The ancients said: "Qingming breaks the snow, the valley rain breaks the frost", the valley rain, as one of the 24 solar terms, not only indicates the change of the weather, but also reminds us that we should adjust our life and eating habits with the change of seasons. (Editor: Dragonfly)
It is recorded in the "Seventy-two Candidate Explanations of the Lunar Order": "In the middle of March, since the rain, the soil paste pulsates, and now it rains again and its valley is in the water. The rain is read as a sound, like the rain of my valley field. The cover of the valley is sown at this time, from the bottom up", hence the name.
During this period, as the temperature gradually rises and the humidity increases, the body's metabolism also accelerates. At this time, how to maintain the health and vitality of the body through diet has become a question worth pondering.
As the saying goes, "no matter how sweet and cheap it is, it is not suitable to buy", in the rainy season, although some ingredients are attractive and the price is close to the people, they may not be good for health, and you must be careful when encountering these 4 ingredients.
01
Walnuts, known as the "treasure of nourishment" since ancient times, are rich in nutrients, including protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and are very good brain food.
In traditional Chinese medicine, walnuts are also believed to have the effects of strengthening the spleen and appetizing, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, and nourishing blood and intelligence, however, just like the two sides of the same coin, walnuts bring us nutrition and health at the same time, they also hide certain risks.
The humid environment of the rainy season provides excellent conditions for the growth of mold, and walnuts that have not been stored properly for a long time are highly susceptible to mold attack, the most feared of which is the production of aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a strong carcinogen, it can seriously damage the health of the human liver, long-term consumption of contaminated walnuts, and may even lead to liver cancer.
When buying walnuts, be sure to choose fresh ones and avoid buying walnuts that have cracks, mold spots, or odors on the surface.
When storing walnuts, keep them dry and ventilated, avoid humid environments, and check regularly and remove damaged or abnormal walnuts in time.
If the walnuts stored at home have been left for a long time, or have signs of mildew, they should be thrown away immediately, and do not bury themselves with health hazards because they are reluctant.
02
When it comes to sugar cane, many people's first reaction is its sweet and delicious taste. On a hot summer day, a fresh sugar cane can bring a hint of coolness and satisfaction.
Sugarcane is not only rich in sugar, but also has a variety of trace elements and vitamins, which can effectively replenish the water and nutrients needed by the human body.
However, not all sugarcane is suitable for consumption, especially during the rainy season, and we need to be wary of red sugarcane.
Red heart cane is the red heart flesh formed inside the sugarcane due to the attack of pathogens, and this change is often caused by the arthrosporium fungus.
This mold not only affects the taste of sugarcane, but more importantly, it can produce substances that are harmful to humans.
Long-term consumption of sugarcane infested with germs can adversely affect the digestive system and even cause more serious health problems.
When we choose sugarcane in the market, we should carefully observe its appearance and cut surface and avoid buying sugarcane with abnormal color or texture.
In addition, sugarcane purchased home should also be consumed as soon as possible to avoid spoilage caused by prolonged storage.
03
Sweet potato, also known as sweet potato, is a healthy ingredient rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Not only does it provide a wealth of nutrients, but it also helps improve digestion and lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
However, with the increase of humidity during the rainy season, sweet potatoes are also prone to mildew, especially mildew spots on the surface.
These mold spots not only affect the flavor and texture of sweet potatoes, but more seriously, they may contain microorganisms and toxins that are harmful to the human body.
Moldy sweet potatoes form mold spots on the surface or inside of them, often due to the growth of mold.
These molds produce some toxic substances such as aflatoxin during the growth process, and these toxins are not easily destroyed completely even during the heating process.
Long-term consumption of foods containing mycotoxins can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and other organs of the human body, and in severe cases, it can even cause cancer.
When buying and eating sweet potatoes, be sure to check that their surface is clean and that there are no signs of mold, and once you find mold spots on the sweet potatoes, you should throw them away immediately.
04
Watermelon is loved by many people as a good product to cool off in summer, it is rich in water and nutrients, which can effectively relieve the summer heat and replenish the water needed by the human body.
However, during the rainy season, some of the watermelons sold in the market may be ripened by chemicals, and although these watermelons appear to be ripe on the outside, they may not actually be fully ripe naturally.
Ripening watermelon will be deficient in taste and nutritional value, and more importantly, the use of chemical ripening agents may pose a potential threat to human health.
Long-term consumption of fruits ripened by chemicals may cumulatively have adverse effects on the human body, including affecting the digestive system and impairing liver function.
When buying watermelons, you should choose ones that ripen naturally as much as possible, and avoid buying fruits that are too perfect in appearance or out of season, as these are often signs of ripeness.
Naturally ripe watermelon, its texture, color and sweetness will be more natural and harmonious, you can also pay attention to the watermelon pedicle when choosing, naturally ripe watermelon stalk usually dry and shrink.
As the rain approaches, we usher in the end of spring and the prelude to summer, in this season full of vitality and vitality, the right selection and handling of ingredients is essential to maintain our health.
Whether it's long-term walnuts, red sugarcane, moldy sweet potatoes that need to be avoided, or ripening watermelons that need to be carefully chosen, these are all details that we should pay attention to when enjoying the gifts of nature.
By choosing and handling these ingredients, we are not only able to avoid potential health risks, but also ensure that every meal is safe, nutritious and delicious.