Men's Health: Replenishing Qi and Strengthening Yang with Dietary Therapy: Preparation and Efficacy

A Delicious Dish for Strengthening Qi and Aphrodisiacs

Steamed Beef with Rice Flour

Ingredients and Benefits: Beef is not only delicious and loved by everyone, but it is also highly nutritious. Every 500 grams of lean beef contains 100 grams of protein, twice that of pork, low in fat and cholesterol, high in vitamins, and contains all 12 essential amino acids. Therefore, it is very suitable for obese people, diabetics, and those with arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or coronary heart disease. Beef can be used to make hundreds of delicious dishes. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that yellow beef and water buffalo meat are nourishing and strengthening tonics. Regular consumption of beef can make people strong and healthy, and is especially beneficial for those who are weak. Yellow beef is warm in nature, while water buffalo meat is neutral in nature, both having the effects of replenishing qi and blood, strengthening the spleen and stomach, strengthening muscles and bones, and promoting diuresis and reducing swelling.

Ingredients: 500g beef shank (loaf), 250g fried rice noodles, 50g brown sugar; 1 piece of ginger, a little scallion, appropriate amount of chili powder, 5g Sichuan peppercorn powder, a little salt, appropriate amount of soy sauce, 150g butter, 50g sesame oil, 1 small cup fermented bean curd juice, a small pinch of cilantro.

Preparation Method: First, mix the fried rice noodles and Sichuan peppercorn powder together. Then, slice the beef shank thinly. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, rice wine, salt, fermented bean curd juice, and brown sugar. Add the beef slices and gently rub them in with your hands until they fully absorb the seasonings. Then, repeatedly coat each slice of beef with the mixed fried rice noodles and Sichuan peppercorn powder until fully coated. Prepare a steamer basket and arrange the coated beef slices in the basket, without pressing them down. Bring water to a boil in a pot. Place a steamer basket inside and pour a small bowl of cold water evenly over the sliced ​​beef. Cook over high heat for 20 minutes, or until the beef is cooked through. Remove the steamer basket, invert the beef slices onto a plate, drizzle with sesame oil, and then sprinkle finely chopped ginger, scallions, and cilantro, along with chili powder, over the beef slices.

Dosage: Once a day, continuous use is recommended.

Efficacy: Replenishes Qi, strengthens the spleen and stomach, increases appetite. Suitable for those with poor digestion, loss of appetite, and weak constitution. Elderly individuals, those with arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, vascular embolism, heart disease, and stroke should pay attention to dosage. Use less rather than more, and cook until tender rather than tough. Drink more soup and eat less meat.

Walnut Rose Balls

Ingredient Uses: Walnuts, also known as Persian walnuts or Qiang walnuts, have long been considered a nourishing and strengthening agent in Traditional Chinese Medicine. They are warm in nature and have effects such as strengthening the kidneys, replenishing blood, moistening the lungs, and benefiting the stomach. According to clinical experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, walnuts are effective for symptoms such as kidney deficiency and lower back pain, chronic cough due to lung deficiency, asthma, constipation, and weakness after illness. The oil extracted from walnut kernels is delicious and fragrant, a high-grade edible oil, best consumed by those with neurasthenia, physical weakness, the elderly, and patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension. This oil can also be used as a mild laxative and to expel tapeworms; it is also effective externally for skin diseases such as frostbite, rashes, and bromhidrosis.

Ingredients: 30g minced walnuts, 30g red dates, 25g minced plums, 25g candied orange peel, 10g minced melon seeds, 25g minced candied lotus seeds, 50g minced pork lard, appropriate amount of rose jam, 4 egg whites, 75g white sugar, 65g cornstarch.

Preparation Method: Wash the red dates with water, remove the skin and pits, and chop them finely. Place the nut mixture in a container, add the minced pork lard (skin and strings removed), 50g white sugar, and rose jam, mix well, sprinkle with 15g cornstarch, and shape into balls (10-12 balls). Place in a bowl and set aside. Crack the egg whites into a shallow soup bowl and beat with square-tipped chopsticks until fine, thick foam forms; the chopsticks should stand upright when inserted in the center. Add about 50g cornstarch and mix well. Then add rice water (or red rice water) and mix to turn the color red. Heat 1.5 kg of clear oil in a wok over high heat until it reaches 30% of its maximum temperature. Dip the mixed fruit balls into the egg white batter, coating them evenly. Then, pinch your fingers together, lift the balls with batter, and drop them into the oil. Stir with chopsticks until a crust forms and the balls plump up. Remove them from the oil (remove the best ones first). Heat the oil to 60% of its maximum temperature, then add the mixed fruit balls back in. Fry them with a slotted spoon until light yellow. Remove them, arrange them on a plate, and sprinkle with white sugar before serving.

**Serving Suggestion:** A delicious dish. Can be consumed continuously if possible.

**Efficacy:** Nourishes qi and blood, moistens dryness and resolves phlegm. Suitable for those with weak constitutions, suitable for all ages; a high-grade tonic.

**Steamed Turtle**

**Ingredients and Uses:** Turtle, also known as soft-shelled turtle, is a valuable tonic with delicious meat. Turtle meat is rich in protein, and also contains fat, fibrous substances, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins A, B1, and B2. It is easily digested and absorbed, and has a high calorie content, promoting blood circulation.

Turtle is highly valued in medicine, as the entire turtle can be used medicinally. The carapace, known as "turtle shell," is divided into raw and processed varieties; the glue made from turtle shell is called "turtle shell glue." Turtle meat, head, and blood can all be used to treat illnesses.

Turtle shell is cold in nature and contains animal glue, keratin, protein, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. It has the effects of nourishing yin, clearing heat, dispersing nodules, eliminating lumps, benefiting the kidneys, and strengthening bones. It can also disperse blood stasis, regulate menstruation, reduce spleen swelling, and treat tuberculosis. Turtle shell is effective in clearing heat and dampness, thus it is beneficial for treating hepatosplenomegaly, amenorrhea, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Turtle shell is also a type of medicinal material, which can reduce swelling. Turtle shell glue nourishes the kidneys and yin, suitable for kidney deficiency, weakness, dizziness, and seminal emission. Turtle meat nourishes yin and cools the blood, strengthens the kidneys and bones, and can treat weakness, pulmonary tuberculosis, and hepatosplenomegaly. Turtle head can treat rectal prolapse and uterine prolapse in children; turtle blood is a yin-nourishing and fever-reducing medicine, suitable for patients with low-grade fever due to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that turtle's properties are yin-nourishing, making it suitable only for patients with yin deficiency. It should not be consumed for extended periods or in large quantities at once, as excessive consumption can damage the stomach and cause indigestion. It is not suitable for those with poor appetite, poor digestion, pregnant women, postpartum diarrhea, or insomnia.

Ingredients: One soft-shelled turtle, a large piece of pork caul fat, salt to taste, three slices of ginger, 150g of fresh bamboo shoots, a pinch of pepper, five scallions, and a large bowl of chicken and ham broth.

Preparation Method: Clean the soft-shelled turtle. Remove the head and intestines, leaving only the eggs inside. Rinse thoroughly until completely clean. Wrap the turtle in pork caul fat and place it in the chicken and ham broth. Cut the scallions into diamond-shaped pieces and add them to the broth along with the ginger slices, bamboo shoot slices, pepper, and salt. Place the bowl containing the turtle in a steamer and steam over high heat for one hour, or until the turtle is fully cooked.

Dosage: Suitable for patients with liver disease to take continuously. Suitable for those with weak constitutions to take regularly. However, it should never be eaten with amaranth.

Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and cools the blood, tonifies the liver and kidneys, and strengthens bones. It is suitable for those suffering from physical weakness, tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, kidney deficiency, general weakness, dizziness, and seminal emission.