In today's high-pressure and fast-paced life, staying up late has become a common phenomenon. Many people who stay up late experience various symptoms of stomach problems, such as stomach pain, bloating, nausea, belching, and loss of appetite. TCM experts point out that staying up late consumes stomach yin. This is because the stomach is an organ that "likes moisture and dislikes dryness." If one often stays up late, has poor sleep quality, is in a long-term state of mental stress, and consumes a diet that is too "hot and dry," it can unknowingly damage stomach yin. Below, TCM experts teach you who often stay up late how to nourish your stomach and avoid damage to stomach yin.
Four Grains, Five Beans, and Six Fruits Congee
Staying up late and stress both harm the stomach
From a TCM perspective, frequently staying up late, having poor sleep quality, and being in a long-term state of mental stress can all lead to insufficient stomach yin in the body. According to the Five Elements theory, the stomach belongs to "dry earth" and "likes moisture and dislikes dryness," much like dry land that needs water to be nourished.
"Deep sleep is a method to nourish yin" is a famous saying in TCM. Therefore, if a person's sleep quality is poor and they often stay up late, it is easy to "secretly consume yin fluids." In addition, the body's sweat is also considered a "yin fluid." Many people's loss of appetite and excessive sweating in the hot summer are also largely related to the damage of yin fluids.
Furthermore, the relationship between the liver and the stomach is also very close. The transportation and transformation function of the spleen and stomach depends on the free flow of liver qi. Emotions such as tension, anxiety, depression, and anger can easily damage the liver, leading to a series of digestive tract symptoms, such as loss of appetite, bloating, stomach pain, vomiting, and belching.
What to eat to clear heat and nourish the stomach?
1. Five Beans Congee
Ingredients: 25g of soybeans, 25g of mung beans, 25g of red beans, 25g of black beans, 25g of fried hyacinth beans, 50g of purple rice, 100g of white rice
Method: Wash the beans and soak them in clean water for at least 4 hours. Place the soaked beans in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat. Turn off the heat after 1 hour. Do not open the lid and let it sit in the pot for 15 to 20 minutes. The five beans congee is now ready.
Effects: In TCM, it is believed that the five colors correspond to the five organs, and the five beans congee is rich in substances such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin A. Mung beans clear summer heat and promote fluid production, red beans reduce swelling and promote urination, fried hyacinth beans strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea, and black beans relieve irritability and detoxify. The five beans congee has effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the spleen, and harmonizing the stomach.
2. Chrysanthemum and Coix Seed Congee
Ingredients: 25g of chrysanthemum, 100g of coix seed, appropriate amount of tangerine peel and honey.
Method: Wash the tangerine peel and cut it into thin shreds; wash the coix seeds and soak them slightly; wash the chrysanthemum and separate the petals. Place the coix seeds and tangerine peel shreds in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil. Add the chrysanthemum, then reduce the heat and cook into a congee.
Effects: Chrysanthemum can clear the liver and brighten the eyes, and coix seed promotes urination and removes dampness. This congee helps to clear heat and expel dampness and is especially suitable for eye redness and swelling, dizziness, and headache caused by staying up late.
3. Lotus Seed, Hyacinth Bean, and Coix Seed Congee
Ingredients: 50g of fried hyacinth beans, 50g of lotus seeds, 100g of coix seeds, 10 red dates, 3 slices of dried tangerine peel, and an appropriate amount of white rice.
Method: After cleaning the ingredients, soak the fried hyacinth beans, etc., for two hours. The lotus seeds should not have their cores removed. Cook all the ingredients with water to make a congee.
Effects: This congee strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, nourishes the heart and pacifies the liver, and is effective for treating heart palpitations, insomnia, and summer heat damaging qi. It is very suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach and poor appetite.
4. Lily, Ophiopogon, and Red Date Congee
Ingredients: 10 red dates, 30g of lily, 10g of ophiopogon, and an appropriate amount of white rice.
Method: Wash the ingredients and cook them with an appropriate amount of water to make a congee.
Effects: It has the effects of replenishing qi and spirit, clearing the heart, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. It can improve heart palpitations and dizziness, and also nourish the blood and strengthen the body.
Four meters, five beans, six fruit porridge