From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), autumn and winter are considered the ideal seasons for incorporating medicinal herbs into one's diet. Zhu Guoben, chairman of the Chinese National Medicine Research Association, emphasized that medicated diets can offer significant health benefits when properly used. However, he warned against blindly consuming these remedies without considering individual conditions. According to him, a balanced approach is essential, with a focus on mild tonics rather than strong or excessive treatments.
Zhu also highlighted that medicinal diets are not simply a combination of food and herbs. Instead, they are carefully formulated based on TCM principles, including syndrome differentiation and dietary theory. These meals integrate medicines, foods, and spices in a way that supports overall well-being. As an essential part of China’s medical heritage, medicinal diets not only provide nourishment but also play a role in disease prevention, health maintenance, and even longevity.
There are two primary methods for preparing medicated meals. The first involves cooking food with specific herbs to maximize its therapeutic effects. The second method includes adding appropriate medicinal ingredients to food, often through specialized preparation techniques. For example, "Bazhen Food," inspired by ancient Qing Dynasty health practices, contains ingredients like yam, lotus seeds, and hawthorn. These herbs are known to improve appetite and support healthy growth and development.
Zhu also reminded the public that the use of medicinal herbs should be tailored to each individual’s current health condition and the season. He stressed that personalized approaches are necessary, and people should avoid over-treating themselves. In TCM, the four seasons correspond to different stages of life: spring for birth, summer for growth, long summer for development, autumn for collection, and winter for storage. Autumn and winter are particularly suitable for using medicinal herbs to help the body restore balance and prepare for the year ahead.
However, he cautioned that improper use of such remedies could do more harm than good. For instance, individuals with internal heat should avoid overly warming tonics, while those with high cholesterol should steer clear of greasy foods. Diabetic patients, on the other hand, should limit their intake of sugary foods like rice. Zhu advised people to choose a balanced diet that focuses on both nourishment and detoxification, rather than indulging in rich or heavy meals.
Additionally, he noted that dietary choices should take age into account. Young children, for example, should not be given overly strong or complex medicinal diets. Overall, the key message is to approach medicinal eating with knowledge, care, and an understanding of one’s own body and the seasonal changes.
Sweeteners refer to Food Additives that can give soft drinks and other foods a sweet taste
I. Classification
Sweeteners can be classified in many ways, mainly including:
Classification by nutritional value:
Nutritional sweeteners: such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc., although they are also natural sweeteners, they are usually regarded as food raw materials and not as food additives because they have been consumed by people for a long time and are important nutrients.
Non-nutritive sweeteners: including some natural and synthetic sweeteners, which do not provide or provide less energy.
Classification by sweetness:
Low-sweetness sweeteners.
High-sweetness sweeteners: such as sucralose, which is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose.
Classification by source:
Natural sweeteners: such as stevia, licorice, disodium glycyrrhizinate, etc., are derived from natural plants.
Synthetic sweeteners: such as saccharin, sodium cyclamate, aspartame, etc., are obtained through artificial chemical synthesis.
2. Functions
Sweeteners play an important role in food and beverages, mainly including:
Increase sweetness: make food and beverages have a palatable sweetness, improve taste and popularity.
Adjust flavor: by combining with other flavor substances, a unique flavor is formed to enhance the overall flavor of the food.
Reduce calorie intake: compared with sugar, sweeteners have a lower calorie content, which helps control weight and prevent diseases such as diabetes.
Enhance stability: provide a stable taste and texture to prevent food from spoiling and deterioration.
Extend shelf life: because sweeteners can prevent food from spoiling, foods and beverages with added sweeteners can usually maintain freshness for a longer time.
Fructose Corn Syru,Golden Caster Sugar,Bulk Meringue Powder,Natural Sweetener Arabinose
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