| Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed in all four corners of the world. 中国菜誉满天下，为全世界人所喜爱。 Who could not confess to longing for a favorite Chinese dish? 谁敢说自己不想尝一道美味的中国佳肴？ But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food.” 不过中国菜有个有趣的观念──“食补”，这个古老的习俗在西方几乎是前所未闻，而在东方则逐渐被年轻人忽视。 Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one's well-being, or stave off sickness, particularly at times when one is more prone to illness. 食补是指通过食用某些食物以增进健康，或防止疾病，尤其在人容易生病的时候。 For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame- oil hot pot every day for the first month after giving birth. 举个例子，在过去的习俗里，产妇在产后一个月内每天都要吃麻油鸡。 It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. 人们认为这道菜对肌肉有益，并能减轻疼痛、促进循环、刺激排汗和暖和身子。 In fact, these Chinese beliefs parallel some Western theories of health, although each takes a different path toward the very same goal. 事实上，这些中国人的信念与西方的某些健康理论相似，可谓殊途同归。 Western medicine actually recommends some of the exact same ingredients that make up the chicken hot pot dish. 西方医学确实建议摄食几种和麻油鸡材料相同的成份。 Sesame oil has been found to promote contraction of the womb while providing lots of calories, and chicken meat is particularly high in protein. 经证实麻油可以促进子宫收缩，同时提供高热量，而鸡肉的蛋白质含量特别高。 Any Western doctor should be happy to suggest such a Chinese dish after childbirth. 西方国家的医生应该也乐于建议妇女产后食用这道中国菜。 The elderly, weak, and young can also benefit greatly from tonic foods, especially during the winter. 老年人、体弱者和年轻人也可以从食补中获得很大收益，尤其在冬季。 |
