Black rice and celery for blood pressure stabilization: From anthocyanins inhibiting lipid peroxidation to the therapeutic application of apigenin in dilating blood vessels.

Black Rice – A "Longevity Rice" that Can Be Used Both as Medicine and Food. Recommended Daily Serving: 50 grams. Properties and Channels Entered: Neutral in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen, stomach, and lung channels. Blood Pressure Lowering Secrets: Elements that lower blood pressure include anthocyanins, magnesium, potassium, niacin, and vitamin C. Reasons for Lowering Blood Pressure: The black seed coat contains anthocyanins, which can increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum and have a good effect on inhibiting lipid peroxidation in the blood. The magnesium, potassium, niacin, and vitamin C in black rice all help control blood pressure and maintain vascular health. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ Black rice contains 1-3 times more manganese, zinc, copper, and other minerals than japonica rice; it also contains special components lacking in japonica rice, such as vitamin C, chlorophyll, anthocyanins, carotene, and cardiac glycosides, making it more nutritious than ordinary japonica rice. ◎ Eating more black rice can improve appetite, strengthen the spleen and liver, improve eyesight, promote blood circulation, and nourish the kidneys and essence. Dietary Reminders: ◎Uncooked black rice should not be eaten. ◎Black rice is not suitable for those with indigestion or bloating. Recommended Blood Pressure Lowering Nutritional Recipe: Codonopsis, Hawthorn, and Black Rice Porridge Ingredients: 100g black rice, 15g codonopsis slices, 10g hawthorn. Seasoning: A pinch of salt (or white sugar). Instructions: ① Rinse the black rice thoroughly and soak it in cold water for about 3 hours. Drain and set aside. Wash the codonopsis. Wash the hawthorn, remove the pits, and slice. ② Add an appropriate amount of water to a pot, then add the black rice, hawthorn slices, and codonopsis slices. ③ First, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 45 minutes, until the porridge is cooked and soft. Add a pinch of salt or white sugar to taste. Mixed Black Rice Porridge Ingredients: 30g black rice, 70g rice, 20g dried red dates, 15g dried white fungus, 15g soybeans, a pinch of black sesame seeds. Instructions: ① Soak soybeans in warm water for 1 hour, then rinse with clean water; soak white fungus until soft, then remove the tough ends; wash red dates and remove pits. ② Rinse black rice and white rice together in clean water, then soak for about 1 hour, drain; add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 1 hour. ③ Add soybeans, red dates, white fungus, and black sesame seeds, and continue to cook for about 30 minutes. Finally, sprinkle with a little salt or white sugar to taste.

Celery – A Green Guardian for Lowering Blood Pressure and Promoting Digestion. Recommended Daily Intake: 200-400 grams. Properties and Channels Entered: Cool in nature, sweet in taste, enters the liver, stomach, and lung channels. Blood Pressure Lowering Secrets: Elements that lower blood pressure include rutin, apigenin, and acidic components. Reasons for Lowering Blood Pressure: Rutin in celery can increase blood vessel elasticity and reduce capillary permeability, thus lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. The acidic components in celery can dilate blood vessels and counteract the pressor effect caused by nicotine and lobeline, thereby lowering blood pressure. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ Traditional Chinese medicine believes that celery has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. ◎ Celery is very rich in iron, so it also has a blood-tonifying effect; long-term consumption can prevent pale skin and dull complexion. Dietary Reminder: It is not advisable to cut celery before washing it, as this will cause a large loss of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, reducing its nutritional value. Recommended Nutritional Recipes for Lowering Blood Pressure: Stir-fried Celery with Dried Tofu Skin Ingredients: 150g fresh celery, 10g dried shrimp, appropriate amount of dried tofu skin, a little garlic slices and scallions. Seasoning: 2g salt, a little sesame oil. Instructions: ① Soak and wash the dried tofu skin, then cut it into sections; wash and slice the celery; cut the scallions into sections; prepare the remaining ingredients. ② Heat oil in a wok, add dried shrimp and stir-fry until fragrant. Add garlic slices and scallion sections and stir-fry until fragrant, then add celery slices and dried tofu skin sections and stir-fry briefly. ③ Add appropriate amount of salt and stir well to season, then drizzle in a little sesame oil and stir well. Celery, Pork and Egg Soup Ingredients: 100g celery leaves, 80g shredded pork belly, 1 egg (beaten), appropriate amount of chopped scallions and ginger. Instructions: ① Blanch celery leaves in boiling water, then drain. ② Heat oil in a wok, sauté chopped scallions and ginger until fragrant, pour in appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil, then add shredded pork belly and cook until done, skimming off any foam. ③ Add celery leaves, salt, and cooking wine, stir well, bring to a boil again, thicken with cornstarch slurry, then pour in the beaten egg, and finally drizzle with sesame oil.