Summer has arrived, and at this time, eating more of these six types of melons and fruits is beneficial for women's health. So, which melons and fruits should you eat in the summer? Let's take a look at the ones introduced here. For female friends, the following six types of melons and fruits can be consumed regularly during the summer.
1. Winter Melon
Winter melon is cold in nature. Its flesh and pulp have effects such as promoting urination, clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and quenching thirst. It can also be used to treat conditions like edema, phlegmatic wheezing, summer heat, and hemorrhoids. Winter melon is rich in vitamin C and has a high potassium content with a low sodium content. For patients with hypertension, kidney disease, or edema who need to supplement their diet, consuming it can achieve a swelling-reducing effect without harming the body's vital energy. Additionally, a soup made from winter melon rind can treat mild edema. A soup made with winter melon, lotus leaves, and Job's tears can clear damp-heat and serves as a cooling beverage in the hot summer. However, it is not suitable for individuals with a weak spleen and stomach, insufficient yang energy, or yin deficiency and emaciation.
2. Luffa
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, luffa is cool in nature and sweet in taste, possessing effects such as clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling blood to stop bleeding, unblocking meridians, promoting blood circulation, beautifying the skin, and anti-cancer. Long-term consumption or using luffa juice to wipe the face can make the skin smooth and delicate, with special effects of anti-wrinkle and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as preventing and eliminating acne and melanin deposition. People who are chronically ill, have a weak spleen and stomach, or suffer from indigestion should eat it in moderation.
3. Bitter Melon
It contains unique compounds such as momordicoside and momordicin, giving it a distinct bitter taste. It can relieve summer heat, clear the mind, and dispel stuffiness and heat. It is effective for conditions like stomach heat, damp-heat dysentery, vomiting, diarrhea, and hematuria. Bitter melon is rich in vitamin B1, vitamin C, and minerals. In the dry summer, women can often apply chilled bitter melon slices to their skin to immediately relieve dryness. Bitter melon can also moisturize, whiten, and soften the skin, while calming and hydrating it. Furthermore, bitter melon helps control blood sugar, prevent diabetes, and can block fat absorption to aid in weight loss. However, pregnant women should consume it in moderation. Additionally, individuals with low blood pressure, low blood sugar, or a weak spleen and stomach should not eat too much.
4. Cucumber
Cucumber is cold in nature and has effects such as removing heat, promoting urination, and clearing heat and detoxifying. It can be eaten raw, in a salad, or cooked and is beneficial for obese individuals and those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In addition, cucumber is rich in vitamin E and cucumber enzyme, which have strong biological activity and can play a role in beautifying the skin and delaying aging. A reminder for beauty enthusiasts: a dew-like viscous substance forms on the surface of cucumber slices, which can easily cause skin tightness and make the skin drier and more wrinkled. Therefore, it is not advisable to apply cucumber slices directly to the face. The correct method is to use fresh cucumber juice.
5. Papaya
Papaya is neutral and slightly cool in nature. Besides aiding digestion, it can also relieve summer heat, quench thirst, moisten the lungs, and relieve cough. The fruit is rich in papain, vitamins C and B, and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, making it nutritious. It helps prevent and treat hypertension, nephritis, constipation, aids digestion, and treats stomach diseases. It promotes metabolism, has anti-aging effects, and also provides beauty and skin care benefits. The chymosin in papaya also has a galactagogue effect. Pregnant women often drink a soup of raw papaya and fish tail, which can relieve summer heat, strengthen the stomach, and has nourishing and milk-boosting effects.
6. Pumpkin
Pumpkin has effects such as replenishing qi, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain. Applying the juice of raw pumpkin externally can treat burns and scalds, while taking it internally can expel roundworms. Regular consumption of pumpkin flowers and fruits by pregnant women can not only promote the development of fetal brain cells and enhance their vitality but also prevent and treat pregnancy complications like edema and hypertension, promote blood clotting, and prevent postpartum bleeding.
Summer Diet and Health Preservation
1. "Sour" Foods
Appropriately eating sour foods can help control sweating, stop diarrhea, and expel dampness. It can prevent excessive sweating from consuming qi and fluids, as well as promote saliva production to quench thirst and aid digestion and stomach function. Examples include tomatoes, lemons, strawberries, grapes, hawthorn, mangoes, and kiwis. Adding a bit of vinegar to dishes can also kill bacteria and prevent gastrointestinal diseases.
2. "Bitter" Foods
As the saying goes: "Eating bitter foods in hot weather is better than taking tonics." Bitter foods contain amino acids, alkaloids, glycosides, etc., and have functions such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, reducing fever and dispelling summer heat, and refreshing the mind. Common "bitter" foods include bitter melon, dandelion, tea, and chocolate. However, it should be noted that consuming bitter foods in excessive amounts at one time can cause discomfort such as nausea and vomiting.
3. "Potassium"-rich Foods
In hot weather, excessive sweating leads to a significant loss of potassium, causing hypokalemia, which results in symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, headaches, poor appetite, and listlessness. At this time, it is best to eat more potassium-rich foods, such as strawberries, peaches, spinach, green onions, and celery. Drinking more tea in hot weather can also help cool down and supplement potassium.
4. Qi-regulating Foods
Hot weather often leads to physical and mental fatigue and irritability, making it difficult to eat and sleep well. In addition to relaxing, stretching, and regulating one's mental state, it is particularly important to choose some qi-regulating and appetizing foods. Examples include radishes, rose petals, lotus root, hawthorn, and oranges.