蔡妮燕
Many people think that Chinese food is very unhealthy because of too
much oil and MSG; besides, it is usually cooked by stir-frying, and thus
creating a lot of unhealthy fumes and smoke. However, scientists are
discovering that the Chinese diet may be one of the healthiest in the
world.
Grace Young, a recipe developer and American-born Chinese, encourages
others to follow the traditions of Chinese nutrition. She says the
Chinese idea of 「balance in variety」 is the key. A traditional meal not
only uses a variety of ingredients but also balances fried foods with
steamed or boiled dishes. And fish and seafood make up a large part of
the Chinese diet. Fish is important for the health of your brain and
heart. As to meat, in addition to red meat (pork, beef, or lamb) in a
traditional meal, there are also many different kinds of dishes cooked
with poultry (chicken, duck, or goose) in it. Besides, the Chinese diet
includes more fruits and vegetables—which actually help prevent cancer
and heart diseases.
Moreover, the introduction of Chinese Herbs when cooking dishes is one
of the special features of Chinese diet. Whole meals made with
medicinal herbs can do wonders to enhance the health of one』s body. For
example, it can cure many kinds of diseases by decreasing the side
effects of regular medicine. In addition, it can improve your physical
constitution and promote your potential for immunity; thus we can
prevent our body from falling under any kind of illness. On the other
hand, with the advances in living standards, the most important purpose
for modern people to eat is not only to enjoy delicious foods, but also
to preserve their health. That is to say, whole meals made with
medicinal herbs is one of the best choices for modern people because
they are both delicious and nutritious. Besides, more and more
different kinds of meals made with medicinal herbs are emerging. The
establishment of special restaurants for this kind of food promises to
make it even more popular in the modern world.
Scientists say that variety is the key to nutrition, and nutrition must
involve balance. What better way to do that than eating traditional
Chinese meals? It not only preserves our cultural heritage—it may
preserve our life!