Women live to pursue beauty. A woman's diet is key to her self-care, just like the proverb suggests: "Eat to make yourself healthy and pretty." A meticulous woman knows how to keep fit. The following maintain their vitality, shapes and pleasant looks.

Diets for Mothers over 30

Women in their 30s have a mature and elegant charm. With families and soaring careers, they tend to worry about their fleeting youth. They begin wearing make-up to hide tiny wrinkles. They need to alter their diets.

"I don't have good sleep these days, perhaps due to pressures in work and life."

SOOTHING TEA CAN HELP

Ingredients: Nine grams of longchi; three grams of grassleaf sweet flag rhizome.

Preparation: Boil the longchi (teeth of ancient large mammals) for 10 minutes. Add the grassleaf sweetfiag rhizome and boil for another 10 minutes. Serve.

Benefits: Having good sleep will help mothers over age 30 better cope with family and work-related burdens. Soothing Tea is often prescribed for mothers coping with pressure and fatigue.

"What kind of soup is nutritious, but not fatty?"

RED AND WHITE KERNEL SOUP

Ingredients: Twenty grams of red dates; 20 grams of seed of Job's tears; 15 grams of gingko, without shells and coating; 10 grams of longan meat.

Preparation: Boil the ingredients for 40 minutes. Serve with brown sugar or rock candy

Benefits: The soup helps moisten skin, invigorate the spleen and stomach, enrich the blood and soothe nerves.

Hitting the Big 4-Zero

Women in this age group have generally settled down—they have started families and have become established in their careers. But they are advised to tone up to avoid developing bad tempers and/or depression resulting from the change of life.

"I recently have been feeling restless, and am having a hard time falling asleep. I know it's due to menopause. What should I do?"

WHY NOT TRY LOTUS SEED AND FLOWER TEA?

Preparation: Place two grams of lotus seeds and three grams of raw liquorice in hot water. Drink the mixture as a tea. Benefits: Mothers in their 40s are encouraged to ease the stress on their heats as they go through the change of life. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this tea helps cure restlessness caused by fire accumulated in the heart. Try it. You won't be disappointed.

"Am I that old? Why do I breathe heavily when I walk up stairs, or sometimes feel dizzy?"

A TERAPY: GINSENG AND TREMELLA COUP

Ingredients: You will need five grams of American ginseng and between 10 and 15 grams of tremella,

Preparation: Place the tremella in warm water for 12 hours, then throw away its roots. Cut the ginseng, without the heads, into slices. Place the ginseng in a terrine and decoct it for two hours. Add the tremella and cook for another hour. Drink the soup and eat the tremella twice a day for 10-15 days.

Benefits: You don't have to be overly sensitive tc your health condition, as mothers aged at 40s usually suffer from weakened strength and q/-blood deficiency. Herbs can help.

Passing the Big 5-Oh

Mothers in this age group generally enjoy recreation activities and quiet times. Their children are grown, and the family enjoys its happiness. But these women must still look after their health.

"I have slightly higher blood pressure, but I don't know how to cope with it."

GREEN TEA WITH CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND CHINESE SCHOLARTREE FLOWER CAN HELP

Preparation: Place three grams each of chrysanthemums, Chinese scholartree flowers and green tea in warm water for five to 10 minutes. Serve.

Benefits: Tea is always a pretty woman's best friend. It nourishes the skin, reduces fat and prolongs life. This tea also helps lower blood lipids.

"I often feel tired, and have a sore waist and aching legs. My husband says I ought to enrich my kidneys."

MUSSEL SOUP CAN HELP

Preparation: Steam the mussels for an hour. Mix the mussels and lard in a hot pot. Add water, salt, cooking wine, scallions, ginger and pepper Bring to a boil and then add green cabbage heart.

Benefits: Mussel soup improves digestion, reduces blood pressure and enhances the skin.

(Source: Women of China English Monthly)