Autumn is dry and cool, which can cause dryness and heat in the body, such as dry nose, dry mouth, and dry skin. At this time, autumn diet therapy is our best choice. First of all, we should eat less stimulating, spicy, and hot foods, such as chili and pepper. At the same time, the diet should not be overly light, and we should appropriately increase the intake of greasy foods. The focus should be on nourishing dryness and benefiting Qi, tonifying the spleen and nourishing the liver, and balancing yin and yang. Below, I will introduce several medicinal diets for autumn health to help everyone moisturize and prevent dryness.
Medicinal Diet 1: Clay Pot Beef
Applicable Population: People with kidney deficiency, men with impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, decreased vision, and weak constitution.
Usage and Cautions: The elderly, children, and people with weak digestion should not consume it excessively; people with liver or kidney disease should be cautious. Take it in appropriate amounts in the morning and evening.
Ingredients: 500g beef, 100g carrots, 35g goji berries, cooking wine, ginger slices, clear broth, soy sauce, and salt, as needed.
Method: 1. Divide the goji berries into two portions. Boil 25g of goji berries with water and reduce it to a concentrated juice, and wash the remaining 10g. 2. Cut the beef into pieces and blanch in water until the color changes. Remove and drain. Wash the carrots and peel them, then cut them into pieces. 3. Put the beef, ginger slices, and goji berries into the pot. Add clear broth, cooking wine, soy sauce, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Add the carrot pieces and the goji berry juice, and continue simmering until the beef is tender.
Efficacy: This dish nourishes the liver and kidneys. Beef contains a large amount of high-quality protein and minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium, which are essential nutrients for maintaining vision.
Medicinal Diet 2: Tremella and Sand Ginseng Drink
Applicable Population: Suitable for people with dry throat, less phlegm, and cough in autumn.
Usage and Cautions: People with weak and cold stomachs can omit the sand ginseng or use a smaller amount.
Ingredients: 60g tremella, 30g sand ginseng, 50g rock sugar.
Method: 1. Soak the tremella and tear it into small pieces. Wash the sand ginseng and wrap it in gauze. 2. Put both ingredients into a pot and add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove the gauze bag. Add the rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
Efficacy: Tremella has a neutral nature and a mild taste. It can nourish the yin, moisturize the lungs, and promote digestion. Sand ginseng has a cooling nature and a mild taste. It can nourish the yin, clear the lungs, and relieve phlegm and cough.
Medicinal Diet 3: Fritillaria and Autumn Pear
Applicable Population: Suitable for people with prolonged dry cough, less phlegm, especially the elderly with dry cough, dry throat, and less phlegm. It can be consumed regularly.
Usage and Cautions: When the symptoms occur, it can be consumed daily. People with weak spleen and stomach and those with white and thin phlegm should not consume it.
Ingredients: 1 snow pear (about 250g), 6g fritillaria, 10g dried lily, 15g rock sugar.
Method: 1. Wash the snow pear, cut it horizontally at the stem, and remove the core. 2. Wash the fritillaria and dried lily, grind them into powder, and put them into the pear. Close the top of the pear tightly with a toothpick. Put the pear in a bowl, add rock sugar and a little water. Place the bowl in a steamer and steam for 40 minutes, until the pear is soft. 3. Open the lid, mix the medicine with the pear flesh, and eat the pear and drink the juice.
Efficacy: This dish has the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving cough. Fritillaria is good at treating lung heat and cough with sticky phlegm. Lily clears heat, nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, and calms the mind. Pear has a sweet and slightly sour taste, a cool nature, and enters the lung and stomach meridians. It has the effects of moistening the lungs, expectorating phlegm, clearing heat, and producing body fluids.
Generally, in autumn, the weather is pleasant and the food is abundant. People tend to overeat. Excessive calorie intake can accumulate as fat, leading to weight gain, which is commonly known as "autumn weight gain." Therefore, in autumn diet, it is important to eat in moderation and not indulge in excessive eating. It is also important to adhere to the principle of "moderate warmth" and eat more warm-natured foods.
