November 22nd marks the "Minor Snow" solar term. After Minor Snow, the temperature will continue to drop, and food lovers who love hot pot are getting restless again. However, although hot pot is delicious, it can easily lead to "internal heat." Many people get mouth ulcers after eating hot pot, and even get more pimples on their faces than usual. Why is it especially easy to get "internal heat" during the Minor Snow solar term, and how can we eat hot pot without getting "overheated"?
Be Cautious of Internal Heat During the Minor Snow Solar Term
The Minor Snow solar term on November 22nd is the first solar term after the Start of Winter. The "Seventy-two Seasons of the Monthly Ordinances" says: "In the middle of the tenth month, rain falls and is congealed by the cold air, thus turning into snow. 'Minor' means it has not yet become abundant." This means the weather gradually turns cold and it starts to snow, usually with a small amount of snow that freezes at night and melts during the day. Traditional medicine believes that in winter, especially after Minor Snow, it is advisable to warm the kidney's yang, so that the body's yang energy can flourish in the coming year. However, in the process of warming the kidney's yang, people often experience "internal heat." Why is this?
As the temperature drops during Minor Snow, some people like to eat spicy foods like hot pot, which can easily cause "internal heat," what people commonly call "getting overheated." Symptoms include mouth ulcers, a dry mouth and tongue, and more pimples on the face. These are all signs of "internal heat." Additionally, due to the use of heating facilities like radiators and air conditioners, it is very warm indoors while it is cold outside. People wear heavy clothes, and the body's heat cannot dissipate. Therefore, winter warmth should not be excessive. If the heating is too high and people go out wearing too many layers, the body's heat cannot escape, easily leading to internal heat.
Dietary Nourishment Points During the Minor Snow Solar Term
According to traditional Chinese health science, the diet after the Minor Snow solar term should be mainly light, and nourishment should focus on warming and heating foods. It is recommended to eat foods that are moistening and beneficial to the kidneys. Sun Simiao's "Cultivation Method" states: "One should reduce pungent and bitter foods to nourish the kidney's qi." At this time, you can eat more mutton, beef, chicken, cashews, goji berries, fox nuts, Chinese yam, chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, walnuts, black fungus, black sesame seeds, black beans, mulberries, and yellow essence. At the same time, medicinal diets can be used for conditioning.
To prevent excessive warming from causing "internal heat," you can appropriately eat more bitter foods. In terms of food, "bitter" foods are the natural enemy of "fire." Bitter substances have the effects of reducing heat and fire, clearing heat and moistening dryness, and eliminating fatigue. Therefore, during the Minor Snow season, people can choose bitter foods like celery, lettuce, asparagus lettuce, and chicory. These foods contain amino acids, vitamins, alkaloids, trace elements, and have various medical and health benefits such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, refreshing the mind, and clearing heat and moistening the intestines.
Tips for Eating Hot Pot Without Getting "Overheated"
1. Choose a light broth. You can add ingredients that clear dryness or reduce fire, such as lotus seeds, ginger, or sugarcane. When eating meat, pair it with a little radish, or make radish and sugarcane side dishes. This not only prevents "internal heat" but also provides good nutritional benefits. Sugarcane is sweet and cold in nature. Eating it raw can clear heat and toxins and promote the production of body fluids. When cooked with mutton, it can also remove the gamey smell and neutralize its drying nature.
2. Don't eat too much meat. Excessive meat consumption can easily lead to phlegm and "internal heat."
3. After eating hot pot, you can drink green tea or sugarcane water to reduce greasiness and "internal heat."
4. Use cooling ingredients to help the body restore its yin-yang balance. Cooling fruits like pears and pomelos can moisten the lungs and reduce dryness. Eating some cooling fruits after hot pot can help reduce "internal heat" and resolve phlegm.
5. Drink plenty of water after hot pot.
After the Minor Snow solar term, the weather tends to be dry. Therefore, it is important to supplement with an adequate amount of water. However, many people believe that because the body doesn't sweat much in cold weather, they don't need to focus on hydration. In fact, during the Minor Snow solar term, the body loses water through the skin (even without visible sweat), respiration, and bowel movements. Furthermore, drinking more water proactively after a hot pot meal can help wash away the greasiness from the meal and neutralize the drying heat. Therefore, don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink.