The five elements of spring belong to wood, and the liver is the main organ. The liver likes to be smooth. When spring comes, the grass and trees need the nourishment of rain and dew to grow green. Our body is the same. In order to grow and smooth the liver qi, it needs more moisture. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are particularly suitable for moisturizing.
The strawberries that have been on the market in early spring are fresh, red and tender, with juicy flesh and refreshing fragrance. Strawberries can moisturize the lungs, strengthen the spleen, replenish qi, and replenish blood. They are rich in amino acids, fructose, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. The nutrients in strawberries are easily digested and absorbed by the human body, and are especially suitable for health care in spring.
Although strawberries are a very good product, they are cold in nature and should not be eaten too much at one time, especially for people with spleen and stomach deficiency, diarrhea, and excessive stomach acid. The amount of strawberries should be controlled.
Leeks are native to my country and were called "yang-strengthening grass" and "yang-raising grass" in ancient times. There are records about leeks in "Classic of Mountains and Seas". Leeks are said to be "fragrant in spring, spicy in summer, bitter in autumn, and sweet in winter", and spring leeks are the best.
Leeks are warm in nature and have good effects of nourishing the kidney and yang, benefiting the liver and stomach, consolidating essence and refreshing the mind, stopping sweating and consolidating astringency, and promoting qi and blood circulation. They are the best ingredients to replenish the body's yang. According to "Compendium of Materia Medica", leeks have the effects of "returning the kidney and strengthening yang, stopping spermatorrhea, and warming the waist and knees".
Leeks are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamins and dietary fiber. Fresh and tender leeks should be selected when eating. Old leeks contain a lot of crude fiber and are not easy to digest. You should not eat too much at one time. People with poor digestive function, especially those with gastric or duodenal ulcers, should eat less or no leeks. Chinese medicine believes that people with yin deficiency and excessive fire, as well as those suffering from sores and eye diseases should avoid eating leeks.
Shepherd's purse was called "life-protecting grass" in ancient times. As a wild vegetable, shepherd's purse can be used as dumpling filling, porridge, and soup. It is not only delicious but also nutritious.
Chinese medicine believes that shepherd's purse is sweet and flat in nature. It has the effects of clearing the liver and regulating the spleen, harmonizing blood and promoting water, lowering blood pressure and improving eyesight. Shepherd's purse can be eaten by the general population, especially by middle-aged and elderly people with indigestion and weak constitution.
Because shepherd's purse can widen the intestines and promote bowel movements, people with loose stools should be careful when eating it. There are also some sensitive people, such as those who are allergic to leeks, who should be more careful when eating shepherd's purse, because shepherd's purse and leeks are both commonly known as "irritants" by the people, and after eating, they may experience discomfort such as skin fever, itching, and lumps. People with inflammation or wounds in the healing state should also eat less.
Spring bamboo shoots are fresh bamboo shoots in spring. They are fragrant and delicious. They can be said to be authentic "seasonal freshness". They have always been loved by people and are regarded as treasures among vegetables.
Chinese medicine believes that bamboo shoots are sweet, slightly cold, and non-toxic. In terms of medicinal use, they have the effects of clearing heat and resolving phlegm, invigorating qi and harmonizing the stomach, treating thirst, promoting water flow, and refreshing the stomach.
Bamboo shoots have the characteristics of high fiber. Eating bamboo shoots can not only promote intestinal peristalsis, help digestion, remove food accumulation, prevent constipation, but also prevent colorectal cancer. Bamboo shoots contain very little fat and starch. They are natural low-fat, low-sugar, and low-calorie foods. They are a good choice for obese people to lose weight.
Bamboo shoots cannot be eaten raw. When cooked alone, they have a bitter taste and poor taste. However, fresh bamboo shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes with a small amount of white vinegar before cooking, or bamboo shoots can be fried with meat to make them taste particularly delicious.
In addition to the above-mentioned seasonal fruits and vegetables, there are many other seasonal fruits and vegetables in spring. "The Book of Caring for the Elderly and Serving Parents" records: "In spring, the taste of food should be less sour and more sweet to nourish the spleen." As the name suggests, in spring, you should eat as much sweet food as possible and eat less sour food.
It should be noted that sweetness and sweetness are not exactly the same. Sweet food not only refers to the taste of food that is a little sweet, but more importantly, it has the effects of nourishing, harmonizing, and relieving urgency. Among the sweet foods, jujube and yam are the first choices, and spinach, taro, sweet potato, potato, black fungus, longan, chestnut, etc. are also good choices. Eating these foods regularly can replenish the spleen and stomach qi of the human body and help improve the body's immunity.
