Regardless of what you eat or drink, you may find your body often feels uncomfortable—such as dry mouth, chapped lips, constipation or diarrhea, indigestion, or loss of appetite.While we've previously recommended wild greens for spring consumption, today we remind you: don't forget to eat some beans!
Peas—Skin Care
Technically, peas are an autumn crop, but they can be enjoyed year-round. Their skin-nourishing properties stem from Li Shizhen's observation that peas can fade facial dark spots and restore skin radiance.Modern research has confirmed this effect stems from their provitamin A content.
Nutritionally, peas are rich in minerals like copper and chromium, which support bone development and aid in sugar and fat metabolism. Their choline, vitamins, and dietary fiber also benefit cardiovascular health.
Red Beans—Weight Loss & Blood Tonification
Obesity manifests in various forms, including water retention-related weight gain that can be addressed with red beans. Individuals with this type of weight gain often experience shortness of breath, physical weakness, fatigue, lethargy, and poor appetite.
According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, red beans strengthen the spleen and promote diuresis, alleviating edema and spleen deficiency. Consuming them in spring aligns with the health principle of "nourishing the spleen throughout all seasons."
Additionally, red beans are rich in B vitamins, helping prevent springtime issues like beriberi, dry skin, flaking, and mouth ulcers.
Combined with peanuts and longan, red beans form soups like the "Three Reds Soup" or "Four Reds Soup," which tonify qi, nourish blood, and regulate menstruation.
Soybeans — Nourish Yin, Moisten Dryness Depletion of yin fluids in the body leads to dryness and irritability, particularly common in spring due to dry air, spleen-stomach disharmony, and seasonal transitions.
Soybeans, according to traditional Chinese medicine, moisturize dryness and strengthen the spleen. The Compendium of Materia Medica states, "Drinking its boiled juice moistens spleen dryness." Thus, those prone to dry mouth, itchy throat, dry skin, or dry cough in spring may benefit from increased soy milk consumption.
Additionally, compared to directly cooking soybeans, soy milk's protein is more easily absorbed and utilized by the body, preventing indigestion.
Green Beans — Cleansing Intestinal Toxins
Green beans not only fortify the spleen and stomach, improving loose stools, but their high fiber content also alleviates constipation and bowel irregularities.
However, as green beans contain mild toxins, it's best to soak them in salt water for 20 minutes before cooking and ensure they are thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Broad Beans — Strengthen the Spleen and Stomach
In spring, a weak spleen and stomach can lead to spring fatigue, indigestion, and even reduced immunity.
Broad beans, a seasonal spring ingredient, strengthen the spleen, promote diuresis, and alleviate edema.Nutritionally rich in protein, dietary fiber, phospholipids, choline, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, they are particularly high in phosphorus and potassium, offering cardiovascular protection.
However, broad beans contain toxins that are only neutralized through thorough cooking, so caution is essential when preparing them!