There was a Japanese doctor who wrote a book about Chinese food which is good to cure some particular illness. To our Chinese, we do not feel it of great importance because we know better than the Japanese.
But, in one point he is absolutely right that to eat more vegetables than meat is the only way to keep your body in good health. He said that vegetable can prevent many kinds of illness especially the cancer.
It is true that if we eat more vegetables we can avoid high blood pressure, heart trouble and so on. But, meat is just opposite. That is why vegetable-eaten animals can live longer than meat animals.
The essence of health food exists among our daily food. As long as we eat a balanced diet, we have everything to cover the needs of our body, not necessary to take health supplements.
Every kind of food has its special effect. But, rice has quick reaction to recover your energy. It you are weak, lacking of strength, rice can help to recover your energy instantly. Other food does not have quick response to resume your energy.
Of course, it is better to know some knowledge that tomato is good to the prostate, garlic to kill germs, bitter melon to reduce high blood pressure, blue berry to help eye sight. Different kinds of fruit and vegetable have different effect to nourish your body needs.