One Health Food Every Woman Must Eat (Public Health Network)
Throughout history, brown sugar has been a premier health tonic for women. In China, it has long been customary for new mothers to consume brown sugar and for women to drink brown sugar water during menstruation to replenish blood. The folk saying "A woman should never go a hundred days without sugar" specifically refers to brown sugar. Professor Jiang Huizhong, a nationally renowned senior TCM practitioner in obstetrics and gynecology at Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, states that brown sugar is an excellent choice for women of all ages.
With its warm nature and sweet taste, brown sugar nourishes qi and blood, strengthens the spleen and stomach, promotes blood circulation, and dissipates blood stasis. It strongly stimulates the body's hematopoietic function.For young women during menstruation, drinking brown sugar water can effectively alleviate abdominal heaviness and discomfort, particularly for menstrual cramps caused by cold exposure or physical weakness. For menopausal women, its potent detoxifying properties help prevent melanin production, resulting in smoother skin and sustained brightening effects.For elderly or frail women, brown sugar disperses blood stasis, promotes bowel movements, and offers excellent tonic effects while delaying aging.
Brown sugar can be boiled directly for drinking or combined with ingredients like red dates, white fungus, goji berries, or ginger. A daily intake of approximately 30 grams is recommended. Due to its higher impurity content, brown sugar may harbor bacteria and should be boiled before consumption. Individuals with yin deficiency and internal heat, or those with diabetes, should avoid it.