Healthy Living in China

By Sammy Buhr [US]

The problem: Low energy levels, trouble waking up in the morningThe solution: Goji berries

Goji berries or “wolf berries”can be found everywhere in the grocery stores, pharmacies and on the streets of China. They are also sold from large bags or containers at local vegetable markets and in tea shops.

Goji berries, known by its Latin name, Lycium Babarum, have a long history in China. They have been in use as a health aid since about 200 BC and boast a wide variety of health benefits.Cardiovascular benefits and gastrointestinal benefits are linked to consuming goji berries.One quarter cup of dried goji berries is said to contain roughly 150% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A as well as a good dose of copper, selenium,vitamin B, not to mention a bit of vitamin C, iron, potassium and zinc as well. In addition to these vitamins and minerals are about 9 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and an abundant supply of antioxidants.

The tremendous nutritional content is likely to give you a boost and get you going in the morning in a different way. When you find you are really struggling to get up in the morning, all you have to do is place the blender on the base, push a button and you’re ready to go. As an alternative,most grocery stores in China sell a dry mix (just need to add hot water) healthy porridge-like breakfast drink made from nuts,seeds, grains and often containing goji berries. This can be a great choice for overcast winter mornings.

Goji berries may be used anyway that you would typically use raisins or other dried fruits.But many Chinese people put a tablespoon of the dried fruit in a glass and add hot water and a slice or two of lemon. Sipping on this throughout the day can also provide many healthy benefits.

健康问题：白天没精神，早上睡不醒 解决办法：枸杞

在中国无论走到哪儿，百货店、药店、或者是街道上，甚至在菜市场和茶叶店，你都可以买到大袋或桶装的枸杞。

中国人食用枸杞历史已久，公元前200年左右，人们就发现枸杞对身体健康有着诸多好处，而将其作为一种药食同源的保健佳品。中医认为，吃枸杞可以养心血、健肠胃。据说四分之一杯干枸杞中维生素A的含量，大约是医生建议每天摄入量的150%，枸杞富含铜、硒、维生素B，还含有一定量的维生素C、铁、钾和锌。除此之外，四分之一杯的干枸杞中还含有9克蛋白质、6克纤维素和丰富的抗氧化物。

这些丰富的营养成分能够给你补充足够能量，每天精力饱满。你所需要做的，只是煮粥时抓一把枸杞放进锅里。中国很多商店都卖一些有益健康的早餐粉。这些早餐粉以坚果、植物种子、谷物为主要原料制成，很多原料里都包含枸杞，只要用热水一冲，就是一杯很好的早餐饮料。

枸杞可以和很多食材一起搭配，最简单的是和葡萄干或者其它一些干果搭配食用。不过很多中国人喜欢将一汤匙干果放进杯子，加入开水，再放进一、两片柠檬，泡一杯果茶。每天喝一杯这样的果茶，对健康也很有好处。

健康问题：冬季缺少阳光，情绪抑郁 解决办法：甘草

甘草是另外一种常用药，在超市和药房里都能买到。甘草可以清除人体内的毒素，还具有抗病毒、抗菌和抗炎的功效。和黄芪类似，甘草也常用于治疗伤风和流感，并且可以全面促进人体免疫系统的功能。

医学家认为，甘草具有类似肾上腺素的作用，并且可以促进用于脾胃疾病的康复。现在人们越来越清楚地认识到，人的脾胃健康和情绪之间存在密切联系，另外，甘草的益肾作用又可以缓解疲劳，两相结合，也许就是甘草能够抗抑郁的原因。如果你发现自己在冬天的几个月里因为缺少阳光而心情郁闷，可以泡一杯甘草茶。

The problem: Lack of sunlight resulting in low mood/seasonal depressive disorder The solution: Licorice root

Licorice root (甘草 , “gan cao”) is another one of those things that can be found not only in grocery stores and pharmacies, but also bought out of a burlap bag in most street side vegetable markets. It’s not hard to see why it’s so widely available.

From a TCM perspective,it is thought to detoxify the body. It is credited with having antiviral, antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties as well. Much like astragalus, it’s sometimes used to fight colds and the flu. But licorice root which contains a surprising side benefits all immune boosting functions.

Licorice root is said to nourish the adrenal glands and help heal the gut. The connection between gut health and mood has gotten a lot of publicity recently. Perhaps this combination of alleviated adrenal fatigue gives licorice root its potent anti-depressant properties. Whatever the reason,if you find yourself down in the dumps due to the lack of sunlight in winter months, consider brewing yourself a cup of licorice root now and then.

It should be noted that licorice root is recommended for intermittent use. For this reason, licorice root is not recommended for those who deal with hypertension or high blood pressure. But if you enjoy average health and you just need a mood boost, this root may be a low cost solution for you.

T h e p r o b l e m: S l u g g i s h digestion The solution: “Dark” tea from Hunan

What westerners call “black tea,” the Chinese call “red tea”(hong cha). And so now it’s a big confusing to discover a tea that the Chinese call “black tea” ( 黑茶 hei cha). We seem left with no other option but to call this “dark tea.”

But call it whatever you want.Just make sure to try it sometimes during your stay in China. Make a special effort to acquire some of this tea if you have had any stomach or digestive issues. Hei cha is very similar to pu-erh tea.It doesn't look quite as nice as other teas in that it is pressed into disks or bricks and often contains rough looking leaves and bits of twigs and stems. The fermentation process is quite similar. But if you can get a hold of some good-quality hei cha and you split the brick apart, you will find something unique. Hei cha is famous for growing a bit of yellow colored mold inside their tea disks/bricks. When you first hear this, you are probably less likely to want to try this “dark tea.”Think for a moment about where penicillin comes from. That's right, it’s also a mold.

医生建议，甘草最好是阶段性服用，不宜常服。因此，不建议高血压患者在冬天服用甘草。但如果你属于健康人群，只是想改善一下情绪，甘草对你来说也许就是物美价廉的佳品。

健康问题：消化不良 解决办法：湖南黑茶

西方人所说的黑茶，是中国人说的红茶。中国人有自己的黑茶，所以在中国提到红茶和黑茶，可能会让西方人红黑不分。我们现在说的就是中国黑茶。

如果你胃不舒服或者消化不良，尤其适合喝一杯黑茶。黑茶很像普洱茶，有的压成砖状，有的压成饼状。从外观上看，黑茶不像其它茶那样漂亮，茶叶里经常可以看到粗糙的叶片，还会生出一些黄色霉斑，不知道的人可能会以为是茶叶变质。但是稍安勿躁，想一想青霉素是怎么发明出来的，你就不会对黑茶望而却步。

据说黑茶最初发明的时候就是因为茶叶的存放时间过长，于是起了发酵作用。那时候，湖南渠江城正是瘟疫肆虐的时期，死者众多。人们喝了这种看上去发了霉、实则发酵的茶叶后，死于瘟疫的人神奇地减少了。

我本人注意到黑茶，是自己患上消化不良的时候。买黑茶时最好找一位内行的茶叶老板，看一看带有“金花”的茶样。金花就是黄色的霉变，里面含有疗效神奇的保健成分。

健康问题：易患感冒、免疫力低下或者组胺水平过高 解决办法：黄芪

中医认为，黄芪属于根茎类中草药，性温、味甘，有补气健脾等很多功效。按汉字字面来讲，“黄芪”两个字意思是“黄色的药中之长”。如果你住在经常出现空气污染的地方，服用黄芪就会对你的健康极有好处。

黄芪在很多中药方剂里都有使用，常用于治疗伤风、咳嗽和流感。现代西医也认识到，黄芪有抗病毒、抗菌的作用，并且能够减轻炎症症状。我最感兴趣的是，无论中医还是西方自然疗法医生，都认为黄芪还可以用于治疗过敏症。下面这种以黄芪为主的中药制剂，比我吃的其它抗组胺药的效果都更好，这一点让我很是惊奇。如果你正患有“组胺不耐症”，可以去中药店看看，买这种黄芪复合制剂试试。我发现，黄芪抗过敏作用堪称神奇。◆

（编译/孙开元）

A legend about where Hei Cha comes from involves a stash or rotting tea that was finally brewed and drunk by the local inhabitants who were afflicted with some sort of plague. The townspeople were dropping like flies until they brewed and drank what looked like moldy tea. The mold contained immune boosting properties and the townspeople were saved.

Personally, I found dark tea during a period where I was having some digestive problems.Dark tea cannot be found just anywhere but it can be bought all across China. Check larger tea shops or wholesale tea markets. Make sure you find a knowledgeable sales person and ask to see a sample that has the 金花 (jin hua) or “golden flowers.”These “golden flowers” are the bits of yellow mold that carry incredible health properties.

The problem: Susceptibility to colds, weak immune system or high histamine levelsThe solution: Astragalus

Astragalus, or “huang qi ( 黄芪 ),” is considered to be a warming and sweet root that has the potential of nourishing the lung and spleen meridians.The Chinese characters黄芪are roughly translated into “yellow leader.” Astragalus root certainly is a leader when it comes to boosting immune function and strengthening the respiratory system. Thus this herb can be extremely helpful if you live in an area that has a lot of air pollution.

Astragalus is used in many different Chinese herbal remedies for cold, coughing and the flu. In addition, western medicine now recognizes its effectiveness in combating viruses, bacteria and in reducing inflammation. What was most interesting to me was that it is commonly recommended by both Chinese doctors and western natural doctors for allergies as well. I was amazed to find that the brand pictured below was more effective than the commercial antihistamine I was taking for allergies at the time.If you are now struggling with what is being called “histamine intolerance,” you shall have access to a Chinese pharmacy, then give this Astragalus root complex a try.I found it to be almost miraculous.◆