Dietary recommendations and restrictions based on syndrome differentiation, food selection based on syndrome type, and special medicinal diet plans for male menopausal syndrome

Dietary therapy for male menopausal syndrome commonly uses walnut porridge, yam and milk meat soup, walnut paste soup with rice wine, poria cocos cake, ginseng and jujube rice, mulberry honey paste, candied longan, and roasted lamb heart with rose petals to treat symptoms such as headache, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, cold hands and feet, and numbness in the limbs, with good results. In short, a balanced diet is the principle to follow in men's menopause diet, and attention should be paid to the diversity of food in three meals a day. To ensure an adequate supply of inorganic salts, various vitamins, and trace elements, attention should be paid to choosing foods such as whole grains, tubers, dairy products, eggs, lean meats, and seafood, especially fresh vegetables and fruits, which are essential natural health foods to eat every day. In addition, an optimistic mood, a cheerful state of mind, a warm and comfortable environment, and moderate exercise are all beneficial in alleviating the adverse reactions of menopause.

Male menopause syndrome refers to a series of clinical symptoms caused by the gradual decline of gonadal function in men aged 50-60. Clinically, it is generally classified into four types: liver and kidney yin deficiency, spleen and kidney yang deficiency, heart qi deficiency, and liver qi stagnation. Dietary recommendations should be based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment. Those with liver and kidney yin deficiency often experience symptoms after age 50, including lower back pain and weak legs, dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, memory decline, irritability, hot flashes in the palms, soles, and chest, dry mouth, easy erection followed by premature ejaculation, decreasing semen production, a thin, red tongue with little coating, and a rapid, thready pulse. At this time, it is advisable to eat foods that nourish yin and reduce fire, and avoid spicy, pungent, hot, and yang-boosting foods that damage yin and deplete fluids. Those with spleen and kidney yang deficiency are often obese, fatigued, averse to cold, cold limbs, poor appetite, loose stools, frequent urination with clear urine, frequent urination at night, decreased libido, thin and watery semen, pale and swollen tongue with a thin white coating, and a weak and feeble pulse. In this case, it is advisable to consume warm foods that nourish the vital energy, or foods that strengthen the spleen and warm the kidneys. Avoid all raw, cold, and cooling foods that damage spleen yang, or foods that deplete qi and are greasy. Those with heart qi deficiency are timid and easily startled, especially during intercourse, and experience decreased libido, accompanied by impotence and premature ejaculation. They are suspicious, restless, have many dreams at night, often feel sad and want to cry, and cannot control themselves. They have a pale red tongue and a weak pulse. In this case, it is advisable to consume foods that nourish the heart and calm the mind, replenish qi and blood, and avoid raw, cold, yang-damaging, spicy, stimulating, and qi-depleting foods. Those with liver qi stagnation may experience depression, melancholy, irritability, anxiety, chest and rib distension, migratory pain, frequent sighing, belching, poor appetite, reduced food intake, decreased libido, or prolonged lack of libido. Their tongue coating is thin and white, and their pulse is wiry and thready. In this case, it is advisable to eat foods that regulate qi, soothe the liver, relieve depression, and strengthen the spleen, while avoiding raw, cold, greasy, and sticky foods.

Foods to Avoid: ① When men experience symptoms of liver and kidney yin deficiency, or even yin deficiency with excessive fire, during male menopause, they should avoid chili peppers, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, onions, cardamom, roasted peanuts, roasted soybeans, popcorn, dog meat, mutton, ginseng, fennel, longan pulp, lychee, cistanche, cynomorium, and tobacco and alcohol. ② When men experience symptoms of spleen and kidney yang deficiency during male menopause, they should avoid persimmons, dried persimmons, water chestnuts, watermelon, cucumber, winter melon, raw radishes, raw lotus root, water shield, bamboo shoots, black fungus, kelp, tofu, cucumbers, pears, apples, strawberries, celery, chrysanthemum leaves, snails, river snails, crabs, ducks, soft-shelled turtles, duck eggs, preserved eggs, purslane, wolfberry leaves, honeysuckle, white chrysanthemum, mint, malva nut, American ginseng, and various cold drinks. ③ When men experience symptoms of heart qi deficiency during menopause, they should avoid eating water chestnuts, radishes, areca nuts, hawthorns, kumquats, persimmons, iced drinks, garlic, coriander, mustard greens, onions, toon sprouts, Sichuan peppercorns, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, and tobacco and alcohol. ④ When men experience symptoms of liver qi stagnation during menopause, they should avoid eating various cold foods and drinks, glutinous rice cakes, fatty meat, sticky rice, maltose, honey, dates, longan pulp, ginseng, astragalus, and polygonatum.

Food choices: (1) Food choices for those with liver and kidney yin deficiency: Mulberry: cold in nature and sweet in taste, it has the effects of nourishing the liver, benefiting the kidney, nourishing yin, and improving eyesight. Traditional Chinese medicine often uses it to treat dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, dry mouth, and thirst caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency. Yam: neutral in nature and sweet in taste, it has the effects of nourishing the kidney, tonifying the lung, strengthening the spleen, and benefiting essence. It is most suitable for symptoms of kidney yin deficiency such as soreness in the waist and legs, dizziness, tinnitus, easy erection but easy impotence, and decreasing semen in menopausal women. Black sesame: neutral in nature and sweet in taste, it nourishes the liver and kidney, moistens the five internal organs, and has the effects of strengthening the body, anti-aging, blackening hair, and strengthening tendons and bones. Goji berries: neutral in nature and sweet in taste, it has the effects of nourishing kidney yin, replenishing liver blood, and improving eyesight. Polygonum multiflorum: nourishes the kidney, benefits essence and blood, and anti-aging. It has the effect of dietary conditioning for symptoms of liver and kidney yin deficiency. Sea cucumber: it has the effects of nourishing the kidney and benefiting essence, nourishing blood and moisturizing dryness. Cuttlefish: It is neutral in nature and salty in taste. It can nourish yin and blood. It has the effects of "nourishing blood and yin" and "strengthening qi and will" for men experiencing memory loss and reduced semen during menopause. Clam meat: It is cold in nature and sweet and salty in taste. It can not only nourish yin and clear heat, but also nourish the liver and improve eyesight. It is especially suitable for those with yin deficiency and fire excess. (2) Food choices for those with spleen and kidney yang deficiency: Lamb: It has two effects: one is to benefit kidney qi and warm kidney yang; the other is to warm the spleen and stomach and replenish the middle qi. Dog meat: It is warm in nature and salty in taste. It can replenish the middle qi, warm the kidney and assist yang. Chestnut: It is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It can strengthen the spleen and stomach and also strengthen the kidney and muscles. Cinnamon: It is hot in nature and sweet and spicy in taste. It has the effects of warming the spleen and stomach and promoting blood circulation. Ginseng: It is warm in nature and sweet and slightly bitter in taste. It has the effect of tonifying qi, blood, and yang deficiency. Placenta: It is warm in nature and sweet and salty in taste. It has remarkable effects in replenishing qi and blood, nourishing the kidneys and replenishing essence, and strengthening the body. Cordyceps: It is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It has the effects of replenishing deficiency and benefiting essence and qi. (3) Food choices for those with weak heart qi: Wheat: It is cool in nature and sweet in taste. It enters the heart, kidney and spleen meridians. It has the effects of nourishing the heart and calming the mind, and nourishing the spleen and benefiting the kidneys. Jujube: It can nourish the heart qi, benefit qi and blood, and calm the mind. Arborvitae seed: It is neutral in nature and sweet in taste. It has the effects of nourishing the heart and calming the mind. Lotus seed: It is neutral in nature and sweet and astringent in taste. It can nourish the heart, benefit the kidneys and nourish the spleen. Longan pulp: It is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It can benefit the heart and spleen, replenish qi and blood, and calm the mind. Sour jujube seed: It is the most commonly used Chinese medicine for calming the mind and soothing the mind. (4) Food choices for those with liver qi stagnation: Daylily: It has the effects of widening the chest and diaphragm and relieving worries. Buddha's hand: It has the effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm and soothing the liver. Kumquat: It regulates qi, relieves depression and resolves phlegm. Areca nut: It has the effects of regulating qi and eliminating stagnation. Traditional Chinese medicine considers it to be a powerful medicine for regulating qi, relieving abdominal distension, and eliminating bloating.

Menopausal Syndrome Dietary Therapy: Nourishing Yin and Regulating Qi Soup Ingredients: 200g tofu, 80g mutton, 50g fresh shrimp, 2 slices of ginger, salt and MSG to taste. Preparation: Cut the tofu into large slices and the mutton into thin slices. Bring water to a boil in a pot, add the tofu and ginger, and simmer for 10 minutes. Then add the mutton and shrimp, and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and MSG. Serving: Serve with meals. Efficacy: Nourishes Qi, improves blood circulation, and warms Yang. Suitable for Qi and blood deficiency, kidney Yang deficiency; suitable for male menopausal syndrome.

Cistanche and Pork Liver Soup Ingredients: 25g Cistanche deserticola, 100g pork liver, salt and MSG to taste. Preparation: Slice the pork liver. Decoction of Cistanche deserticola in water to obtain 500ml of juice. Add the pork liver slices, salt, and MSG to taste. Dosage: Consume several times consecutively. Efficacy: Nourishes sperm and replenishes blood. Suitable for men with kidney deficiency.

Quail and Radish Soup Ingredients: 3 quails, 200g radish, salt and MSG to taste. Preparation: Kill the quails, remove feathers and internal organs, and slice. Peel and dice the radish. Heat vegetable oil in a pot, add the quail and radish and stir-fry briefly. Add water and simmer until the quail is tender. Season with salt and MSG. Dosage: 1-2 times per week. Benefits: Tonifies kidney qi and strengthens the lower back and knees. Suitable for male menopausal syndrome.

Lamb Kidney and Black Bean Soup Ingredients: 1 pair of lamb kidneys, 100g black beans, 5g fennel seeds, 15g eucommia bark, appropriate amounts of scallions, ginger, salt, MSG, and cooking wine. Preparation: Remove the lamb kidneys and slicing, then simmer with the lamb kidneys, fennel seeds, and eucommia bark for 30 minutes. Season with salt and MSG. Serving: Eat the lamb kidneys and black beans, and drink the soup. Efficacy: Nourishes kidney deficiency and replenishes essence. Suitable for male menopausal syndrome.

Turtle and Pork Spinal Cord Soup Ingredients: 1 turtle, 150g pork spinal cord, salt, MSG, ginger, and cooking wine (all in appropriate amounts). Preparation: Kill the turtle and cut it into pieces; add water to a pot, then add the turtle, pork spinal cord, scallions, ginger, and cooking wine. Simmer until the turtle is tender, then add salt and MSG to taste. Serving: Eat the turtle and pork spinal cord, and drink the soup. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and tonifies the kidneys. Suitable for men with menopausal syndrome and kidney Yin deficiency.

Chicken Stew with Seal Kidney Ingredients: 50g seal kidney (Chinese herbal medicine), 500g chicken, 25g each of Chinese yam and wolfberry, 15g each of eucommia bark and morinda root. Preparation: Slice the seal kidney and soak it in white wine overnight. Then, place it in a porcelain pot with the chicken, Chinese yam, wolfberry, eucommia bark, and morinda root. Add water, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 4 hours. Dosage: Eat the meat and drink the soup twice a day for 28 days. Efficacy: Warms the kidneys, nourishes the liver, strengthens essence, and invigorates yang. Suitable for men experiencing decreased sexual function due to menopausal syndrome.

Stir-fried Pork Kidney with Chestnuts Ingredients: 1 pork kidney, 15 cooked chestnuts, salt and MSG to taste. Preparation: Cut the pork kidney open, remove the glands, wash and score it. Fry in oil heated to 80% (medium heat), add the cooked chestnuts, and stir-fry until the pork kidney is cooked through. Season with salt and MSG. Dosage: 2-3 times per week, 30 days as one course of treatment. Efficacy: Tonifies the middle energizer, strengthens the kidneys and improves overall health. Suitable for men with menopausal syndrome and weak constitution.

Chestnut and Rice Porridge Ingredients: 100g chestnuts, 50g rice, appropriate amount of white sugar or honey. Preparation: Cook chestnuts and rice together into porridge. Add white sugar or honey to taste after the porridge is cooked. Serving: Can be eaten regularly. Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens muscles. Suitable for male menopausal syndrome.

Lamb Bone and Millet Porridge Ingredients: Lamb bones (appropriate amount), 5g dried tangerine peel (without pith), 20g ginger, 2 cardamom pods, 100g millet. Preparation: Crush the lamb bones and simmer them together with the dried tangerine peel, cardamom pods, and ginger. Strain the liquid, then add the millet and simmer into a porridge. Season with salt. Dosage: Can be consumed regularly. Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the body, dispels dampness and cold. Suitable for men with decreased sexual function.