Many physicians insist that health supplements are not necessary for good health. “One only needs to follow healthy diet,” they like to say. At most, on multivitamin pill a day would suffice. Yes, a multivitamin pill per day has helped me reduce my sick days and incidences of common cold. Many KOLs on YouTube recommend different health supplements for each part of the body. Their subscribers wonder if they need to purchase an entire health food store. I am here to recommend several lesser-known supplements and food that have proven to be highly beneficial to general health and that are very affordable or at least not outrageously expensive.
1. Healthy hair ~ Fo-ti, or He Shou Wu, is a Chinese herb that is not very well-known in Western societies and has proven to be highly effective for the prevention–and even reversal–of greying hair. Various brands of it, mostly in pill form, are for sale on Amazon and other health food stores. Many family members of mine have been taking a brand called “Vita Hair,” which is slightly pricier but probably even a little more effective in minimizing grey hair, due to other ingredients such as Lingzhi and Dongquai. They have very little grey hair–perhaps 2 or 3 per month–well into their 40s and 50s. As research indicates, both herbs serve other functions such as lowering blood sugar and cholesterol and boosting energy. Preventing/reversing grey hair is likely one of the many benefits and a result of an overall healthier body.
2. Healthy hair ~ Black sesame is not often mentioned on a generic list of health food supplements, despite its ability to help combat oxidative stress, promote skin health, and lower blood pressure, to name just a few. Both to prevent grey hair and hair loss and to improve my hair texture, I have a pot of black sesame paste in my kitchen counter, and regularly consume one full spoon with hot water both in the morning and before bedtime. Its glue-like texture reminds me of the black sesame cakes I had as a child at Hong Kong restaurants. From what I heard, it seems that these cakes are served less often today. Black sesame soup, however, is still a very popular dessert.
3. Healthy skin and bones ~ Fish maw, jelly-like (part of the stomach of large fish) and a very rich source of collagen, is even less mentioned in health food recommendations. Many of you might already be taking collagen peptides to boost skin elasticity. Fish maw is better than collagen powder simply because it is so delicious and gummy as a delicacy when cooked with chicken broth. Is it a luxury food? Not exactly, though it certainly is not cheap. It is far more affordable than many Chinese delicacies that are reputed to have similar benefits (think: bird’s nests, the idea of which may be slightly off-putting to some readers!). In addition, collagen boosts hair growth and helps maintain a full hair of lustrous hair.
4. Healthy skin and bones ~ Beef and pork tendons. This is a cheaper option to fish maw, and a far more delicious alternative to collagen powder (which is essentially tasteless) , whether served in soup or as a side dish. I cannot believe how few Youtubers mention this. It is likely due to a cultural difference: tendons are seldom the highlights of western cuisine. My mom use to cook Chinese-style pork or beef soup and allow the ingredients to simmer on low fire for a few hours, until the tendons of either pork or beef became glutinous. Mom usually left some tendons in the soup, and served the remaining as a side dish in addition to vegetables and other meat. A mouth full of jellylike tendons with soy sauce was one of the most satisfying moments of eating a mom-cooked meal.
5. Healthy skin and digestive system ~ American ginseng tea. When I was sitting for the public exam in high school, I drink at least one pack of American ginseng tea (not to be confused with Korean ginseng tea) to relieve stress and lower the heat in my body (as some Chinese doctors call it). To some people who believe that their acne is caused by too much heat in their internal organs, drinking this tea may help. Western doctors do not buy this acne theory. Regardless, my case of acne was not caused by heat and I did not drink it for this purpose. During the period that I consumed it regularly, it aided digestion and helped me feel relaxed and clear-headed–I am not sure if the latter effect on mood and mental state was a purely placebo effect. I tried tea packs recommended by western YouTubers, such as chamomile and peppermint, and they never had the same effect.
6. Healthy digestive system ~ green-bean soup. One of my favorite moments having lunch with my family back in the good old days is to enjoy this soup as a dessert. (Sometimes “smelly grass” was added to the soup but I disliked it.) Like ginseng tea, it is reputed to help lowering heat in our organs and blood pressure. This is something interest: women with delayed periods tried this soup and had periods the same or next day (it is said that the green beans help the uterine muscles to contract). Those who have their periods are advised against eating it, however, as it is too “cool” and may make them dizzy (likely because the soup hep the muscles to contract further, which might cause discomfort).
Follow your doctor’s advice and eat a balanced diet, which is the most basic thing to do. On top of that, discover the world of food and health supplements, some of which, like the above, are are even gratifying to the taste. Regarding hair: there is nothing wrong with grey hair–it is often not a sign of poor health. Even very young people have a few random white/grey hair. I personally do not find that it naturally diminishes one’s appearance. Those who do not like grey hair can easily dye their hair, which does not take that much time and need not be done frequently. It can even be fun and fashionable. However, those who do prefer more natural treatment methods, trying the above supplements would not hurt: they likely have other health benefits as well.