In autumn and winter, the air is dry and the temperature is low, and the cold qi (energy) in human bodies is strong, thus Chinese people like to eat food with hot energy, such as mutton and beef, to nourish the body. But according to the experts, some black foods are even better. Black foods, such as black fungus, black sesame, and even loach and eel are all help the body recover heat. Black rice, black beans, black sesame, black dates and black fungus not only nourish the kidneys and help them resist cold energy, but also moisten the lungs and promote the secretion of body fluids, which is healthy.

Chinese people also believe that eating black fish is beneficial.

Loach has a sweet flavor and neutral energy. It keeps the body warm and is beneficial to qi, relieving internal toxins and eliminating hemorrhoids. The meat of loach is tender and has high nutritional value. Loach saliva has the effect of antibiosis and reducing inflammation. Loach can cure jaundice, urination problems and night sweating.

Eel has a sweet flavor and warm energy. It helps ward off asthenic disease and rheumatism, and strengthening the bones and muscles. It can cure tuberculosis, wind-cold-wetness types of arthralgia, lochia following child birth, diarrhea and hemorrhoids complicated by anal fistula. Eel can be boiled, steamed or eaten as part of a medicinal diet. Chinese people also make meatballs with eel. Eel could be applied to the skin after being mashed or sliced.

Carp has a sweet flavor and neutral energy. It alleviates water retention, reduces swelling, helps with decreasing qi (energy) and promotes lactation. It can cure swelling, beriberi, jaundice and reversed flows of qi caused by coughs. Chinese people have boiled it, steam it, fry it with sugar and vinegar or stew it.

Crucian has sweet flavor and neutral energy. It has the effect of helping the spleen and removing dampness through diuresis. It cures weak spleens and stomachs, diarrhea, hematochezia, edema, stranguria, carbuncles and ulcers. Chinese people tend to cook carp by putting it in soup, steaming it, frying it or eating it as part of a medicinal diet. Carp can be applied to the skin after it is mashed.