The drawbacks of a refined diet, liver health considerations, and warnings about harmful foods.

To be healthy, you can't eat too "good" food.

Modern people seem to fall ill all the time. High blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, uremia... these have become very common diseases, whereas in ancient times these diseases were rare. The ancients also possessed physiques of "strength to uproot mountains and spirit to cover the world," while modern people are mostly weak and frail, even those who appear strong are actually just weak and lack real strength. Why is this? Are modern people's constitutions worse than in the past? But living standards have clearly improved significantly, and people eat better food, so why do we still get sick so easily? In fact, a large part of the reason for this problem lies precisely in the improvement of living standards.

The improvement in living standards is first reflected in food. In the past, people mostly ate coarse grains such as sweet potatoes, sorghum, and corn, which were not refined and were enough to make a living. But now? Our food is mostly highly processed refined foods, such as refined rice and white flour, chicken, duck, fish, and soft pastries. These foods certainly taste much better than coarse grains, but this is also a major factor leading to many modern people being overweight, weak, and experiencing a decline in physical health.

The human body requires a wide variety of nutrients for its life processes. Many of these nutrients are found in unrefined whole grains, such as vitamins B and C, and various trace elements. Refined foods destroy these nutrients, leading to an imbalance in the body's nutritional intake. Long-term deficiencies in essential nutrients can trigger various diseases. The high incidence of iron-deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency among urban children in my country is directly related to picky eating, unbalanced diets, and overly refined foods.

An overly refined diet reduces the body's intake of fiber. Fiber deficiency can easily lead to constipation, which in turn can cause hemorrhoids and diverticulum, and even increase the risk of stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and other digestive tract tumors. An overly refined diet can also cause obesity, increase the risk of high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and diabetes, and increase the risk of stroke. An overly refined diet deprives people of many opportunities to chew, and the teeth and facial muscles do not get enough exercise, which can lead to atrophy and aging, and is not good for beauty or health.

Therefore, to maintain good health, one should not eat too "well." A balanced diet is essential; avoid overly refined foods and ensure a proper mix of whole grains and refined grains. Appropriate amounts of grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables are all important for maintaining nutritional balance. Many "diseases of affluence" are avoided through this simple and scientific approach to diet.

Men should eat liver with vegetables.

The mention of animal liver evokes mixed feelings of love and hate in many men. They love it because liver is rich in nutrients that are beneficial to health; they hate it because they worry about its high cholesterol content, believing that excessive intake can raise serum cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Many elderly people even have a strong aversion to any type of liver.

Actually, as long as you eat liver with vegetables, fruits, beans, etc., you don't need to worry about your body absorbing too much cholesterol.

Because when people eat foods containing cholesterol, it doesn't directly turn into cholesterol in the blood; it requires a process of absorption and synthesis. Eating these foods along with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, which are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and trace elements, can increase cholesterol excretion and reduce cholesterol synthesis and absorption in the body, effectively avoiding the risk of high blood lipids and atherosclerosis.

In addition, egg yolks, animal brains, squid, and crab roe are also high in cholesterol. When consuming these foods, you should follow the methods mentioned earlier and pay attention to eating a balanced diet of meat and vegetables.

Foods that make men tremble

Vegetables, fruits, oysters, nuts, and other foods can be aphrodisiacs, but the following foods can ruin your sex life.

1. Lotus seeds

Although lotus seeds have the effects of treating chronic diarrhea, nocturnal emission, and spermatorrhea, the lotus seed heart has the effect of calming the mind and reducing desire, so men should not eat too much lotus seed heart.

2. Winter melon

Winter melon, also known as pillow melon, is rich in fiber and nicotinic acid. It has a sweet taste and cooling properties, and can reduce sexual desire and clear heat from the heart. The *Ben Cao Jing Shu* states, "Winter melon possesses the yin energy of earth and is exposed to frost and dew, therefore it is sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature, and cool in properties."

3. Water chestnut

Water caltrop, also known as water chestnut or sand caltrop, is sweet and cold in nature. It is believed to nourish the spirit and strengthen the will, and can calm male libido. The *Compendium of Materia Medica for Food Therapy* states: "Of all aquatic fruits, this one is the most cooling; if stored cold, it damages yang energy and causes the penis to weaken."

4. Chinese kale

Chinese kale, also known as turnip or stem indigo, contains cellulose and sugars. It has a sweet and pungent taste and, in addition to its diuretic, phlegm-reducing, detoxifying, and wind-dispelling effects, it also has the side effect of depleting one's vital energy. Long-term consumption of Chinese kale can inhibit the secretion of sex hormones. The *Ben Cao Qiu Yuan* (Seeking the Origins of Materia Medica) states that it is "sweet, pungent, and cold, depleting qi and damaging blood."

5. Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots are considered a cold and astringent food, and contain a large amount of oxalic acid, which can affect the body's absorption and utilization of calcium and zinc. Eating too many bamboo shoots can lead to calcium and zinc deficiencies, especially zinc deficiency, which has a significant impact on libido.

6. Red meat

Some people may think that eating large amounts of meat is masculine, but the truth is quite the opposite. The saturated fat and cholesterol in red meat (beef, bacon, sausage, luncheon meat) can narrow blood vessels, including those that carry blood to the reproductive organs, leading to insufficient blood flow.

7. Fried foods

Hydrogenation of vegetable oils converts them into a solid state, producing trans fats. Trans fats are arguably more harmful than saturated fats. They are found in French fries, fried foods, cookies, and crackers.

8. Refined flour

During the refining process from whole wheat to white bread, three-quarters of the zinc is lost. Zinc is crucial for libido and reproductive health. The prostate gland has the highest zinc reserves in the body, and a diet high in zinc can help prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men.

Raw foods that men should not eat

Scientists estimate that 70% of the world's edible plants can be eaten raw. Eating raw food can boost immunity, prevent disease, and even treat certain ailments. However, some foods should not be eaten raw.

1. Eat live fish

From both a nutritional and taste perspective, cooking live fish or fish that has just died is not the best choice. Generally speaking, fish can be cooked and eaten after being left to rest for 2-3 hours in summer and 4-5 hours in winter.

2. Lamb slices cooked to medium-rare (70-80% done)

Many people like to cook mutton in hot pot until it's only 70-80% done, which can easily lead to trichinosis, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, headache, muscle pain, severe calf pain, and limited mobility. If the larvae enter the brain and spinal cord, they can also cause meningitis.

3. Undercooked vegetables

Many people enjoy eating undercooked vegetables, but these vegetables may contain toxins. For example, unripe green tomatoes contain large amounts of alkaloids, and consuming too much can cause poisoning symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Fresh kidney beans contain saponins and hemagglutinins, and eating them raw or undercooked can easily lead to poisoning.

4. Eating raw eggs

Raw eggs contain "avidin" and "trypsin inhibitors." The former can affect the body's absorption and utilization of protein, while the latter can impair the body's digestive function. Therefore, eggs should be cooked before eating.