I’m turning 32 this April. I don’t fear adding another year of wisdom, laughter, good food and better friends to my life resume, but undeniably, living la vida loca has its price. The pollution and continual ingestion of melamine by-products compound the situation. Taking care of my body has never been more important, and I’ve started incorporating more superfoods into my diet. Luckily, in Beijing, foods that pack a nutritional punch can easily be found street side and at the city’s best restaurants.
One of the hottest “new discoveries” in nutritionist circles is the goji berry. Sound familiar? These dried red-orange beauties are a frequent additive to hotpots and herbal teas. Harvested in Ningxia, goji berries contain eight essential amino acids and have 400 times more vitamin C than oranges (by weight). Carlynn Sze, nutritionist at Beijing United Hospital, recommends goji berries because they “contain carotene and zeaxanthin, both of which are key to eye health. Research also points out their anti-oxidant capacity, potential benefits on overall immunity and brain health.” The Ritz-Carlton CBD’s Yu features an invigorating dessert of stewed pear with white fungus and goji berries (¥48) that not only tastes delicious but does the body good.
China has a 2,000 year history of proliferating one of the most nutritional and versatile superfoods around: soy beans. From pressed milk to tofu, soy is an excellent source of protein and amino acids. Luckily, East Asians tend to celebrate soy products rather than dismiss them as a vegetarian substitute. I eschew the street stand doujiang, but I am a rabid fan of Saveurs de Coree’s sundubu jigae (¥39), a spicy stew chockfull of silky tofu, clams, prawns and a poached egg.
Sweet potatoes, much adored by fitness buffs, are high in fiber, potassium and vitamins A, C and B6, while only packing 95 calories per tuber. Though the season of oil-drum roasted street potatoes is winding down, try picking a couple up for dinner—I served them last year for Thanksgiving and they were a smashing success. I also recommend opting for Blue Frog’s sweet potato fries (though the health benefits may be mitigated by the sinfully delicious deep-fried preparation) instead of regular spuds with their popular Monday night 2-4-1 burger special.
As a dining columnist, I face my fair share of food temptations, but this year, I vow to load up on foods that not only taste great, but also increase my body’s ability to fight sickness, fatigue and aging.
