For hot pot, it's recommended to choose "clear broth"

by cshelive9520 on 2012-02-21 00:25:28

"For most people, eating is therapy, and food is medicine." Recently, Li Qun, the director of the Clinical Nutrition Department at the Provincial People's Hospital, gave a nutrition lecture titled "My Health, My Choice" at the Beijing Bank Nanjing Daguan Road branch. She provided specialized health guidance on "how to eat" and "how to eat nutritiously" during the winter. The lecture site was packed with not only VIP customers from the Nanjing branch of Beijing Bank but also residents from nearby communities who came by reputation.

Winter Diet Should Not Be "Extreme"

Li Qun stated that winter diets should be "tailored to individuals," and it's impossible to provide a standard "winter recipe" for everyone. Individuals with "three highs" (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar) should avoid excessive consumption of mutton, dog meat, and hotpot in winter. Also, cool-natured foods like oysters and eels, as well as rich meats like steaks and goose liver, are unsuitable for "three highs" individuals in winter. Director Li Qun pointed out another extreme of winter nourishment: "green vegetables and tofu keep you safe," but this diet method is unreliable too. Eating too much tofu can lead to high uric acid levels in the body.

Regarding taboos of winter diets, Li Qun listed several no-go zones. It's recommended to drink an appetizing soup half an hour before meals in winter. Drinking more soup in winter can increase blood circulation and moisturize the lungs. In terms of winter diets, overweight individuals should eat more rice and less noodles. Especially those who want to lose weight should not consume too much noodle. Additionally, roasted sweet potatoes sold on the market should be consumed in moderation due to their high sugar content. Purple sweet potatoes can be chosen instead of roasted sweet potatoes. Anthocyanins and other nutrients in purple sweet potatoes have low-sugar anti-cancer effects.

Recommendation for "Clear Broth Hot Pot"

Eating hot pot cooked in a casserole during winter is indeed warming. However, there are certain things to consider when eating hot pot. Li Qun suggested that one can eat more "clear broth hot pot" in winter. Whether it's red meat or shrimp and fish, dipping them briefly in clear broth before eating is a great choice for winter diets. "Hot pot seasonings are crucial," said Li Qun. Seafood sauce, sesame sauce, and other dipping sauces available on the market are high in protein and fat. If the meat and vegetable dishes dipped in clear broth are then dipped in these seasonings, the health benefits will be lost. One can make some light homemade sauces to use as seasoning for hot pot.

"Winter is considered by many as the key time for nourishment," suggested Li Qun. For children, winter nourishment focuses on strengthening the spleen and stomach, so they can eat more hawthorn, jujube, and Job's tears. Young students who need nourishment can appropriately consume polygonum. Middle-aged individuals focus on nourishing qi and blood in winter, and suitable tonics include astragalus, angelica, and longan flesh. For the elderly, duzhong and polygonum can be chosen when they are healthy, and differentiated supplementation is needed if they are sick.

She Life Women's Network (http://www.she-live.com), with the motto "Love life, love beauty," provides the latest, fastest, and most comprehensive women's information on fashion, beauty, personalities, and lifestyle consumption, striving to create a professional women's fashion portal website.