According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), "sweetness can tonify deficiency," so the beneficial effects of sweet foods on the body are certainly worthy of affirmation. However, TCM also believes that "excessive tonification can easily generate heat and aid pathogens." Therefore, when using "sweetness" to "tonify deficiency," it is easy to cause functional imbalance in the body. In mild cases, it can lead to "internal heat" (上火), and in severe cases, it can trigger other diseases, such as nosebleeds, mouth sores, red and teary eyes, or a bloated abdomen and poor appetite.
In many snacks, sweeteners are added to enhance the taste. Once you eat too much, you will naturally suffer from "internal heat" due to the sweetness. Additionally, these small items like dried fruits and candies are not low in calories. If you eat too much, you will exceed your calorie limit, and the possibility of getting "internal heat" is quite high.
Green Calyx Plum and Chinese Yam Porridge
Four Homemade Dietary Remedies to Reduce "Internal Heat"
1. Corn and Sweet Potato Porridge
Ingredients: 50g cornmeal, 500g sweet potato, 20 red dates.
Method: Wash the sweet potato, peel it, cut it into small pieces, and put it in a pot with the red dates. Cook until the sweet potato is about 70-80% done. Mix a little cold water with the cornmeal to form a paste, add it to the pot, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for about ten minutes, then remove from the heat. Note that you must stir constantly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
Applicable for: People who experience constipation due to "spring dryness."
2. Chinese Yam and Glutinous Rice Porridge
Ingredients: Chinese yam, water chestnut, red dates, glutinous rice.
Method: Peel and wash the Chinese yam, then slice it and set aside. Rinse the fresh water chestnuts, peel them, and dice them. Wash the glutinous rice, soak it in cold water for half an hour, then drain. Finally, wash the red dates and set aside. Take a pot, add cold water and all the ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for about an hour. You can add some sugar to taste when drinking.
Applicable for: People experiencing "spring dryness." However, diabetic patients should not add sugar when drinking.
3. Stewed Lily with Asparagus
Ingredients: 100g lily bulbs, 50g fresh asparagus.
Method: Break the lily bulbs into petals, tear off the inner membrane, soak them in salt water, then rinse and set aside. Wash the asparagus and cut into pieces. Heat a wok, add an appropriate amount of water and the lily bulbs, and cook until they are 70% done. Add the asparagus pieces and cook until done. Drink once a day.
Applicable for: People who get nosebleeds or have a dry mouth and throat due to "spring dryness."
4. Loofah and Pork Slices Soup
Ingredients: 50g lean pork slices, 25g fresh loofah, a little salt, MSG, and clear broth.
Method: Wash the lean pork and slice it. Peel the loofah and slice it. Clean the wok, add a little clear broth and bring to a boil. Add the pork slices. When the broth boils again, skim off the foam. Then add the loofah and salt, and cook for a moment more before serving.
Applicable for: People experiencing symptoms like a dry cough.
Although the "internal heat" from eating too many sweets can be reduced with dietary remedies, it is still best not to eat too many sweets. It's okay to have them in moderation, as eating too much is not good for our bodies.
Green calyx plum yam glutinous rice porridge