Nutritious Congee Recipes

Youth White Hair Porridges
Medical research shows hair color relates to melanin content. Melanin is a high-molecular protein. When hair papilla function is impaired, melanin production decreases, causing white hair.
Factors affecting papilla include: long-term deficiency of vitamins, folic acid, copper, iron; insufficient amino acids; endocrine dysfunction; severe malnutrition; excessive stress; chronic wasting diseases.
Dietary adjustment is important. Eat foods rich in iron, copper, cobalt: rape, celery, kelp, soybeans, seaweed, black fungus, pork liver, chicken liver. B-vitamin rich foods: whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits.
TCM believes "hair is surplus of blood." Hair growth relates to kidney qi and liver-kidney essence-blood. Kidney deficiency causes hair to lose nourishment, becoming white or falling out.
Three porridges:
1. Immortal Porridge: He Shou Wu 30-60g, red dates 5, brown sugar 10g, japonica rice 60g. Simmer He Shou Wu, cook with rice and dates, add sugar. Nourishes blood and benefits liver, consolidates kidney, blackens hair. 7-10 days as course, rest 5 days. Avoid in loose stools.
2. Sesame Porridge: Black sesame 30g, japonica rice 60g. Roast sesame, grind, cook with rice. Tonifies liver-kidney, moistens five organs. Once daily in two portions.
3. Mulberry Porridge: Mulberry fruit 20-30g (fresh 30-60g), glutinous rice 100g, rock sugar. Soak mulberry, cook with rice and sugar. Tonifies liver and nourishes kidney, nourishes blood and improves vision. For premature white hair, blurred vision from liver-kidney blood deficiency.