"After the National Day, it is the season for nourishment in autumn and winter. According to the Chinese tradition, autumn and winter are the best seasons for body nourishment. How can the elderly take care of their health in autumn and winter? Let's take a look together!"
1. Pork Kidney with Chinese Angelica, Codonopsis Pilosula, and Chinese Yam
Ingredients: 10g Chinese Angelica, 10g Codonopsis Pilosula, 10g Chinese Yam, 500g pork kidney
Seasoning: Soy sauce, vinegar, shredded ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, as needed
Instructions:
(1) Cut open the pork kidney, remove the fascia and glands, and rinse before placing them in an aluminum pot.
(2) Put the Chinese Angelica, Codonopsis Pilosula, and Chinese Yam in a gauze bag and tie it tightly. Place it in the aluminum pot.
(3) Add an appropriate amount of water to the aluminum pot and simmer the pork kidney until cooked. Remove the pork kidney.
(4) After cooling, slice the pork kidney thinly and arrange it on a plate.
(5) Mix soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, shredded ginger, minced garlic, and the pork kidney slices together.
The medicinal food is beneficial for nourishing Yin, tonifying the kidneys, and promoting blood circulation.
2. Chicken and Chestnut Casserole
Ingredients: 136g chestnuts, 248g chicken thigh
Seasoning: Dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, pepper powder, sugar, salt, garlic cloves, shredded ginger, scallion, cornstarch, cooking oil, as needed
Instructions:
(1) Peel the chestnuts and remove the meat. Remove the skin from the chicken thigh and cut it into pieces.
(2) Put the chicken thigh in a bowl and add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, pepper powder, sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes.
(3) Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry garlic and shredded ginger until fragrant, then add the marinated chicken pieces.
(4) In the bowl used for marinating the chicken, add an appropriate amount of water and mix well.
(5) When the chicken is partially cooked, add the chestnuts and the water from the bowl. Cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
(6) Stir-fry a few times during simmering to evenly color the chicken. Then add scallions, simmer until the sauce thickens, and serve in a casserole.
The medicinal food can nourish the stomach, strengthen the tendons and bones, and invigorate blood circulation.
5 Taboos for the Elderly in Autumn and Winter
1. Avoid exercising in polluted environments
During exercise, the body needs sufficient oxygen, and deep and fast breathing increases lung ventilation.
Being in a polluted environment can allow pathogenic bacteria to enter the body and cause respiratory diseases.
The elderly should exercise outdoors where airflow is smooth and sunlight is abundant, receiving the fitness effects of ultraviolet and infrared rays.
2. Avoid poor hygiene before and after exercise
Proper hygiene before and after exercise is important, focusing on warm-up activities before exercise and cool-down activities after exercise.
Prior to exercise, the body needs to be prepared for activity to quickly bring the organs, muscle strength, and ligaments into an active state, preventing exercise injuries.
3. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of water
During exercise, sweating causes thirst, and water intake should be moderate. Excessive intake can disrupt the balance of water and salt metabolism in the body and dilute the blood concentration.
The most suitable way to replenish water is with a diluted saline solution, which not only replenishes body fluids but also replenishes salt, maintaining the balance of water and salt in the body.
