Niu Er workshop White fungus and goji berry benefits

Niu Er Beauty Workshop - Diet

Aug25

Hi friends of Hazelnutt :)

I'm always game to introduce new goodies into my diet especially if they are really simple to prepare.

After attending the Niu Er Beauty Workshop, i returned home and prepared a pot of white fungus soup for the next day's breakfast. The Old Cow consumes a bowl of white fungus daily for his breakfast and advocates a diet high in:

White fungus - high in collegen
Berries e.g. goji berries, strawberries, blueberries, bayberries - high in antioxidant
Japanese Ginseng - improves circulation

I do not intend to go all the way and revamp my diet. Instead, I've selected 2 of his secret beauty food source to consume on a regular basis.

GOJI BERRY/WOLFBERRY

You'll need:

a handful of goji berries
hot water

I'll chuck the berries into a tea pot and fill it to the brim with hot water. I will either bring a bottle of this tea out with me or drink it throughout the day. I do not replace this with regular water, coz i still like drinking plain water :) Niu Er Lao Shi brings this bottled 'elixir' with him wherever he goes.

Goji Berries or Wolfberries are rich in antioxidants which are important to neutralize free radicals that we are exposed to or produce through normal metabolism. Antioxidants have been known to have an anti-aging effect as well as the ability to repair sun-damage. Goji berries also contains zeaxanthin which decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65. My dad suffers from AMD and i know the importance of preserving my eyesight.

When i was diagnosed with myopia in primary school, my dad made me bring a bottle of goji berries to school to snack on during recess - coz he knows that this berry is good for maintaining healthy eyes. I really hated the taste - although it tastes sweet, it doesn't taste like how a candy would. However, when brewed as a tea or in soups, it becomes a delight.

I'm sure you ladies also know why i use this berry very often when i prepare The Tod's meals.

WHITE FUNGUS

Contains mainly collegen
'Neutral in nature', so it is neither cooling nor heaty
Nourishes the lungs and stomach

Serves 2 - 3

You'll need:

a piece of white fungus
sweetener e.g. Honey dates, dried longans, red dates, rock sugar or goji berries.

I make use of a thermal pot which does not require electricity - just bring the inner pot to a boil and place the pot into the thermal jacket immediately. The white fungus will continue 'cooking' due to the heat in the thermal pot and will be soft and warm for your breakfast.

I do not like to add too much sugar coz i'd prefer to have my sugar intake from cakes, ice creams and chocolates. For such health benefiting dessert, i'd prefer to have just a little sweetness to taste. Do adjust the amount of sweetener according to your taste :)

Oh yes, did i mention that white fungus is really inexpensive? A big packet cost about $4-5.

I will be alternating between oatmeal and white fungus for my breakfast coz i refuse to abandon my oats as it does have its health benefits as well :)

Goji berry is something that i have been consuming regularly for many years so i'm happy that i've been doing something good for myself. White fungus is not something that's new to me either. However, after the beauty workshop, i now consume it with heighten enthusiasm!

Is anyone gonna introduce these simple to prepare goodies into your daily diet?