Chinese medicinal food

江苏 姚思琪

体裁：说明文 文章词数：366 建议用时：7分钟

Chinese medicinal food is a long standing tradition. Early records show that it was in use as far back as the Han Dynasty.Through continual improvement during succeeding dy⁃nasties,it has developed into a practical science of nutrition.This is not a simple combina⁃tion of food and traditional medicine, but a distinctive cuisine made from food and medici⁃nal ingredients following the theory of Chinese medicine.

There is a wide choice of foods that are used in many different ways to promote health and well⁃being. It is estimated that there are more than 600 different kinds of resources ranging from crops, fruit, vegetables, meats and marine products (海产品). Many of these are unfamiliar to foreigners who may be unwilling to try them; however, all are quite pre⁃cious and effective in the field of medicinal food. Many different ingredients are used to add to the appeal as well as to strengthen the effects of the cuisine. Wine, sugar, oil, salt,vinegar and honey,and other commonly available items such as oranges,or peanuts,are all used in the cooking process.

According to its respective functions, medicinal cuisine is classified under four cat⁃egories: health⁃protection cuisine, prevention cuisine, healing cuisine and therapeutic cui⁃sine.

Health⁃protection cuisine refers to reinforcement (加强)of required nutritional food to maintain organic health.Soup of pumpkin and almond (杏仁)can help lose weight;soup of angelica (白芷) and carp (鲤鱼) can add beauty; and ginseng congee (人参粥) can give more strength.

Prevention cuisine builds resistance to potential ailments. Bean soup is considered helpful as a guard against heat strokes in summer. Lotus seeds, lilies, yam, chestnuts, and pears can assist in the prevention of dryness in autumn and a strengthening of resistance to cold in winter.

Healing cuisine is a medicinal food for recovery after a severe illness.Broiled sheep's heart with rose or mutton with angelica will help to rebuild a healthy body.

Therapeutic cuisine aims at the specific pathology (病理).Fried potatoes with vinegar can adjust the organs and carp soup may help reduce swelling（肿胀）.

Have a try and you will enjoy the delicious food while benefiting a lot from the nour⁃ishment—a really amazing experience!

Reading Check

1.What can we know about Chinese medicinal food?

A.It started in the Tang Dynasty.

B.It hasn't been put into use.

C.It's a simple combination of food.

D.It is based on the theory of Chinese medicine.

2.What can be known about the choice of Chinese medicinal food?

A.Items easy to get usually have less value.

B.There are less than 600 different kinds of resources.

C.Foreigners as well as Chinese are willing to try it.

D.Most food used in daily life can be used in it.

3.Which of the following can be used to help lose weight?

A.Bean soup.

B.Fried potatoes.

C.Soup of pumpkin and almond.

D.Broiled sheep's heart with rose.

4.Who may be the most potential readers?

A.Patients needing first aid.

B.Advertisers wanting to make profits.

C.Students eager to pass the exams.

D.Foreigners interested in Chinese medicine.

Language Study

Useful expressions

different ingredients 不同成分

health⁃protection cuisine 保健类药膳

prevention cuisine 预防类药膳

healing cuisine 康复类药膳

therapeutic cuisine 治疗类药膳