Benefits and precautions of eating rice dumplings during Dragon Boat Festival

　　Zongzi was called "corner millet" in ancient times. Legend has it that it was invented to commemorate Qu Yuan, who threw himself into the river. It is the traditional food with the deepest cultural heritage in Chinese history so far. Eating rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival not only has far-reaching festive significance, but also has special nutritional value because rice dumplings are a comprehensive food made with staple and non-staple food. Ancient Chinese medicine will give you an in-depth understanding of the nutritional value of rice dumplings, allowing you to eat them healthy , Eat nutritiously, and eat beautifully.

　　The main raw material of Zongzi is glutinous rice. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, its nature and flavor are sweet and warm, and it has the effects of strengthening the spleen, warming the stomach, and tonifying the middle and replenishing qi. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that glutinous rice can "warm the spleen and stomach, relieve cold and diarrhea, reduce defecation, stop spontaneous sweating, and cause acne." ”After the Ear Grain Festival, the weather becomes increasingly hot, the blood flow on the surface of the body increases, and the gastrointestinal function gradually decreases. People are prone to losing weight in the bitter summer. Eating glutinous rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival can just improve this problem.

　　Glutinous rice contains high-quality starch, B vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, cellulose and other nutrients. However, glutinous rice contains less protein, and is very lacking in lysine, tryptophan, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin D. It has high calcium content but is not easily absorbed by the body. Therefore, wrapping glutinous rice with fillings to make rice dumplings and eating them together can avoid nutritional deficiencies. Zongzi fillings come in various flavors such as red dates, peanuts, bean paste, egg yolk, pork belly, etc., all of which are very appetizing, and have different nutrients and functions:

　　red dates:

　　Red dates are sweet in taste and warm in nature, and return to the spleen and stomach meridian. They have the effects of replenishing qi, nourishing blood and calming the nerves. Red date filling can provide a large amount of vitamin C, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin P, calcium, iron, etc., supplement the vitamins that glutinous rice lacks, and help the absorption and utilization of calcium and other substances in glutinous rice.

　　peanut:

　　Peanuts are mild in nature and sweet in taste. They enter the spleen and lung meridian, which can awaken the spleen and harmonize the stomach, moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm. Peanut filling contains protein, B vitamins and vitamin E, which can supplement the lack of protein in glutinous rice. However, it contains high oil content. Eating more will hinder intestinal transmission.

　　Red bean paste:

　　Mung beans are dry and cool in nature, enter the heart and stomach meridian, and have the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, diuresis and detoxification.； Red beans are neutral in nature, sweet and sour in taste, strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish blood and produce milk. Bean paste filling contains protein, starch, minerals, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium.

　　Salted egg yolk:

　　Salted egg yolk can clear lung fire, reduce yin fire, and strengthen the brain and intelligence. Salted egg yolk is delicious when used as filling and provides rich protein, phospholipids, vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron, etc. However, its cholesterol and salt content are quite high, so it is not advisable to eat too much.

　　Pork belly:

　　Pork belly contains saturated fatty acids and has a rich flavor when paired with glutinous rice. However, it will cause excessive blood fat and cholesterol in the body, block blood vessels, and easily lead to stroke and heart disease, so it is not advisable to eat too much.

　　As an outer packaging, rice dumpling leaves are pollution-free and "disposable" and are truly green food packaging. The leaves commonly used to make rice dumplings include reed leaves, lotus leaves, pineapple leaves, bamboo leaves, etc. These natural leaves are rich in chlorophyll, amino acids, vitamins A, C, polyphenols, potassium and other nutrients. Using them to wrap food and cook it together at high temperatures not only adds a natural fragrance to the food, but also fully penetrates the nutrients into the food.

　　Zongzi is naturally healthy and nutritious. However, due to its high caloric content and glutinous rice's high viscosity, it is difficult to digest. The elderly, children and people with poor digestive function should not eat glutinously to avoid affecting the gastrointestinal tract and normal diet.； Patients with cardiovascular disease, people with "three highs", diabetics, and patients with gastrointestinal diseases should eat rice dumplings with caution or even fasting. Even people with healthy gastrointestinal health should not eat rice dumplings early in the morning or two hours before going to bed in the evening, otherwise the glutinous rice will stay in the stomach for too long without digestion. You should try to eat it at noon and afternoon, and follow the principle of "eat less, eat more", one or two at a time. When eating rice dumplings, eating them with vegetables and fruits can increase fiber intake, help intestinal and gastric peristalsis, and avoid abdominal distension and diarrhea caused by eating rice dumplings. diarrhea and other symptoms. This combination of meals is not only nutritionally balanced, but also allows you to have a relaxed and stress-free Dragon Boat Festival.