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Okay, I'm going to tell you a story about the eldest sister, Liu Xinmei, who is an optimistic and cheerful community librarian.
In her life, stewing soup and eating star anise was one of her little habits. The story will revolve around this habit of hers, revealing the unexpected health secrets within.
Speaking of Liu Xinmei, 55 years old this year, she is a natural optimist. She manages a community library in a small city, and likes to share books and exchange life tips with residents on weekdays.
She has many habits in her life, but the one she is most proud of is that she always puts star anise in every stew. Not for any particular reason, but I think the soup tastes better this way.
As soon as she entered the door, Liu Xinmei couldn't wait to start preparing dinner. Add water to the pot, put in the pork ribs, add a few slices of ginger, and finally grab three big star anise, and a fragrance immediately spreads.
For Liu Xinmei, the soup stew is a relaxing process, and this little sense of ritual adds a lot of fun to her later life.
However, behind this simple habit, there are health secrets that she has not noticed. Star anise not only adds flavor to food, but also has rich medicinal properties.
As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, star anise is rich in plant compounds that can effectively inhibit inflammation and improve the digestive system, and some studies have even pointed out that some components in star anise can help lower blood pressure and antibacterial.
Here, we can cite some data to further explain the health benefits of star anise. Regular consumption of foods containing star anise can help boost the immune system.
The reason for this is that the natural ingredients in star anise promote the production of white blood cells, which are the body's first line of defense against viruses and bacteria. In addition, star anise is also rich in antioxidants, which can help fight free radicals and slow down the aging process.
After a while, Liu Xinmei noticed some noticeable changes in her body. Not only did she find that she was in better spirits, but that even the old stomach ailments of her youth seemed to be relieved.
By chance, she heard a doctor mention the benefits of star anise at a health lecture in the community, and it dawned on her that she had inadvertently protected her body over the years.
In fact, star anise is indeed a miracle spice that, in addition to the functions mentioned above, has also been shown to help regulate blood sugar. Certain compounds in star anise can mimic the effects of insulin and help lower blood sugar levels, which is a very beneficial finding for diabetics.
Liu Xinmei actually has a unique point of view, that is, she believes that star anise is not just an ordinary spice, it plays a much greater role in daily life than we think. She always likes to say: "This star anise, not only can make the soup fragrant, it is also my 'little medicine box'!" ”
The idea of a "small medicine box" sounded a little fresh and funny to the people around him at first. But Liu Xinmei will say: Do you know, there is a very good thing called cinnamic acid in the star anise, this thing, it's really a good thing.
Cinnamic acid has been shown to be effective in inhibiting the adverse inflammatory response in our body, which is helpful in dealing with chronic disease symptoms such as diabetes and heart disease.
In addition, Liu Xinmei also emphasized the analgesic effect of star anise. She said: "I have checked a lot of information, and there is an ingredient in star anise called anethole, which can not only enhance the taste, but also have a slight analgesic effect. Do you think that after drinking my stewed soup, those little ailments seem to be gone? That's the credit of the anise! ”
Over time, Ms. Liu's story spread among her friends and the community, who began experimenting with adding star anise to their home soups.
Interestingly, many people report that they do feel some subtle changes in their bodies, such as better digestion and sweeter sleep.
On one occasion, the community organized a health talk and invited a doctor to explain the modern application of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. After the lecture, a member of the audience asked a question: "Doctor, I've heard that star anise can be used to improve sleep and reduce stress, is that true?" If so, how does it work? ”
The doctor smiled and replied: Star anise does have some scientific research to support that it can improve sleep and reduce stress. Ingredients like anethole and cinnamic acid in star anise can help regulate our nervous system and allow the body to relax, making it easier to fall into deep sleep.
At the same time, these ingredients also help to reduce the body's stress response, making the person feel more relaxed and soothed. So, adding star anise stew is not only for the sake of taste, but also for our health.
The audience nodded their heads, apparently satisfied with the doctor's explanation. Liu Xinmei sat in the corner, listening to the doctor's explanation, secretly proud.
Her "little medicine box" theory has not only received professional support, but has also helped many people improve their quality of life. This makes her feel very satisfied and happy.
What do you think about the 55-year-old sister's stew that must put star anise? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!