As winter approaches, more and more people are eating hot pot. Some people experience "internal heat" phenomena such as a dry mouth and throat, a sore throat, swollen gums, ulcers and bleeding on the tip of the tongue and oral mucosa, bloating, and constipation after eating hot pot for 2-3 days. The main reason is that hot pot is characterized by being numbing, spicy, and very hot. Furthermore, the ingredients in hot pot, such as chicken, duck, fish, shark fin, and sea cucumber, are often greasy and sticky. For people with a weaker constitution or poor digestive function, this can lead to indigestion and "internal heat" phenomena. Here are five tips for enjoying hot pot and preventing "internal heat".
1. Add some vegetables or tofu to the hot pot. Vegetables like spinach, celery, and green beans. Tofu and its products such as firm tofu and yuba (tofu skin). Vegetables are rich in vitamins and chlorophyll, and tofu contains gypsum, both of which have cooling properties and effects like clearing heat, purging fire, and relieving vexation. This can prevent "internal heat" from eating hot pot.
2. Boil some traditional Chinese medicine in the hot pot. Use 10 grams each of Dendrobium, Scrophularia root, and Ophiopogon japonicus. Wrap them in a gauze bag and cook in the hot pot for 15-20 minutes, then remove the bag. This has the effect of nourishing yin, reducing fire, and promoting fluid production, and can prevent "internal heat" induced by hot pot.
3. Add some lotus seeds to the hot pot. Lotus seeds are rich in various nutrients and are a great tonic. Soak the lotus seeds in water for 30 minutes, remove the skins, but keep the cores. They can both nourish the body and clear the heart and purge fire, making them an excellent choice for preventing "internal heat" when eating hot pot.
4. Add a little beer to the hot pot. Adding two spoonfuls of beer to the hot pot can make the broth more mellow and delicious. Beer is rich in various nutrients, which not only balances nutrition but is also a clever way to prevent "internal heat" from hot pot.
5. Eat some fruit after enjoying the hot pot. 20-30 minutes after eating, eat some cooling fruits like pears, lotus root, apples, or oranges to prevent "internal heat". However, do not eat heating oranges.
Four Taboos When Eating Hot Pot:
1. Eat less offal. With the application of pesticides, fertilizers, and additives in food production, animal organs often become "filters" and "storage sites" for these harmful substances. The liver and lungs, in particular, have the highest levels of pathogenic microorganisms and drug residues.
2. Eat less scalding food. The temperature of hot pot broth can reach up to 120°C. Eating it as soon as it's served can easily scald the oral cavity, esophagus, and gastric mucosa. For people who already have mouth sores, the chance of recurrence can be several times higher after eating hot pot.
3. Eat undercooked food less often. Raw food served at the table often contains residual pathogenic microorganisms and parasite eggs. If eaten after a brief dip, the likelihood of harmful microorganisms entering the body is very high.
4. Control the time. Some people eat for several hours, even all night. This causes digestive juices like gastric acid, bile, and pancreatic juice to be secreted continuously, preventing the glands from resting normally, leading to gastrointestinal disorders such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.