It's currently lychee season, and enjoying a few lychees after work has become a popular activity for many office workers. However, the "heatiness" that follows is a real nuisance. So, how can office workers enjoy lychees without getting "heaty"? What should one pay attention to when eating lychees? And what to do if you already feel "heaty" from eating them?
How can office workers eat lychees without getting "heaty"?
1. For the average person, it's not advisable to eat more than 10 lychees at a time. For children, 3-4 pieces per sitting is sufficient. Do not overconsume.
2. When peeling the lychee shell, there's a thin, white membrane on the pulp. Eating this membrane along with the pulp, and also eating the white, stem-like part at the indentation of the lychee's base after consumption, can help prevent "heatiness".
3. Soaking lychees in salt water can significantly reduce their "heatiness". If you are soaking a large batch of lychees and wish to preserve them for longer, you can peel off the white membrane as well, then soak the pulp in light salt water for about an hour. Afterwards, place them in a sealed container and store them in the freezer.
4. Eating lychees picked fresh from the tree before dawn, while the morning dew is still present, will not cause "heatiness".
5. Before eating lychees, you can drink some salt water, or consume heat-reducing foods like Prunella凉茶 (Prunella cool tea), winter melon soup, or mung bean soup to effectively prevent "heatiness". Alternatively, you can boil pork or pork bone soup with 20-30 grams of raw Rehmannia root to effectively prevent "lychee sickness".
6. Eating some steamed salted fish with rice, or using it to make soup or congee, can also help prevent "heatiness" from lychees.
7. Soak fresh lychees in ice water, submerge them in a well, or place them in cold spring water. Eating them the next day can reduce "heatiness" and transform dryness into nourishing yin.
What should you pay attention to when eating lychees?
1. If you experience hypoglycemia from eating lychees, you should replenish with some sugar water. If symptoms are severe, seek medical attention promptly.
2. Soak and wash the lychees thoroughly to remove any preservatives or pesticides from their surfaces.
3. Do not eat lychees on an empty stomach; it's best to consume them half an hour after a meal. Fresh lychees have a high sugar content, and eating them on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach lining, leading to stomach pain and bloating. Moreover, consuming a large amount on an empty stomach can cause a sudden influx of high sugar levels in the body, leading to "hypertonic coma".
4. Daily lychee consumption should generally not exceed 300 grams. It is not advisable to eat large quantities of lychees. Eating a large amount of lychees with very little food can easily trigger acute hypoglycemia, causing symptoms like dizziness, thirst, nausea, sweating, stomach pain, and palpitations. In severe cases, it can lead to coma, convulsions, or arrhythmia.
5. People with a constitution of yin deficiency and dryness, or with excess damp-heat, should not eat lychees. Diabetics and those who are prone to bloating should consume them with caution.
6. People with conditions like active acne, a common cold, or acute inflammation should avoid eating lychees, as it can worsen their condition.
7. Diabetics should eat lychees with caution. Lychees are very high in sugar, so diabetics should be careful. Similarly, those with yin deficiency and excess fire, or who are already experiencing "heatiness" symptoms, should avoid them to prevent worsening their condition. People with symptoms like a sore throat, swollen gums, or nosebleeds should also avoid them.
8. Try not to eat water-soaked lychees. Many lychees on the market are soaked in water, which contains a large amount of moisture. A large intake of water into the gastrointestinal tract can dilute digestive juices, leading to loss of appetite or indigestion, and can also cause temporary hypoglycemia.
What to do if you get "heaty" from eating lychees?
1. If you experience "heatiness" symptoms after eating a handful of lychees, try drinking a glass of light salt water and honey water to relieve the symptoms.
2. If you feel "heaty" from lychees, drink mung bean soup. For a better detoxifying and heat-reducing effect, do not add sugar. Do not overcook the mung beans until the skins burst. Stop cooking when the soup turns a dark green color and let it cool before drinking.
3. Drink more soup made with raw Rehmannia and pork bones. After cleaning the pork bones, place them in a clay pot, add water to cover them by about one-third, and add a few slices of raw Rehmannia. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat until the meat is tender. Season with salt before serving.
4. The most common remedy after eating lychees is bitter melon and pork bone soup. Clean the pork bones and place them in a clay pot with enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, add the bitter melon, and simmer on low heat until the meat is tender. Season with salt. It is recommended to drink this once every two days.