The scorching sun not only makes you "listless," but also causes your "appetite to plummet." While ice water quenches thirst, it can harm the stomach; ice cream is cooling but not low in calories... So, are there foods that are both nutritious and cooling? Of course! Here are 8 foods you should consider eating more of. Best Condiment—Vinegar
Vinegar is indispensable in cooking, and even more so in summer dishes. First, vinegar can kill bacteria. In summer, bacteria multiply rapidly, and intestinal infectious diseases increase. At this time, vinegar has a strong killing effect on various germs. Second, vinegar can regulate gastrointestinal function. Vinegar is sour, slightly sweet, and has a fragrant aroma. When you smell the vinegar's aroma and taste its flavor, digestive juices are naturally secreted, ensuring you have a strong appetite. Best Vegetable—Bitter Vegetables
As the saying goes: "Eating bitter foods in hot weather is better than taking supplements." Bitter foods contain amino acids, bitter substances, alkaloids, etc., and have multiple effects such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, reducing heat and dispelling summer heat, refreshing the mind, and relieving fatigue. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that in summer, heat and dampness are abundant, which damages kidney qi and burdens the spleen and stomach. Bitter foods can achieve a balance in the body's functions through their effects of tonifying qi, securing the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, and drying dampness. Common "bitter" foods include bitter melon, bitter herbs, and kale. Note that you should not eat too many bitter foods at once, as it can easily cause discomfort such as nausea and vomiting. Best Meat—Duck
Duck meat is sweet, salty, and cooling in nature. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine's principle of "treating heat with cold," it is especially suitable for people with internal heat, such as those with low-grade fever, weakness, poor appetite, or dry stools. In addition, duck stewed with ham and sea cucumber is good for nourishing the yin of the five organs; duck congee cooked with glutinous rice has the effects of nourishing the stomach, replenishing blood, and promoting fluid production; duck stewed with kelp can soften blood vessels and lower blood pressure, helping to prevent and treat arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Best Drink—Hot Tea
In summer, drinks are essential, but the first choice is not various cold drinks, beer, or coffee, but the very ordinary hot tea. Tea is rich in potassium (the average potassium content in 100g of tea is 10.7mg for green tea and 24.1mg for black tea), which quenches thirst and relieves fatigue. A study in the United States pointed out that drinking green tea can also reduce by one-third the skin sunburn, sagging, and roughness caused by sun exposure. According to experiments by British experts, the cooling power of hot tea far exceeds that of cold drinks, making it the best among summer beverages. Best Fruit—Watermelon
Watermelon is sweet and cold in nature, also known as "cold melon" in folklore, and is the top choice for clearing summer heat and quenching thirst among melons. Watermelon is very nutritious, containing many nutrients needed by the human body. Because it contains 96.6% water, it can replenish the large amount of water lost by the human body in summer. Therefore, there is a saying in folklore, "Half a melon a day, what can the scorching heat do?" When summer brings heatstroke, fever, irritability, thirst, or other acute febrile illnesses, watermelon can be used as an auxiliary treatment. Watermelon rind can also be eaten cold-mixed or stir-fried. Best Congee—Mung Bean Congee
Eating more congee in summer is a traditional health care method in China and is very beneficial to the body. It is best to drink mung bean congee. Mung beans are cooling in nature and have the effect of clearing heat and dispelling summer heat. Other congees for preventing heatstroke include lotus leaf congee, fresh lotus root congee, and raw reed rhizome congee. Best Anti-Fatigue Food—Fruit and Vegetable Juice
When your limbs feel weary in summer, drinking more fruit and vegetable juice is a good choice. Fresh fruit and vegetable juice can effectively supplement the body with vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, which can enhance cell vitality and gastrointestinal function, promote the secretion of digestive juices, and relieve fatigue. Note that when making fruit and vegetable juice, it is best to choose two or three different fruits and vegetables, changing the combination daily, to ensure balanced absorption of different nutrients. The fruit and vegetable pulp should not be missed either; it is best to mix it well and eat it with honey. Best Sun-Protective Food—Tomato
Research results from scientists in Germany and the Netherlands show that eating more tomatoes can protect you from the sun. If you consume 40 grams of tomato sauce daily, the risk of sunburn will be reduced by 40%. Scientists believe that lycopene may be the main reason for this.