Shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, chestnuts, and almonds: A nutritional guide to fungi, algae, and nuts for home care of patients with hyperlipidemia.

Shiitake Mushrooms – “Queen of Plants” Daily Recommended Intake: 20g Calories (100g): 26 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 1.4 mg Other Names: Winter Mushroom, Chrysanthemum Mushroom Properties and Channels: Neutral to slightly cool in nature, sweet in taste, enters the liver and stomach channels. Lipid-Lowering Secrets Lipid-Lowering Elements: Amino acids, dietary fiber, purines, choline, oxidases, etc. Lipid-Lowering Rationale: The lipid-lowering elements in shiitake mushrooms can dissolve and excrete excess cholesterol in the body, preventing arteriosclerosis. Efficacy Analysis ◎ The protein in shiitake mushrooms contains 7 of the 8 essential amino acids for the human body, and regular consumption can improve human immunity. ◎ The cap of shiitake mushrooms contains ribonucleic acid. After this nutrient is absorbed by the human body, it produces interferon with anti-cancer effects, which can prevent the occurrence of cancer. Dietary Therapy Reminder Shiitake mushrooms exposed to the sun can produce vitamin D, which can promote the absorption of calcium in the human body and help stabilize blood lipids. The principle of pairing these two foods is that they can lower blood pressure and lipids, and promote the production of body fluids and moisturize dryness: Shiitake mushrooms + tofu: Eating them together has a more significant effect on lowering blood lipids and blood pressure; Shiitake mushrooms + papaya: Eating them together can nourish blood and promote sperm production, making them very suitable for postpartum women; Shiitake mushrooms + pig's trotters: Recommended nutritious recipe: Spinach and Mushroom Porridge. Ingredients: 65g brown rice, 25g each of spinach and enoki mushrooms, 3 fresh shiitake mushrooms, a little chopped green onion. Seasonings: Salt to taste, a little white pepper powder and sesame oil. Instructions: ① Wash the brown rice and soak it in water for 4 hours; wash the spinach, blanch it, and cut it into sections; wash the enoki mushrooms; wash the fresh shiitake mushrooms and slice them. ② Heat oil in a pan, sauté the sliced ​​shiitake mushrooms until fragrant, add water and bring to a boil, then add the brown rice and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, add the enoki mushrooms and cook for 35 minutes, then add salt to taste. ③ Before turning off the heat, add the spinach sections, white pepper powder, and sesame oil to taste, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onion. Bamboo Shoot and Mushroom Congee Ingredients: 100g rice, 50g fresh bamboo shoots, 25g shredded fresh shiitake mushrooms, chopped scallions (to taste). Seasoning: Salt (to taste). Instructions: ① Rinse the rice and soak in water for 1 hour; wash the bamboo shoots, cut into diagonal sections, blanch briefly, and drain. ② Place a pot on the stove, add enough water and rice, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. ③ Add the bamboo shoot sections, shredded fresh shiitake mushrooms, chopped scallions, and salt, and cook for another 8 minutes. Tips: Fresh bamboo shoots should not be eaten in large quantities; it is best not to exceed half a shoot per person per meal.

Laver – A Guardian of Human Health Daily Recommended Intake: 15g Calories (100g): 250 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 710.5 mg Other Names: Laver, Seaweed, Sweet Laver, Nori Properties and Channels: Cold in nature, sweet and salty in taste, enters the lung and kidney channels. Lipid-Lowering Secrets: Lipid-lowering elements include dietary polysaccharides, taurine, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), etc. Lipid-Lowering Principles: The lipid-lowering elements in laver can reduce serum cholesterol levels, lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ Laver is rich in calcium and iron, which can replenish blood and promote bone and teeth growth in children, making it a health food for those with anemia or calcium deficiency. ◎ The nutrients in laver have a certain inhibitory effect on tumors, and regular consumption can help prevent breast cancer and thyroid cancer. Dietary Reminder: Avoid eating laver that turns bluish-purple after soaking in cold water, as it contains substances harmful to the human body. The following combinations have auxiliary therapeutic effects on endemic goiter and night blindness: Seaweed + Kelp: Seaweed clears heat and promotes diuresis, while honey lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movements; the combination can improve hemorrhoids. Seaweed + Honey: Eating them together supplements calcium and iodine, which is beneficial for patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Seaweed + Dried Shrimp: Lowers blood lipids. Recommended Nutritional Recipe: Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup Ingredients: 1 egg, appropriate amounts of seaweed, dried shrimp, rapeseed leaves, and chopped green onions. Seasoning: A little salt. Instructions: ① Crack the egg into a bowl and beat it; tear the seaweed into pieces and put it in the bowl; soak the dried shrimp in warm water until soft. ② Heat oil in a pan, sauté the chopped green onions until fragrant, then pour in an appropriate amount of water, then add the dried shrimp and simmer over low heat. ③ Add salt, then add the rapeseed leaves, pour in the beaten egg, and cook over high heat until the egg flowers float to the surface. ④ Finally, pour into the bowl of seaweed and stir well. Ingredients for Delicious Seaweed Soup: 50g each of dried seaweed, bamboo shoots, fresh shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and dried tofu; a suitable amount of ginger. Seasonings: a little salt, MSG, sesame oil, and dark soy sauce. Instructions: ① Break the seaweed into pieces; remove the stems from the shiitake mushrooms, wash and shred them; wash and shred the dried tofu; peel and wash the bamboo shoots, blanch them in boiling water until cooked, remove and shred them; wash the bok choy; wash and mince the ginger. ② Heat oil in a pot, add the shredded tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots and stir-fry briefly. Then add an appropriate amount of water and seaweed pieces. After boiling, add minced ginger, salt, dark soy sauce, and MSG to taste. After boiling again, drizzle in sesame oil for seasoning. Finally, add the bok choy and cook briefly.

Chestnuts – “King of Dried Fruits” Daily Recommended Intake: 60g Calories (100g): 189 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 13.9 mg Other Names: Chestnut, Large Chestnut Properties and Channels: Warm in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen, stomach, and kidney channels. Lipid-Lowering Secrets: Lipid-lowering elements: Unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals. Lipid-Lowering Principles: The lipid-lowering elements in chestnuts can remove excess cholesterol from the body, prevent vascular oxidation, and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ Chestnuts contain nutrients such as protein, fat, and vitamins, which can assist in the treatment of hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, and other diseases, benefiting human health. ◎ Chestnuts are rich in vitamin C, which can maintain the normal function of teeth, bones, blood vessels, and muscles, and can prevent and improve symptoms such as muscle and bone pain and fatigue, making them a health food that delays aging. Dietary Reminder: Raw chestnuts are difficult to digest, so it is best not to eat them raw; while eating too many cooked chestnuts can easily cause bloating, so it is not advisable to eat too many at once. The principle of pairing these two foods is that they have the effects of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening muscles, nourishing the stomach and brain: Chestnuts + Red Dates: Eating them together can strengthen the spleen and promote the absorption of nutrients in chicken; Chestnuts + Chicken: Eating them together can effectively eliminate dark circles and facial blemishes; Chestnuts + Cabbage: Lowering blood lipids. Recommended nutritious recipe: Chicken Wings and Chestnut Stew Ingredients: 300g chicken wings, 50g chestnuts, 20g red bell pepper, 30g scallions. Seasonings: Salt and MSG to taste. Instructions: ① Wash the chicken wings, blanch them in boiling water, remove and drain; peel the chestnuts, wash and soak them; remove the stems and seeds from the red bell pepper, wash and slice; wash the scallions and cut them into sections. ② Place a pot on the stove, add an appropriate amount of water, chicken wings and chestnuts, bring to a boil over high heat, then add the red bell pepper slices and scallion sections and simmer for 50 minutes until cooked through. ③ Before serving, add an appropriate amount of salt and MSG to taste. Mixed Chestnut Stew Ingredients: 300g chestnuts, 100g winter bamboo shoots, 20g each of enoki mushrooms, tomatoes, and soaked black fungus, a little garlic slices and ginger slices. Seasonings: A. A little salt, MSG, and white sugar, 300ml clear broth, appropriate amount of dark soy sauce; B. Appropriate amount of cornstarch. Instructions: ① Boil chestnuts until cooked and peel them; wash tomatoes and winter bamboo shoots and cut them into chunks; wash enoki mushrooms and cut them into sections; wash black fungus and slice it. ② Blanch the winter bamboo shoot chunks, enoki mushroom sections, and black fungus slices separately in boiling water. ③ Heat oil in a wok, sauté garlic slices and ginger slices until fragrant, add winter bamboo shoot chunks, enoki mushroom sections, black fungus slices, and clear broth, add seasonings A and simmer for a while, then add chestnuts and tomato chunks and simmer for a few more minutes. Thicken with cornstarch slurry.

Almonds – The "Longevity Fruit" Recommended Daily Intake: 10g Calories (100g): 578 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 8.3 mg Other Names: Bitter Almond, Northern Almond, Apricot Kernel, Apricot Properties and Channels: Slightly warm in nature, bitter in taste, enters the Lung and Large Intestine channels. Lipid-Lowering Secrets: Lipid-lowering elements: Flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, dietary fiber, etc. Lipid-Lowering Rationale: The lipid-lowering elements in almonds can purify the blood, reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, thereby achieving the purpose of lowering lipids. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ Relieves cough and asthma, moisturizes the intestines and nourishes the lungs. ◎ Promotes skin microcirculation. ◎ Lowers blood pressure. Dietary Reminder: Bitter almonds should not be eaten in large quantities, otherwise it is easy to cause poisoning. Postpartum women, infants, and diabetic patients should not consume them. Pairing Principles: Almonds and milk together can moisturize and beautify the skin; almonds and soy milk together can have a lung-moistening effect; almonds and pork lung together can lower blood lipids. Recommended Nutritional Recipe: Almond and Rice Porridge Ingredients: 50g rice, 45g Job's tears, 20g almonds. Seasoning: Rock sugar to taste. Instructions: ① Rinse the rice and Job's tears separately; wash the almonds. ② Place a pot on the stove, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the Job's tears and rice. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 25 minutes. ③ Add the almonds and cook for about 25 minutes. ④ Finally, add rock sugar and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Tips: When buying almonds, it is recommended to press them with your fingernail; the harder ones are better. If your fingernail can be pressed into the almond, it means it has become damp and should be avoided. Sweet Almond Rice Porridge Ingredients: 100g rice, 25g sweet almonds. Seasoning: Rock sugar to taste. Instructions: ① Rinse the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 1 hour; wash the sweet almonds, peel them, and crush them. ② Place a pot on the stove, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the rice. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the sweet almonds. Bring to a boil again, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the porridge is cooked. Finally, add rock sugar before serving. Tips: Choose almonds that are uniform in size, not oily, and large.