How to Eat Herbal Snacks for a Healthy Stomach

"Chinese medicinal snacks" how should they be eaten to benefit the stomach

Preface: Many people believe that Chinese medicine snacks are a form of "nourishment through diet," more healthy than regular snacks, and safer than taking Chinese herbs. Do these Chinese medicine snacks really have the health benefits people expect?

Are your snacks still potato chips,biscuits, dried fruits,chocolates? Or are they still haws, sunflower seeds, carbonated drinks? Clearly, you are out of date. Nowadays, more and more people replace their potato chips with donkey-hide gelatin,longan, and swap cola for cool tea, chocolates for turtle herb jelly...

Thus, Chinese medicine snacks have emerged to become a health food that urban dwellers use as comfort. Many people have developed the habit of eating Chinese medicine snacks; they eat them when idle to pass time or when busy at work to relieve stress and when ill to help in recovery.

Do these Chinese medicine snacks really live up to their expectations in terms of health benefits? How should one consume Chinese medicine snacks?"According to Qiu Zhenwen, a deputy chief pharmacist specializing in pharmacy from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: 'In traditional Chinese medicine, food and medicine share the same source. So foods like hawthorn, goji berries, and dried tangerine peel are considered medicines with delicious tastes.However, these Chinese medicine snacks have uncertain doses of their medicinal components due to industrial processing, so they cannot be taken as medicine when sick. Moreover, because they contain medicinal ingredients, they should be consumed based on one's constitution; thus, they shouldn't be eaten in excess,' says Qiu." In response, Qiu lists a guide for consuming these snacks for those who love both snacks and health."■ Two main drinks

cool teaIngredients: summer purslane, mulberry leaf,

chrysanthemum , honeysuckle, etc.

Effects: cooling and heat-clearing, drying dampness

Expert opinion: Guangzhou's hot and humid weather makes cool tea very popular for its ability to clear the body of heat and reduce fire. It is suitable for those with symptoms such as swollen gums, ulcers, constipation, and dry stools but unsuitable for those with weak constitutions or digestive issues.Furthermore, people should be wary that some merchants add antibiotics illegally in cool tea to achieve rapid effects. Be cautious when choosing. Cool tea shouldn't be consumed excessively; instead, limit daily intake to no more than 150 ml.

Sour plum drink

Ingredients: unripe hawthorn fruitEffects: heat-clearing and thirst-relieving, cough relief, blood sugar reduction, lipid lowering, digestive aid

Expert opinion: Sour plum drink is a must-have beverage in summer as it replenishes lost fluids and electrolytes. It also promotes digestion and can be beneficial for those who lose their appetite due to hot weather.

However, sour plum drink has the effect of tightening. Therefore, patients with external colds or respiratory infections should avoid excessive consumption. Additionally, people with stomach ulcers or those taking medications should not consume it as it may cause gastric bleeding even if the ulcer is healed.

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Ingredients: turtle shell,

Atractylodes

, angelica root, dried rehmannia, honeysuckle, etc.Effects: yin-nourishing and fire-reducing, heat-clearing detoxification Expert opinion: Qiu Zhenwen says that "turtle herb jelly has good yin-nourishing properties and is suitable for those with excessive heat, such as acne, mouth ulcers, and constipation. However, due to its cold nature, it should not be consumed by people with weak constitutions or digestive issues.

Moreover, the high sugar content in processed turtle herb jelly makes it unsuitable for diabetics and individuals with high blood sugar levels.""A moderate amount is one box daily for adults. Children and seniors should limit their intake to half a box per day," advises Qiu." "Ingredients: longan, donkey-hide gelatin

Effects: nourishing blood, moistening dryness

Expert opinion: Longan with donkey-hide gelatin is particularly beneficial for women and those with blood deficiency. It can also improve skin quality and combat aging.

"However, it can be difficult to digest due to its sticky nature, making it unsuitable for people with weak digestion," warns Qiu.Moreover, it should not be consumed excessively by pregnant women or during periods as it may increase menstrual flow."For those who want to benefit from longan and donkey-hide gelatin, raw dried longan can also be used. However, a daily intake of six pieces is recommended for honey-flavored longan," says Qiu.

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Ingredients: AtractylodesEffects: diuretic, promoting digestionExpert opinion: "Atractylodes is a rare food that enhances appetite and aids digestion. It can also help with urination," explains Qiu."However, many processed Atractylodes pastries contain high levels of sugar, making them unsuitable for diabetics and individuals with high blood sugar."

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Effects: liver-clearing, anti-diabetic, anti-fatigue, anti-aging, enhancing immunity

Expert opinion: Both Atractylodes and are beneficial for health. They are suitable for many people and have significant health benefits."Thus, many people consume them regularly as a snack," explains Qiu. However, excessive consumption is not recommended. It may cause digestive issues in women during their periods or lead to constipation." ， ， "Qiu" "Ingredients: dried tangerine peelEffects: aiding digestion, expelling phlegm, tonifying spleen

Expert opinion: "The flavonoids in the Chinese herb Moutan have a positive effect on digestive juices and can be used to relieve nausea. It is particularly beneficial for those with cold constitutions," says Qiu."However, excessive consumption may cause heatiness or mouth ulcers. He suggests consuming no more than 3 pieces (each piece weighing about 10 grams) twice a day."" "Effects: laxative, blood pressure lowering, digestive aid

Expert opinion: "Fresh jujube is not very sweet but becomes sweeter after drying. It can be used to improve digestion and contains flavonoids that may have anti-cancer properties," explains Qiu.

"However, processed jujubes contain high levels of salt, making them unsuitable for individuals with kidney issues or hypertension. He advises consuming it as a decoction or cooking it with mushrooms to enhance its benefits."

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Ingredients: hawthornEffects: aiding digestion, blood circulationExpert opinion: "Hawthorn contains organic acids that can stimulate digestive juices. However, those with stomach ulcers should avoid it as it may exacerbate the condition," says Qiu."Parents often give hawthorn to their children, but it is processed and has high sugar content, which is not beneficial for health in large quantities. Especially for diabetics."" " Ingredients: longan Effects: tonifying blood, calming the mind Expert opinion: "Longan is a popular tonic, especially during winter. However, it is suitable only for those with cold constitutions as it may cause internal heat in individuals who are naturally hot," concludes Qiu. Dr. Qi Zhenwen, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, says: "People can make their own Lingzhi cakes at home using Lingzhi powder and starch. The method is simple, and you can control the sugar content to ensure it remains healthy.""He also warns that although Lingzhi cakes are generally mild in nature, overconsumption may still lead to bloating."

Goji berries

"Effects: Clearing liver heat, lowering blood glucose levels, combating fatigue, anti-aging, boosting immunity"

"Expert opinion: Like Lingzhi, Goji berries offer many benefits and are suitable for a wide range of people with mild properties. They also have significant health benefits.""That's why many people consume them as snacks, taking a few every day."But Dr. Qi Zhenwen advises that while Goji berries are good, they should not be eaten in excess."On one hand, women during their menstrual period should avoid consuming too much due to its blood-nourishing properties which might increase menstrual flow; on the other hand, excessive consumption can lead to indigestion.""Dr. Qi Zhenwen suggests that Goji berries can be consumed directly or used for"stewing The soup, paired with chrysanthemum tea, can also be used to make porridge.

Citrus Peel (Mandarin Orange Peel)

"Ingredients: Mandarin orange peel"

"Effects: Digestive aid, qi movement, phlegm removal, spleen regulation"

"Expert opinion: Citrus peels contain flavonoids that protect the cardiovascular system.""Dr. Qi Zhenwen also notes that citrus peels can stimulate saliva production; people who experience dry mouth during medication can alleviate this by eating some of it, which is very effective for quenching thirst and relieving oral dryness."

"However, he warns that processed candied citrus peels, especially those prepared through a nine-step process, have high salt content due to their preparation methods. Patients with kidney disease or hypertension should be cautious about overconsumption as it can lead to excessive sodium intake.""Dr. Qi Zhenwen recommends consuming no more than 30 grams of citrus peels daily. For medicinal use, uncultivated dried peels are better when steeped in water."

Baked Ginger "Ingredients: Ginger"

"Effects: Warming and dispelling cold, anti-vomiting, phlegm resolution"

"Expert opinion: Baked ginger has warming properties that benefit those with a weak constitution. It is particularly effective for digestive issues and vomiting; it can be beneficial for pregnant women experiencing morning sickness or travel-induced nausea."

"Additionally, baked ginger promotes sweating and can help relieve colds and chills.""However, Dr. Qi Zhenwen points out that due to its warming nature, excessive consumption can lead to heatiness and oral ulcers. He advises consuming no more than 3 slices (10g per slice) at a time, up to twice daily."Figs"Effects: Laxative, blood pressure reduction, lipid lowering, aiding digestion, detoxifying"

"Expert opinion: Dr. Qi Zhenwen explains that fresh figs are not very sweet, but they become sweeter after drying."

"Fig tastes slightly sour and sweet, which aids in appetite stimulation and contains rich flavonoids. Recently, its blood pressure-lowering and anticancer properties have gained more attention."

"Dr. Qi Zhenwen warns that dried figs like processed citrus peels are high in salt content; patients with kidney disease or hypertension should avoid excessive consumption to prevent excessive sodium intake. He suggests stewing water with figs or consuming them together with"mushroomsfor beneficial effects.""Hawthorn slices""Ingredients: Hawthorn"

"Effects: Digestive aid, blood circulation improvement, lipid reduction"

"Expert opinion: Dr. Qi Zhenwen says that hawthorn contains abundant organic acids which can stimulate the secretion of digestive fluids, promoting appetite and digestion; however, those with gastric ulcers should avoid it as it may trigger bleeding."

"Some parents like to give hawthorn slices to their children as snacks, but due to its high sugar and starch content after processing, excessive consumption is also detrimental to health. This is especially concerning for diabetics."

Longan"Dried""Ingredients: Longan"

"Effects: Blood replenishment, blood nourishment, calming the mind""Expert opinion: Longan is a commonly used tonic, particularly in winter when people in Guangdong province frequently consume it as soup or tea for significant rejuvenating effects."

"However, longan has a warm nature and suits those with weak constitutions. It may not be suitable for those who are naturally hot-tempered, as excessive consumption can lead to internal heat symptoms such as dry stools, thirst, and irritability."

Function: Tonify blood and qi, nourish the blood and calm the spirit.

Expert opinion: Longan is a commonly used tonic, especially in winter. Guangdong people often use longan to make soup or steep it as a drink for obvious tonifying effects. However, longan has a warm nature, making it suitable for those with yang deficiency. People with naturally hot constitutions should not consume it excessively, as it can lead to internal heat symptoms such as dry stools and thirst.