Eating Zongzi During Dragon Boat Festival and Other Healthy Foods for the Month

Eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival custom. Since ancient times, China has had a tradition of health preservation, and the choice of nourishing foods varies with different solar terms. Apart from eating zongzi, there are also suitable foods for this month during the Dragon Boat Festival. If you pay attention to health preservation, you need to know more about them, so that our bodies can be in a better condition. Then, what are the healthy foods suitable for the Dragon Boat Festival? Let's take a look.

1. Amaranth

According to traditional Chinese medicine, amaranth is cool in nature and slightly sweet in taste, entering the lungs and large intestine. It grows in fields or by the roadside, and has the effects of clearing heat and removing dampness, cooling blood and stopping bleeding, and stopping diarrhea. Nutritionally, amaranth is rich in calcium that is easily absorbed by the body, which can promote the growth of teeth and bones, maintain normal myocardial activity, and prevent muscle spasms (cramps). It is also rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin K, which can promote blood clotting, increase hemoglobin content, improve oxygen-carrying capacity, and promote hematopoiesis. Additionally, amaranth is a staple on weight loss diets, as regular consumption can aid in weight loss, promote detoxification, and prevent constipation. The preferred amaranth is red amaranth, with large and intact, tender leaves, preferably purple-red in color. Wilted amaranth should not be purchased. When blanching amaranth, simply scald it briefly and remove it to prevent the destruction of nutrients and affecting its therapeutic effects. Amaranth does not keep well and should be consumed as soon as possible. For short-term storage, wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in a zip-lock bag and store it in the refrigerator.

2. Eel

Among river delicacies, there is a saying that "eel is the top choice for summer nourishment." Because eels have been foraging and nourishing themselves throughout spring, they become plump and tender in summer, with delicious meat and rich nutrition. Not only is their taste good, but they also have nourishing effects on people of various physical conditions. Therefore, there is also a saying in folk that "eel in summer is as good as ginseng," which is a praise for eel's nourishing and medicinal value. Eel, also known as long fish, resembles a long snake and lives in rivers, lakes, ponds, and rice fields. Its delicate meat, delicious taste, and rich nutrition make it an excellent high-protein, low-fat food, containing 18.8 grams of protein and 0.9 grams of fat per 100 grams of meat. It also contains phosphorus, calcium, iron, vitamins, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid, making it an excellent nourishing food for those who are weak after illness, physically frail, or malnourished.

3. Salted Duck Egg

There is a basis for eating salted duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival in traditional Chinese medicine. It is believed that duck eggs are sweet in taste and cool in nature, having the effects of nourishing yin, clearing the lungs, enriching the muscles, and nourishing the skin. Salted duck eggs, which are salty and slightly cold, can nourish yin and clear the lungs, treating summer coughs, sore throats, toothaches, and diarrhea. They are a great food supplement and accompaniment for summer meals. May is considered a "toxic" or "evil" month, and the fifth day of May is the first of the nine "toxic" days. Eating salted duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival can help detoxify and maintain good health. Even if you don't eat them during the festival, you can enjoy them throughout the summer. According to traditional Chinese medicine, eating salted duck eggs in summer gives people energy, while nutritionists note that they are rich in inorganic salts such as calcium and iron, with higher levels than fresh duck eggs or chicken eggs, making them the top choice for supplementing calcium and iron in summer. However, salted duck eggs are high in salt, which can easily raise blood pressure, and their yolks are high in fat and cholesterol, so it is recommended not to eat more than two at a time, and the elderly should consume even less.

4. Eggplant

Egg