Bitter Gourd—Cools the heart and brightens the eyes, enhances appetite. The polypeptides it contains help lower blood sugar and regulate pancreatic function, making it very suitable for diabetics.
Lotus Seed Core—Relieves summer heat, eliminates vexation, promotes saliva production, and quenches thirst. It is said that Emperor Qianlong always used lotus leaf dew to brew lotus seed core tea when he was at the Mountain Resort to clear heart fire and adjust vital energy. On a summer afternoon, you can also try brewing a cup and adding a little honey for a better taste.
Bitter Apricot Kernel—Relieves cough and asthma, moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement. If used in a cold salad, it must be soaked thoroughly in water and cooked before consumption to avoid poisoning.
Kuding Tea—Lowers blood pressure and lipids, relieves alcohol and greasiness. Replacing high-sugar drinks with a cup of long-lasting tea can better quench our thirsty bodies.
The Many Benefits of "Bitter" Foods
1. Gives You a Good Appetite: On hot and muggy days, you may lose your appetite even when faced with delicious food. At this time, eating some bitter foods can awaken your dormant taste buds, activate your taste nerves, and promote the secretion of saliva, gastric juice, and bile to increase appetite and aid digestion.
2. Boosts Your Spirit: Bitter foods often contain certain theobromine and caffeine. When you are troubled by "summer lethargy," they are your perfect remedy to relieve fatigue. They can excite the central nervous system, promote body metabolism, speed up the elimination of fatigue, and help you say goodbye to tension and exhaustion.
3. Reduces "Fire" and Expels Toxins: From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the bitter flavor belongs to "yin" and has a dredging effect. For restlessness caused by excessive internal heat, it has the effect of clearing heat and calming the spirit.
In addition, bitter foods can promote the proliferation of Lactobacillus in the intestines, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, reduce toxin production, and maintain the balance of the intestinal environment.
4. Clears Away Cancer Cells: Research has found that bitter foods are rich in Vitamin B17. Its magical power lies in its ability to distinguish between healthy cells and cancer cells in the human body, protecting normal cells from damage while having a powerful lethal effect on cancer cells.