Stomach Discomfort and Trying New Things
Before and after the Start of Summer, the frequent convergence of warm and cold air causes people's immune functions to gradually decline, increasing susceptibility to germs and weakening the stomach's disease resistance. Colds, fevers, and stomach discomfort also become more rampant. In folklore, there is a custom of "trying new things" during the Start of Summer, eating fresh fruits and vegetables on this day, which is very beneficial to the body. Reasonably adjusting your diet during the Start of Summer can lay a good health foundation for the entire summer. On this day, you can eat bamboo shoots, cherries, wheat kernels, broad beans, etc. You can also eat sour fruits to promote the production of saliva and whet the appetite. Furthermore, people have a custom of eating bamboo shoots to pray for the health of important parts of the body, such as the body, mind, and legs, to prevent illness and get through the hot summer smoothly. This is called "Quan Sun" (whole bamboo shoot), symbolizing the hope that the legs will be as strong and powerful as spring bamboo shoots, able to travel far and journey a thousand miles.
The "Book of Rites - Monthly Ordinances" records that during the Start of Summer, "the mole cricket chirps, the earthworm emerges, the king melon grows, and the bitter vegetables flourish." This indicates that during the Start of Summer, one should eat more fresh field vegetables, which is beneficial for health preservation. Reasonably arranging your diet and paying attention to a balanced diet is particularly important during the Start of Summer. Do not eat too much at each meal to avoid damaging the gastrointestinal function; in addition, develop good dietary and personal hygiene habits. Do not buy spoiled food ingredients; meals should be freshly cooked and eaten immediately; raw fruits and vegetables should be washed and disinfected; when making cold dishes, add garlic paste and vinegar, which can not only season the food but also sterilize and increase appetite. Even in hot weather, do not overindulge in cold food to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from taking advantage of the opportunity. In the Guxixi area of Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, there is a custom of making "Start of Summer Cakes" and eating tofu on the Start of Summer, said to protect against getting wet in the rain and being stung by red wasps. This ancient custom refers to the unique effects of tofu in promoting the production of saliva, moisturizing the body, clearing heat, and detoxifying. Tofu is rich in protein but contains no cholesterol. Eating tofu often can lower cholesterol, prevent arteriosclerosis, and treat red eyes, diabetes, and intermittent dysentery (dysentery that sometimes gets better and sometimes worse), and can also relieve alcohol and sulfur poisoning.
Sores in the Mouth: Eat More Soft Foods
For the body's organs, during the Start of Summer, the liver qi gradually weakens and the heart qi gradually strengthens. The dietary principle at this time is to increase sourness and decrease bitterness, to nourish the kidneys and support the liver. Ensuring normal gastrointestinal function and resisting the invasion of summer heat is an important part of summer health preservation. After the Start of Summer, people sweat a lot, which can cause insufficient yang qi in the body; the skin pores are easily opened, and eating more sour foods and medicines can cause the skin pores to contract appropriately. Black plum, hawthorn, papaya, and schisandra all have astringent and fixing properties and can be used to treat diarrhea, night sweats, and other conditions. In the summer, it is recommended that everyone make their own hawthorn cake at home, which is both delicious and healthy.
After the Start of Summer, yang qi rises and the weather gradually warms up. Eating too much greasy or heat-inducing food can cause both internal and external body heat, easily leading to heat-related problems such as acne, mouth ulcers, and constipation. To resolve the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach at this time, the diet should be light, with plenty of water, and include easily digestible, vitamin-rich foods.
Eating more soft foods is an important method for summer dietary health preservation. It is said that making the Start of Summer porridge is done in the village streets and alleys. A pit is dug on the spot, a large iron pot is set up, a fire is lit to cook the porridge, and the cooking smoke curls up. The person in charge of this porridge is definitely a kind and benevolent old lady with high prestige among the villagers. It is said that eating this porridge brings neighbors together in harmony and focuses everyone on summer plowing and planting. Eating porridge in the morning and evening, and soup for lunch, can not only promote the production of saliva and quench thirst, cool down and relieve heat, but also nourish the body and help regulate the body's yin and yang balance. In addition, duck, shrimp, crucian carp, lean meat, edible fungi (such as shiitake mushrooms, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, tremella, etc.), and coix seed also have the effects of increasing appetite, supplementing nutrition, and relieving summer heat and strengthening the body.
Nourishing the Heart: Add a Midday Nap
The heart corresponds to summer. The changes of yin and yang in the four seasons of nature are interconnected with the functional activities of the five internal organs of the human body. In summer, heart-yang is at its most vigorous and its function is the strongest. When the temperature rises, people are easily irritable and prone to anger. This is because the high temperature intensifies people's psychological tension and excessive heart-fire. At this time, people's emotional fluctuations are not only significant, but their body's immune function is also relatively low. Any slight impropriety in daily routine or diet can lead to various illnesses. After the Start of Summer, the dietary principle is "nourishing yang in spring and summer," and nourishing yang focuses on "nourishing the heart." Therefore, in the health preservation of the entire summer, special attention should be paid to the care of the heart. To nourish the heart, you can drink more milk and eat more soy products, chicken, lean meat, etc., which can not only supplement nutrition but also strengthen the heart. Usually eating more vegetables, fruits, and coarse grains can increase the supply of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin B, which can help prevent arteriosclerosis.
During the Start of Summer, maintain a cheerful mood and avoid excessive joy that can harm the heart. You can eat a small amount of green onions in the morning and drink a small amount of red wine in the evening to promote the circulation of qi and blood. The "Suwen - Four-Season Regulating Classic" once recorded: "For the three months of summer, this is the time of flourishing growth. The qi of heaven and earth intersects, and all things flourish and bear fruit. Go to bed late and get up early, and do not be tired of the sun."
After the Start of Summer, you can appropriately adjust your biological clock, develop the habit of sleeping late and getting up early, to adapt to the changes in nature's abundance of yang and deficiency of yin, and increase a midday nap. From 1 pm to 3 pm is the hottest time of the day. People tend to sweat, and even a little activity can consume a lot of physical energy due to excessive sweating, easily leading to fatigue. Therefore, at noon, you can listen to music or close your eyes to rest, and it is best not to work overtime. The duration of a midday nap should vary from person to person, but generally, it is appropriate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. A longer time can instead harm the spirit and qi.