Zou Nan, Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Nowadays, people eat a lot of fish and meat every day, and many people are prone to constipation. Eating more fungus can also promote excretion and prevent constipation. Moreover, the climate is dry in spring, and fungus is rich in polysaccharides, which can moisturize, prevent dryness, prevent colds, and also moisturize and whiten skin.

Fungus has the reputation of "the meat of vegetables". It can not only beautify and prolong life, but is also very good for the health of the elderly. It can not only improve immunity, but also be helpful to patients with high blood pressure. Black fungus has the same origin as medicine and food. It can reduce blood viscosity, protect blood vessels, nourish the kidneys, and open blood vessels.

1. "Aspirin" in food

Aspirin is a commonly used drug for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. There is a substance called purine nucleoside in black fungus, which has strong anticoagulant activity, antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic effects. It is very beneficial to the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and is known as the "aspirin in food".

2. The "nemesis" of stones and the "scavenger" of the gastrointestinal tract

Black fungus is rich in cellulose and a special kind of plant collagen, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation. , which is beneficial to the excretion of toxic substances in the stool; it is also beneficial to the resolution of endogenous foreign bodies such as gallstones and kidney stones. For those with first-time cholecystitis and first-time stones, keep eating black fungus 1-2 times a day. Symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting can be relieved within 2-5 days.

3. Lung "vacuum cleaner"

Black fungus is rich in collagen and has strong adsorption effect. It can centrally absorb and excrete dust, impurities, garbage and other pollutants that enter the human body due to breathing, thereby achieving the purpose of cleansing the stomach, nourishing lungs and clearing the lungs; it also has dissolving and oxidizing effects.

4. A good product for beautifying and replenishing blood

Black fungus is rich in protein and has a very high content of vitamin E. It is a good product for whitening skin.

The most important thing is that it has the highest iron content, which is more than 20 times that of spinach and more than 7 times that of pork liver. Therefore, it is an excellent food source for nourishing the skin and blood, and preventing iron deficiency anemia.

How to select black fungus

1. Look for thin leaves and no complete outline

High-quality black fungus is curled and compressed. The leaves are thin and have no complete outline; the adulterated black fungus is swollen, plump, less curled and has a relatively complete edge.

2. Look for firm and tough texture

Good black fungus is firm and tough, not easily crushed; adulterated black fungus is brittle and brittle, so break it gently with your hands. It breaks into pieces and falls off.

3. Look at the color: jet black and uniform color

Good black fungus is jet black and uniform in color; adulterated black fungus is dark gray with white attachments.

4. It tastes umami

High-quality black fungus has a strong umami taste when chewed in the mouth; salty, sweet and astringent tastes are considered inferior products. Some even add substances harmful to the human body.

5. Touch it with your hands, dry and light.

Good black fungus is dry and light; adulterated black fungus is moist and heavy.

6. After soaking in water, it becomes shiny and elastic

After soaking in water, high-quality black fungus will be large, bright, shiny and elastic; adulterated black fungus will not have big bubbles and no elasticity.