Chapter 6 - Exploring the quality of foods from ancient China based on traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

The functional food industry has been developing rapidly in recent years. Great progress has been made in this industry, especially in the number the claims related and the quality of the functional foods. The most important pharmacological properties of jujube are antidiabetic effects, hypnotic-sedative and anxiolytic effects, neuroprotective activity, sweetness inhibition, anticancer activity, antimicrobial activity, antiulcer activity, antiinflammatory and antispastic effects, antiallergic activity, permeability enhancement activity, cognitive activities, antifertility property, hypotensive and antinephritic effects, cardiovascular activity, immunostimulant effects, antioxidant effects, and wound-healing activity. The lotus has various notable pharmacological activities such as antiischemic, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, antiobesity, lipolytic, hypocholestermic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, hypogylcemic, antidiarrheal, antifungal, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and diuretic activities. Coix is a source of ornamental beads, a stable sustenance, and a productive fodder grass that is increasingly viewed as a potential energy source. Chinese medicine classifies the lily plant as bitter in taste, mild in nature, and beneficial to our hearts and lungs. The flowers are dried and used in cooking stews or soups. The healing properties of lily include moisturizing the lungs, relieving cough from lung dryness, clearing heart fire, and tranquilizing the mind. Dried lily bulbs are commonly used in herbal formulas for promoting lung health; treating yin deficiency of the heart. which manifests as irritability, insomnia, dreaminess, palpitations, and absent-mindedness; promoting vital fluids; and improving the complexion. The most important benefits of the Tremella mushroom are antiaging effects, antiinflammatory effects, decreasing cholesterol, combating obesity, and protecting the nerves, and it may fight cancer. The most powerful nutritional constituents of Tremella are amino acids, vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, glucomannan 1,3-alpha-glucan, epitope 9beta-D-glucuronosyl, glucuronic acid, glucuronoxylomannan, N-acetylglucosamine, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, and organic acids. Functional foods are making inroads into Chinese diets with their promises to improve health and nutrition. Chinese consumers should choose nutritional and healthy food to maintain their general health and reduce the risk of health problems.