Grain Rain marks the final solar term of spring, signifying "rain nourishing all grains." As rainfall increases after this period and air humidity rises, it becomes a peak season for neuralgia. Simultaneously, warmer weather encourages outdoor activities, prompting allergy-prone individuals to guard against hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Dietary adjustments should include reducing high-protein and high-calorie foods while increasing vegetable and fruit intake.Below are some vegetables suitable for Grain Rain wellness.
1. Chinese Toon (Xiangchun)
The period around Grain Rain marks the peak season for Chinese toon. At this time, it boasts a rich aroma, crisp texture, and high nutritional value, earning the saying "pre-rain Chinese toon tender as silk." Chinese toon buds are typically categorized as purple or green, with purple buds being the most prized.Fresh sprouts are rich in sugars, proteins, fats, carotene, and abundant vitamin C. Tung tree offers significant nutritional and medicinal value, with its leaves, sprouts, roots, bark, and fruits all used in traditional medicine. It enhances immunity, aids digestion, regulates qi, stops diarrhea, moisturizes skin, fights bacteria, reduces inflammation, and kills parasites.It should be noted that due to the relatively high nitrate content in fresh toon, it should be blanched in boiling water before cooking and consumption.
It can be used to prepare dishes such as stir-fried toon with eggs, toon with bamboo shoots, toon salad with tofu, steamed toon, fried toon cakes, toon shoots with three-thread salad,salt-and-pepper toon fish, toon chicken breast, toon tofu meat patties, toon preserved egg tofu, toon peanut salad, cold toon salad, pickled toon, and cold toon bud salad.
2. Soybean Sprouts
In spring, people often lack vitamins B2 and C, leading some to develop lip sores and inflamed corners of the mouth, commonly known as "cracked corners." To address this, increase consumption of soybean sprouts. During sprouting, soybeans not only enhance freshness but also boost protein utilization by at least 10% compared to whole beans.Soybean sprouts also contain an interferon inducer that stimulates interferon production, which interferes with viral metabolism. Since people are more susceptible to viral infections like colds in spring, consuming soybean sprouts during this season can enhance the body's resistance to viral infections.
When cooking soybean sprouts, never add alkali; instead, use a small amount of vinegar to preserve vitamin B content. Be mindful of cooking time—sprouts should be heated until just tender.Undercooked sprouts often carry a slight astringency, which vinegar effectively neutralizes while preserving their crispness and freshness. 3. Spinach The Grain Rain solar term signals spring's waning days. Following traditional Chinese medicine's principle of "nourishing the liver in spring," this is the optimal time to regulate liver blood. Among vegetables, spinach is most suitable for liver nourishment.TCM classifies spinach as sweet and cool in nature, entering the Intestine and Stomach meridians. It replenishes blood, stops bleeding, benefits the five organs, promotes blood circulation, quenches thirst, moistens the intestines, nourishes yin, calms the liver, aids digestion, and clears intestinal heat toxins. It is particularly effective as an adjunct treatment for liver qi stagnation complicated by stomach disorders. It also effectively addresses springtime conditions like hypertension, headaches, dizziness, and anemia caused by insufficient liver yin.
It can be frequently used in soups, cold salads, stir-fries, combined with meat dishes, or as a garnish. The best quality spinach features deep green coloration, red roots, no water spots, tender stems and leaves, no flowering stalks, and no yellowed or rotten leaves.Common recipes include chicken wing and daylily spinach soup, pork liver and goji berry spinach soup, spinach pork liver fried rice, and spinach congee.Their distinctive pungent flavor stems from sulfur compounds, which possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immunity. Key nutrients include vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, carotene, carbohydrates, and minerals.They are also rich in dietary fiber, containing 1.5 grams per 100 grams—higher than green onions and celery. This fiber promotes intestinal motility, helps prevent colorectal cancer, and reduces cholesterol absorption, thereby aiding in the prevention and treatment of conditions like atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
Though beneficial, leeks should be consumed in moderation. The Compendium of Materia Medica notes: "Excessive leek consumption causes mental confusion and blurred vision, especially after alcohol." Modern medicine advises against consumption for those with yang hyperactivity or heat-related conditions. Leeks' coarse fiber is difficult to digest, so large quantities may irritate intestinal walls and cause diarrhea.
5. Goji Buds
Goji buds are the tender stems and leaves harvested from goji bushes in early spring. Rich in vitamin C, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid, they possess a bitter taste and cooling nature. They are valued for replenishing vitality, nourishing essence, clearing heat, quenching thirst, dispelling wind, and improving vision.These tender shoots are not only nutrient-rich but also possess kidney-tonifying and liver-nourishing properties, making them a prized medicinal vegetable.Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica from the Ming Dynasty states: "In spring, harvest goji leaves, known as 'heavenly essence grass'; in summer, harvest flowers, known as 'immortality grass'; in autumn, harvest berries, known as 'goji berries'; in winter, harvest roots, known as 'earth bone bark.'" Consuming goji buds is essentially savoring spring itself—chewing the essence of spring between your teeth, leaving a lingering fragrance in your mouth.
Ancient medical texts highly praised the nourishing properties of goji buds. The Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Substances noted they "replenish deficiencies in essence, improve complexion, whiten skin, brighten eyesight, and calm the spirit." The Materia Medica for Dietary Therapy also stated they "strengthen tendons, resist aging, and fortify bones and sinews," all indicating their role in delaying senescence.
6. Water Celery
Water celery tastes sweet and bitter, with a cool nature and no toxicity. It enters the lung, stomach, and liver meridians. It has the effects of calming the liver and clearing heat, dispelling wind and draining dampness, relieving irritability and reducing swelling, cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, detoxifying and promoting lung function, strengthening the stomach and improving blood circulation, clearing the intestines and promoting bowel movements, moistening the lungs and stopping cough, lowering blood pressure, and invigorating the brain and calming the mind.Spring dryness often leads to irritability. An alkaloid isolated from celery seeds exhibits sedative effects in animals and calming properties in humans, helping stabilize emotions and alleviate restlessness.
Wild celery closely resembles water celery, but while water celery is edible, wild celery (also known as water crowfoot or water violet) is toxic and inedible. Wild celery typically grows in damp areas, with leaves resembling celery leaves. The entire plant is poisonous, with toxicity peaking in late autumn and early spring, particularly in the rhizomes and flowers.
7. Purslane
Purslane contains various nutrients including protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C. It is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, and riboflavin, as well as minerals like calcium and iron. Its omega-3 fatty acid content ranks highest among green leafy vegetables.Purslane can be eaten raw or cooked; its tender stems can be prepared like spinach. However, pregnant women should avoid consuming purslane. Purslane has a slippery nature and may induce miscarriage.Additionally, cold-tossed purslane salad boasts high nutritional and medicinal value, earning it the title of "natural antibiotic." Purslane porridge provides excellent nourishment for the body, effectively improving skin tone and imparting a healthy glow.