The Yellow Emperor mentioned in the Five Elements that "the five elements have five colors, the five internal organs have five elements, and the five colors enter the five internal organs. The five elements are Jin Mu's fire, water and earth, corresponding to the five colors of white, blue, black, red and yellow, and corresponding to the five internal organs "lung, liver, kidney, heart and spleen". There are five elements in heaven and earth, and people have five internal organs, and the five internal organs also cooperate with the five elements. In fact, the five elements not only represent the five familiar substances of gold, wood, water, fire and earth, but also represent our internal organs: heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. At the same time, five colors can be derived: white, blue, black, red and yellow. As long as every meal absorbs five-color food, the five elements can coexist and the five internal organs can be reconciled, thus nourishing the body's function.
1, red food nourishes the heart
Red food includes carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and apples. According to the theory of five elements of Chinese medicine, red is fire, so red food can enter the heart and blood after entering the human body, which has the functions of benefiting qi and enriching blood, generating blood and generating lymph.
Moreover, red food has strong antioxidant capacity and is rich in lycopene and tannic acid. It can protect cells and has anti-inflammatory effect. It can also provide protein, inorganic salts, vitamins and trace elements for human body, and enhance the functions of heart and qi and blood.
2, yellow food to nourish the spleen
Yellow is earth in the five elements. Therefore, after yellow food is ingested, its nutrients are mainly concentrated in the spleen and stomach. Such as pumpkin and corn. Eating often can be of great benefit to the spleen and stomach. Yellow food is rich in vitamins a and d. Vitamin A can protect intestinal mucosa and respiratory mucosa and reduce the occurrence of gastritis and other diseases. Vitamin D can promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and strengthen bones and muscles.
3. Green food nourishes liver
Green enters the liver, and eating more green food has the function of soothing the liver and strengthening the liver. It is a "detoxifier" of human body, which can regulate digestion and absorption of spleen and stomach. Folic acid, which is rich in green vegetables, is one of the important vitamins in human metabolism, which can effectively eliminate excessive homocysteine in blood and protect heart health. Green food is also the best source of calcium. For some people who are growing up or suffering from osteoporosis, green vegetables are undoubtedly a good way to supplement calcium.
4. White food nourishes the lungs
White belongs to gold in the five elements and enters the lungs, which is conducive to benefiting qi. Most white foods, such as milk, rice, chicken and fish, are rich in protein. Regular consumption can not only eliminate physical fatigue, but also promote the recovery of diseases. In addition, white food is a kind of nutritious food with relatively high safety. Because its fat content is much lower than that of red meat, patients with hypertension and heart disease had better eat white food.
5. Black food nourishes the kidneys
Black food refers to natural animals and plants with various colors of black or purple and dark brown. Among the five elements, black dominates water and enters the kidney. Therefore, eating black food often can tonify the kidney. Black sesame, black fungus, laver, etc. It has high nutritional, health care and medicinal value, can obviously reduce the incidence of arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke and other diseases, and has good curative effects on influenza, chronic hepatitis, nephropathy, anemia, alopecia and so on.
Second, the nutritional value of fruits with different colors
1, red fruit
Such as red apples, strawberries, cherries and pomegranates. Red fruits are rich in anthocyanins, especially the three anthocyanins in cherries have strong anti-inflammatory effects, which are helpful to treat osteoarthritis and prevent gout. Ellagic acid contained in cherries and strawberries can make carcinogens useless to some extent. Lycopene in tomatoes can greatly reduce the risk of various cancers.
2. Yellow fruit
Such as oranges, oranges, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, etc. Yellow (orange) fruit is rich in β-carotene, which has a strong antioxidant effect, can improve the body's immunity, and can also prevent the formation of arterial plaque and avoid coronary heart disease. Pineapple is a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Citrus fruits are rich in bioflavonoids and have strong antioxidant capacity, which can prevent respiratory diseases related to asthma. Pectin is a soluble cellulose in grapefruit, which helps to lower cholesterol and prevent diabetes.
3. White fruit
Ginseng fruit, pineapple, litchi, cantaloupe, white peach, etc. , containing sulfide, lowering cholesterol. Ginkgo biloba has the functions of benefiting qi, nourishing yin and moistening lung. Moreover, these foods give people a clean and tender feeling. Regular consumption has a certain effect on regulating eyesight and stabilizing mood, and is also beneficial to patients with hypertension and heart disease.
4. Black fruit
Such as mulberry, ebony, black grapes, blackcurrant, etc. Black fruit is rich in pigments, such as proanthocyanidins and chlorophyll. And has strong oxidation resistance. Black fruit is also rich in vitamin C, which can increase the body's resistance. In addition, the contents of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium in black fruits are also higher than those in ordinary fruits. Among them, Mulberry has the functions of enhancing immunity, promoting the growth of hematopoietic cells and promoting metabolism.
5. Green fruit
Such as kiwi fruit, green apple, grapefruit and so on. Most green fruits are rich in chlorophyll, which can effectively prevent colon cancer, soothe the liver and strengthen the liver, and is also one of the sources of calcium. Chlorophyll in kiwifruit is one of the fruits with the highest content, and it is also a very good source of potassium, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health.
Third, the best time to eat fruit.
Breakfast is best eaten before or between meals.
Eating fruit for breakfast, or one hour before lunch or dinner, or between meals, can achieve the greatest benefits. Because most of the nutrients in fruit are water-soluble and easy to absorb, the nutrients in the fruit eaten will be digested and absorbed in the stomach. However, if you eat fruit after a meal, because there are other foods waiting to be digested in your stomach, the fruit has to be placed behind, which not only fails to achieve the effect of easy absorption of nutrients, but also easily leads to digestive disorder. Eating fruit before meals has another advantage, because the same amount of fruit is lower in calories than other foods, so eating fruit before meals can make your stomach feel full, which will reduce the calorie intake of other foods.