What are healthy foods for spring time?
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By Cho Ae-kyung
I often see people with difficulties waking up in the morning.
Although they get enough sleep at night, they still feel drowsy, sluggish and lethargic during the day.
Our body adjusts to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. But when we fail to adjust to the rapid weather change during spring time, we can experience a temporary fatigue syndrome.
It can be alarming when muscles are suddenly activated after being motionless during the winter and when immunity is weak. Risks to infectious diseases including cold will increase during this time.
But before blaming the seasonal change, we need to ask first: Do people in modern society really eat healthy?
Mad for Garlic, a garlic themed restaurant chain, and Job Korea, a job hunting website, asked this question to 3,088 adults. Most of them said they know the benefits of eating healthy foods, but they don’t actually practice it.
When metabolism and physical activities increase, it becomes important to eat healthy foods full of protein, vitamins and minerals. It boosts energy and helps protect our body from diseases.
One ideal spring time food is garlic. Its various health benefits are widely known ― some 72 percent of the male respondents in the poll picked garlic as the no. 1 health food.
It is full of allicin which helps recovery from fatigue. Allicin also promotes metabolism, eases stress and revitalizes the body with a strong sterilization effect.
Nutrients in white veggies like garlic are more easily absorbed when cooked in oil. It can be a good garnish and can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes.
Spinach, banana and nuts are also good for overcoming lethargies during spring time. Spinach contains plenty of iron which provides oxygen to the muscle, thereby producing energy.
Banana, which is low in calories, produces glucose that is essential for brain activity. It can be digested easily and contains vitamin B6 and fiber that gives a rejuvenating feeling.
Nuts contain lots of vitamin B6, and its crunchy texture makes it an ideal snack. It also stimulates brain activities by increasing blood flows to the brain.
Tomato is another spring time delicacy. It has organic acid that boosts metabolism, lowers fatigue and energizes our body. Lycopene and vitamin C in tomato also eliminate oxidants in our body. They help recharge our body and prevent symptoms from reduced immunity.
With increased health threats from fine dust, yellow dust and temperature differences, attention needs to be paid to managing our health more than ever.
An approach combining healthy meals, proper exercise and stress management is recommended. This will not only increases our immunity but also boost our energy to overcome spring time fatigue.
The writer is a doctor who runs the We Clinic in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, which is dedicated to health and beauty. She is certified by the Korean Vegetable Sommelier Association for her expert knowledge on the characteristics of fruit and vegetables, and she also serves as an honorary ambassador for Sun at Food, a chain restaurant operator.