Detailed Explanation of Rice and Wheat Starch, Meat, and Seafood: How to Choose High-Quality Staple Foods and Protein

Rice and wheat starch

Many foods contain starch, but the starch referred to in Tang Anqi's Cosmic Diet refers specifically to starch made from rice and wheat, namely staple foods such as rice, bread, noodles, and wheat bran. The carbohydrates in rice and wheat starch produce calories, causing blood sugar to rise, which is why "starch-free diets" are common. However, carbohydrates are also an important source of energy for the brain; insufficient intake can impair memory and mental function, affecting health. Therefore, even during weight loss, it's essential to ensure adequate intake of rice and wheat starch, preferably unrefined varieties such as brown rice, red rice, sprouted rice, and whole wheat. I often eat red rice because I like its high fiber content, which promotes intestinal motility and has blood-nourishing and qi-regulating effects, helping to improve cold hands and feet, dizziness, and fatigue.

As for refined starchy foods, such as white rice, rice noodles, and rice rolls, these foods are bleached and dyed, resulting in very low nutritional value and fiber content. Moreover, refined starchy foods are characterized by causing large fluctuations in blood sugar in a short period of time, which can easily lead to a bad mood. Therefore, choosing to eat unrefined rice and wheat starchy foods can make you feel full and happy.

Rice and wheat starches include:

Rice, flour, porridge, whole wheat bread, and biscuits (can only be eaten with high-moisture, high-fiber fruits and vegetables).

meat

Meat is rich in protein and fat. Don't be scared off by the word "fat"; in fact, you need to consume a moderate amount of fat even when you're trying to lose weight, otherwise your skin will become dry and dull. If a woman's skin has no fat supporting it, wrinkles will be particularly noticeable, and she will look much older. In addition, eating meat with skin in moderation is beneficial to the skin, such as chicken legs and pork with skin. However, the premise is that you must choose organic and non-GMO meat, because non-organic poultry and livestock are mostly injected with hormones to promote growth, and the skin contains particularly high levels of toxins. So, if you're going to eat meat, choose organic.

chicken

It is rich in protein that is easily digested and absorbed, which helps with growth and development, enhances physical strength, and is suitable for people with insufficient qi and blood to eat more of.

beef

It is rich in protein and iron, which can invigorate qi and nourish blood, prevent iron-deficiency anemia, and is suitable for people with qi deficiency and blood weakness to eat more of.

pork

It contains high-quality protein, which can meet the needs of human growth and development, and can supplement the essential amino acids that are lacking in legume protein, making it suitable for growing children and adolescents.

mutton

It contains protein, fat, potassium, zinc, and B vitamins, which can promote blood circulation, keep warm, nourish blood and kidneys, eliminate fatigue, and even have a kidney-tonifying effect.

Seafood

Seafood, such as fish, shrimp, crab, clams, mussels, and scallops, is rich in high-quality protein and low in fat, making it ideal for those trying to lose weight. Most importantly, fish oil is rich in Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, beneficial for cardiovascular health and helping to lower cholesterol. However, many people worry about the high cholesterol in seafood. Actually, except for squid and cuttlefish, the cholesterol in other seafood mainly comes from the head and roe. Reducing your intake of these two parts will decrease your cholesterol intake. So, does this mean you can't eat squid at all? No, because squid contains a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids, which can effectively enhance brain function, prevent Alzheimer's disease, and has the effects of replenishing deficiencies and nourishing blood and qi. It has many benefits; just remember, as long as you don't overindulge, there's no problem.

Food and medicine from the same source

Many girls try to lose weight by not eating anything, which ends up ruining their health. Weight loss is definitely not about eating less or eating bland food. My logic for weight loss is that you must eat until you're full, and the food must taste good. This satisfies your cravings, making it easier to stick to the plan. Otherwise, you'll give up after two meals. Furthermore, eating too little slows down your metabolism, leading to weight gain. Therefore, to lose weight healthily, you must understand the importance of nourishing your body and choosing the right dietary methods.

To lose weight, first nourish your body.

There are many weight loss methods on the market, but choosing the wrong one can not only lead to weight loss but also harm your health. Therefore, it's crucial to find the right method for weight loss. I always advise everyone to nourish their body before trying to lose weight. Some friends say that nourishing the body requires eating a lot, but losing weight requires not eating, so how can you nourish your body and lose weight at the same time? Actually, eating nourishing foods doesn't necessarily lead to weight gain; it's eating a lot of nourishing foods that will lead to weight gain.

Some girls, despite eating very little at each meal, still feel bloated, with a swelling that's difficult to distinguish from obesity. This could be due to poor kidney metabolism in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This "fat" isn't caused by fat, but rather by edema caused by slowed kidney function in draining water. In this case, it's important to nourish the kidneys. If your kidney function is already impaired, following a low-fat, low-oil, low-calorie diet based on Western nutrition principles will only worsen your health. At this point, you need to strengthen your kidneys. Once your kidneys are healthy, water metabolism will naturally normalize, reducing swelling and making you appear slimmer. Therefore, nourishing and replenishing the body is more important than simply eating less.

I often say that food and medicine share the same origin, meaning that treating food as medicine is an excellent way to nourish the body. Healthy food therapy can nourish the liver and kidneys, and harmonize the five internal organs. Often, we're afraid of gaining weight and don't eat, but not eating doesn't provide a feeling of fullness. In this case, drinking porridge is a good option, as it's considered nourishing. There's an old Chinese saying, "The elderly who drink porridge live long and blessed lives." I suggest that those who want to be healthy drink porridge regularly. Other common ingredients, such as goji berries, can also nourish the liver and kidneys and improve eyesight. Job's tears, besides being diuretic and reducing swelling, also have skin-whitening effects. As long as you choose the right ingredients to nourish your body, your internal organs will function well, which can not only accelerate weight loss but also strengthen your body, allowing you to lose weight quickly while still feeling full.

White ginseng can strengthen the spleen and replenish vital energy, and may prolong life.

It's not just expensive foods that are beneficial; apples can also lower cholesterol.