Drinks for nourishing the kidneys in freezing cold weather, wolfberries for kidney tonification, and silkworm pupae for warming and nourishing.

In the freezing cold, drinking the right beverage is the best way to nourish your kidneys.

Kidney tonification is very popular now, and there are many methods. However, if we're talking about dietary supplements, drinking soups, porridges, and alcoholic beverages is better because these are more easily absorbed by the body. Just like the advertisements say, "Absorption is key"-no matter how good your diet is, it's all for nothing if it's not absorbed. Therefore, below are some convenient and practical kidney-tonifying remedies:

1. Ginseng and Walnut Drink

Ingredients: 5 grams of ginseng, 3 walnut kernels.

Preparation: Slice the ginseng and break the walnut kernels into pieces the size of broad beans. Put both into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat for 1 hour.

Efficacy: This tea can be taken long-term. It has the effect of invigorating qi and strengthening the kidneys, and is often used for symptoms such as dizziness, forgetfulness, tinnitus, insomnia, premature graying of hair, fatigue, excessive sweating, and shortness of breath caused by kidney qi deficiency.

2. Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, and goji berry wine

Ingredients: 50g Ganoderma lucidum, 30g ginseng (American ginseng, cultivated American ginseng, or sun-dried ginseng are all acceptable), 50g goji berries, 100g rock sugar, 500ml white wine.

Preparation: Wash and thinly slice the Ganoderma lucidum, slice the ginseng, wash the goji berries and place them in a wine jar. Add rock sugar and white wine, seal the jar and soak for 15 days.

Instructions: Take 10 ml twice daily. Suitable for long-term consumption. This wine is effective in invigorating qi and tonifying the kidneys, as well as anti-aging. It is suitable for those with premature graying of hair, insomnia, forgetfulness, lower back pain, tinnitus, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue due to kidney deficiency.

3. Goji Berry and Lotus Root Porridge

Ingredients: 30g goji berries, 50g lotus seeds, 100g fresh yam, and appropriate amount of white sugar.

Preparation: Peel and wash fresh yam, then slice it; rinse goji berries and lotus seeds; add the above three ingredients to an appropriate amount of water and simmer over low heat to make porridge, then add sugar to taste.

Efficacy: Take warm twice daily, morning and evening; can be taken long-term. Regular consumption of wolfberry and lotus root porridge can nourish the kidneys and spleen, and calm the mind. This porridge is suitable for symptoms such as forgetfulness, insomnia, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue caused by spleen and kidney deficiency.

4. Polygonum multiflorum and turtle soup – nourishes yin and tonifies the kidneys

Ingredients: One turtle, 30g of prepared Polygonum multiflorum, 15g of mulberry fruit, 15g of Eclipta prostrata, 15g of Ligustrum lucidum, appropriate amount of scallions, ginger, and salt.

Preparation: Clean the turtle by gutting it, removing the intestines and other internal organs, and blanch it in boiling water to remove the blood. Remove the inner skin and cut it into 2 cm square pieces. Wash the prepared bird's nest, mulberry fruit, eclipta prostrata, and privet fruit, and put them into a gauze bag and tie it tightly. Put the turtle meat, turtle shell, herb bag, appropriate amount of scallion segments and ginger shreds into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours.

Efficacy: Consuming both the meat and the soup, and regularly drinking this soup can nourish yin and tonify the kidneys. It is suitable for symptoms such as chloasma, obesity, dizziness, tinnitus, lower back and leg weakness, irritability, etc., caused by kidney yang deficiency.

5. Fresh chestnut and chicken soup

Ingredients: Half a whole chicken (about 500g), 500g fresh chestnut meat, 30g shiitake mushrooms, 2 slices of ginger.

Preparation: Blanch fresh chestnuts in boiling water, soak briefly, then remove the skin; soak shiitake mushrooms in water until soft, remove the stems, and wash; wash the whole chicken and chop it into pieces; put the chicken, chestnuts, and ginger slices into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour, add the shiitake mushrooms and simmer for another 20 minutes, then season and serve.

Efficacy: Consume both the meat and the soup. This soup has the effects of invigorating qi and nourishing blood, as well as nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys. It is suitable for those with poor appetite, fatigue, weak spleen and stomach, emaciation and physical weakness caused by liver and kidney deficiency, and chronic bronchitis in the elderly.

Kidney tonics are best found in water-based substances.

According to the principles of the I Ching, the Kan trigram corresponds to water. Therefore, plants and animals that grow in water receive more of the energy of Kan water, which is beneficial for nourishing the Kan water (kidneys) in the human body. Here are a few examples of animal-based foods that nourish the Kan water in the kidneys.

1. Fish

Kan represents water, and fish live in water, absorbing the energy of Kan water, which can directly nourish the kidneys. Therefore, fish is a primary choice for nourishing the kidneys. There are many ways to cook fish; you can cook it according to your own taste. However, if you are using it for health maintenance, fish soup is the best way to achieve its nourishing effects.

2. Shellfish

Compared to fish, shellfish absorb more of the "Kan" water energy, resulting in better nourishing effects. However, shellfish are generally considered cooling in nature, while fish are generally considered warming. We can choose to eat them based on our own constitution. If you have a cooling constitution, you may want to eat more fish; if you have a warming constitution, you can eat more shellfish.

3. Duck

Ducks raised by rural families typically live in ponds and streams, feeding mainly on snails in shallow water. Therefore, ducks also benefit from the "qi" of water, making them ideal as a health food for people with a constitution that tends towards heat.

The best way to eat duck is by steaming or making soup; avoid eating roast duck frequently. Although roast duck tastes good, it is marinated and roasted with various spices, which causes it to lose much of its nutritional value. It may even lead to the loss of nutrients, and excessive consumption can harm your health.

Goji berries, a great tonic for men's kidneys

Goji berries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and enter the liver and kidney meridians. They nourish yin and blood, tonify the liver and kidneys, replenish blood, benefit essence and improve eyesight, and moisten the lungs. They are mainly used to treat symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, tinnitus, seminal emission, and soreness of the lower back and knees caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency and insufficient essence and blood. They are also effective in treating diabetes. They have the effects of tonifying deficiency, improving eyesight, lowering blood sugar, and prolonging life, and are effective for diabetes, physical weakness, and dry eyes.

1. Shredded Pork with Goji Berries

Efficacy: It nourishes Yin and tonifies the kidneys, improves eyesight and strengthens the body. It is suitable for symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness due to kidney deficiency, and blurred vision.

Ingredients: 100g each of goji berries, bamboo shoots, and lard; 500g of lean pork; appropriate amounts of sugar, soy sauce, salt, MSG, sesame oil, and cooking wine.

Instructions: Wash the lean pork and cut it into long strips; cut the bamboo shoots into thin strips; wash the goji berries and set aside.

Heat lard in a wok, then add shredded pork and bamboo shoots. Add cooking wine, sugar, soy sauce, salt, and MSG, stir well, add goji berries, stir-fry a few times, drizzle with sesame oil, and cook until done.

2. Fried eggs with wolfberry sprouts

Efficacy: It can nourish the liver and improve eyesight, and is suitable for symptoms such as liver deficiency and blood deficiency, blurred and dry eyes or night blindness.

Ingredients: 2 eggs, 30 grams of fresh goji berry sprouts.

Instructions: Wash and chop the wolfberry sprouts, add them to the beaten eggs, add a little salt and mix well. Fry in cooking oil until cooked and serve.

3. Other ways to prepare goji berry sprouts

Cold Goji Berry Sprout Salad: In early spring, blanch the tender stems and leaves in boiling water and then toss them with seasonings to taste before serving.

Stir-fried goji berry sprouts: Stir-fry over high heat, add water and simmer for a while, season and serve immediately.

Goji buds and tofu: Stir-fry both in hot oil, add water and simmer for a while, thicken with cornstarch, season and serve. It can be used in soups or stews.

It's important to note that goji berries are most suitable for people with weak constitutions and low immunity. Goji berries have a strong warming effect on the body, so people with colds, fevers, inflammation, or diarrhea should avoid them.

In addition, goji berries should not be consumed in excess. Generally speaking, about 20 grams of goji berries per day is suitable for healthy adults. If you want to achieve a therapeutic effect, you can eat about 30 grams per day.

Find silkworm pupae to nourish and tonify the kidneys

Silkworm pupae are the pupae of the silkworm moth (Bombyx mori family), and their use in traditional Chinese medicine has a long history. Silkworm pupae are neutral in nature and sweet in taste. Sun Simiao's *Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces* from the Tang Dynasty states that they "benefit essence and qi, strengthen male virility... and treat premature ejaculation." There are many ways to consume silkworm pupae to nourish the kidneys; they can be boiled or stewed into delicious dishes. Below are a few examples:

Walnut Stewed Silkworm Pupae

Ingredients: 150g walnut kernels, 80g silkworm pupae, 3g cinnamon.

Instructions: First, wash the cinnamon, sun-dry or oven-dry it, and grind it into a very fine powder. Wash the silkworm pupae, dry them, and stir-fry them slightly. Put them in a large bowl with the walnuts, add an appropriate amount of water, stir in the cinnamon powder, stir well, and steam until cooked.

Efficacy: Can be taken as a snack at will, or twice a day, morning and evening. It can nourish the liver and kidneys, improve brain function and intelligence, warm the lungs and moisten the intestines, and darken hair. Suitable for symptoms such as lower back and knee weakness, frequent urination at night, impotence, premature graying of hair, tuberculosis, and cough due to deficiency of essence and blood.

Stir-fried silkworm pupae with chives

Ingredients: 50g silkworm pupae, 200g chives, appropriate amounts of minced ginger, salt, MSG, and vegetable oil.

Instructions: Wash the chives and silkworm pupae separately and set aside. Heat oil in a wok over high heat, stir-fry the drained silkworm pupae briefly, then add the chopped chives, minced ginger, salt, and MSG. Stir-fry evenly and serve.

Efficacy: It can replenish qi and blood, warm the kidneys and invigorate yang, eliminate fatigue, and resist aging. It is suitable for patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, impotence, seminal emission, and chronic constipation.

Fried silkworm pupae

Ingredients: Silkworm pupae, vegetable oil, scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, etc., in appropriate amounts.

Instructions: First, clean the silkworm pupae thoroughly and drain them. Heat vegetable oil in a wok, fry the silkworm pupae, then pour out the excess oil. Leave a little oil in the wok, heat it, and stir-fry scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, and other seasonings. Serve as a side dish.

Benefits: Silkworm pupae are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which can have an auxiliary therapeutic effect on diseases such as hepatitis and cardiovascular diseases.

Silkworm pupa and walnut soup

Ingredients: 50g silkworm pupae, 100-150g walnut kernels, a pinch of salt and MSG.

Instructions: Briefly stir-fry the silkworm pupae in a wok. In a suitable earthenware pot, add 500 ml of water, walnut kernels, and silkworm pupae. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes. Once cooked, season with salt and MSG.

Efficacy: Consume silkworm pupae and walnut kernels, and drink the soup, for 5 consecutive times. This product can strengthen the spleen and stomach, replenish qi and blood, and treat malnutrition. It is suitable for children with malnutrition, qi and blood deficiency, and those who are thin and weak.