Traditional Chinese medicine doctors recently said that Internet myths claiming that drinking milk at night prevents the human body from detoxifying itself and that ingesting ginger is unhealthy are false.
In traditional Chinese medicine, milk is considered neutral and only slightly leaning toward “cold,” unlike “hot” items such as chicken broiled in sesame oil or stir-fried chicken with garlic, which cause “heat” in the liver to become too intense, resulting in an unquenchable thirst, Chinese Meridians Beauty Institute honorary chairman Wu Ming-chu (吳明珠) said.
Traditional Chinese medicine approaches disease as the body being out of tune, Wu said, adding that prescribed treatments seek to return the body to equilibrium by balancing the “hot” and “cold.”
Milk is nutritious and the casein it contains could help induce sleep, she said, but added that people who are allergic or have experienced diarrhea after consumption should avoid milk.
Milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium, John Tung Foundation nutritionist Yu Hsuan Wen (尤宣文) said, adding that it also helps promote the growth of helpful bacteria in the digestive tract.
Wu said the ginger myth started with a purported ancient saying that consuming ginger in the morning was better than drinking soup made from ginseng, while eating ginger at night was the same as ingesting arsenic.
Ginger is a “hot” consumable in traditional Chinese medicine, she said.
Due to its potential to push the human body’s balance toward the “hot” side, ginger was generally considered unhealthy, Wu said, but added that because of changes to modern diets, with an increase in the daily consumption of cold foods and beverages, the constitution of the human body is different than its ancient counterpart.
The occasional consumption of ginger, which is usually classed as either young, raw or aged, can help drive off the cold, she added.
Aged ginger, which is spicier, can push the body further into the “hot” zone, Wu said, adding that people who often feel cold in their hands and feet would be most likely to benefit from ingesting aged ginger.
People who have constant dry mouth, experience constipation or easily develop acne might already have a “hot” constitution, she said, adding that they could worsen their condition by continuing to ingest aged ginger.
Traditional Chinese medicine usually suggests avoiding aged ginger at any time, rather than specifically at night, Wu said, but added that young and raw ginger are relatively mild and their consumption is not restricted, and all people can safely consume them without risk of upsetting their body’s balance.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS