What are the seasonal vegetables in December? An introduction to common varieties
In terms of seasons, December has already entered winter, and vegetables at this time are much fewer than in summer. But winter weather is dry, so it is even more important to eat more vegetables and fruit. Many friends choose fresh, in-season vegetables to avoid nutrients being lost from being stored too long. So what are the seasonal vegetables in December?
1. Napa cabbage
Napa cabbage is not only nutritious and delicious, but also easy to store. It is a vegetable that can be "planted in one season and eaten for half a year," and is called the "king of vegetables." Traditional Chinese medicine holds that napa cabbage "frees the stomach and intestines, removes vexation in the chest, and helps digestion and settles qi," and believes that eating napa cabbage regularly can help cleanse the intestines and remove toxins.
2. Sweet potato
Once winter comes, the most popular street snack is none other than hot, fragrant roasted sweet potato. Sweet potato tastes sweet and is rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, carotene, a variety of vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and calcium.
3. Radish
There is a Chinese folk saying: "Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, and you won't need a doctor's prescription." Traditional Chinese medicine holds that in the human body "yang qi is inside, and the stomach is hot and fretful," and sweet-natured radish helps relieve this fretfulness and nourishes the spleen and stomach. In winter the spleen and stomach are easily harmed, so when tonifying the body, it is a good idea to start by eating radish to protect the spleen and stomach.
4. Winter bamboo shoots
When winter bamboo shoots are mentioned, many people shake their heads: "'Eat one meal of bamboo shoots and it scrapes away three days of oil' - there really isn't much to eat." In fact, winter bamboo shoots have high nutritional value, and have long had the reputation of being "golden clothes and white jade, the best of vegetables."
5. Chinese yam
Chinese yam contains many trace elements, and in fairly rich amounts, and has tonic effects, making it an excellent food therapy for recovery after illness. Chinese yam is also rich in vitamins and minerals, and its calorie content is relatively low. Chinese yam can promote the proliferation of T lymphocytes in the body, enhance immune function, and delay cell aging. This also proves that the saying "regular consumption of Chinese yam prolongs life" has a scientific basis.
6. Lotus root
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that raw lotus root is cold in nature and has the effect of clearing heat and relieving fretfulness. After being cooked, it changes from cool to warm, and has the effects of nourishing the stomach and yin, and strengthening the spleen and qi. Lotus root simmered in soup with kidney beans can improve sleep quality, and simmered in soup with pork ribs can strengthen the spleen and open the appetite, making it suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach to nourish and care for their health.
7. Chili pepper
There is a folk saying that "eating spicy food can dispel cold." Chili pepper contains capsaicin, and black pepper contains piperine. Both belong to spicy foods. Eating more of them in winter can not only improve appetite, but also promote blood circulation and improve the body's ability to resist cold.
8. Spinach
Spinach's carotene content is much higher than that of other vegetables. Although its ascorbic acid content is lower than that of chili pepper, it is higher than that of tomato. The vitamin K in spinach, which has a blood-stopping effect, is the highest among leafy vegetables; its rich riboflavin also helps prevent angular cheilitis, cheilitis, glossitis, and dermatitis.
9. Zucchini
When the weather is cold, people tend to overeat. Research from Bastyr University in the United States found that consuming more dietary fiber helps prevent weight gain. Foods rich in dietary fiber, such as zucchini, are relatively low in calories, digest slowly, and keep you full longer, so they can help prevent overeating in winter. Zucchini also contains carotene, which helps fight diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
10. Mustard greens
Winter is also the time to eat mustard greens. According to nutritional theory, mustard greens are very rich in calcium, even more than milk, making them one of the best foods for calcium supplementation. In winter, some middle-aged and elderly people have relatively fragile bones and are prone to fractures, so they can eat more mustard greens to increase the body's absorption of calcium, promote bone growth and development, and reduce the occurrence of fractures.
The above is an introduction to the seasonal vegetables of December. Of course, the seasonal vegetables of December are not limited to the above; there are also tomato, eggplant, Chinese yam, carrot, and so on. Vegetables have very high nutritional value and are also indispensable in our lives. So among the seasonal vegetables of December, which one do you like?
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