and blood and strengthening the body.
Medicated Diet 2: Tremella Lily Banana Dessert
Ingredients: 20g dried tremella, 100g fresh lily, 2 bananas, wolfberries, rock sugar as needed.
Preparation: Soak the dried tremella, remove the stems, wash, and steam for 30 minutes. Remove the stems from the fresh lily and wash. Peel and slice 2 bananas. Put all the ingredients in a stewing pot, add wolfberries, rock sugar, and water, then steam for 30 minutes.
Benefits: Tremella Lily Banana Dessert is rich in protein, sugar, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamins. With the addition of wolfberries, which nourish the kidneys and improve complexion, it has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, beautifying, and moisturizing the mouth.
Medicated Diet 3: Chinese Wolfberry Jujube Egg Soup
Ingredients: 30g wolfberries, 10 red dates, 2 eggs.
Preparation: Wash the wolfberries and red dates, then put them in a clay pot with an appropriate amount of water. After boiling, add the eggs and cook until they are done. Season to taste.
Benefits: This medicated diet nourishes the liver and kidneys, invigorates the spleen and stomach, nourishes yin, moisturizes dryness, nourishes blood, and relieves restlessness. It is suitable for those with liver and kidney deficiency, weak spleen and stomach, and chronic hepatitis patients. Wolfberries have a sweet taste and a neutral nature. They function to nourish the liver and kidneys, and improve eyesight. Red dates can invigorate the middle, replenish qi, nourish blood, and calm the mind.
Medicated Diet 4: Angelica Astragalus Chicken Soup
Ingredients: 3g Angelica sinensis, 6g Astragalus membranaceus root, 1 chicken leg, 4 cups water.
Preparation: Firstly, wash the chicken leg and cut it into pieces. Put it in water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Then, add Astragalus membranaceus root and simmer with the chicken until it is 70% cooked. Add Angelica sinensis and cook for 5 minutes. Add salt and it is ready to be consumed.
Benefits: Angelica sinensis has the effect of nourishing blood. Astragalus membranaceus root has the effect of replenishing qi. Therefore, Angelica Astragalus Chicken Soup can promote smooth blood circulation and regulate menstrual cycles in women. Additionally, it can promote healthy mammary gland secretion, leading to breast enhancement.
Medicated Diet 5: Papaya Stewed Trepang
Ingredients: Trepang paste, papaya, rock sugar, fresh milk as needed.
Preparation: Soak the trepang paste in water for four hours or overnight. Remove impurities, wash clean, and boil for a moment. Remove and drain excess water. Wash the papaya and cut off the top 2/5 as a lid. Cut the papaya cup into a sawtooth shape and remove the core and flesh. Put the papaya cup into a stewing pot. Boil rock sugar and water together, then add the trepang paste and simmer for half an hour. Add fresh milk and bring to a boil. Pour into the papaya cup, cover it, and seal it with a toothpick. Stew it in water for an hour.
Benefits: Papaya can promote skin metabolism, moisturize the skin, detoxify, and slim down. Trepang paste can beautify the skin, nourish yin, and replenish. It is rich in hormones, so it also has a breast enhancement effect.
Tips: In spring, it is recommended to increase consumption of pungent and sweet foods and reduce acidic foods. In other words, healthy individuals should consume more spicy and sweet foods in spring, while acidic foods should be reduced to avoid excessive liver fire and imbalanced spleen and stomach.
