Top 10 Heart-Healthy Foods to Eat This Summer

In summer, clothing is often light and blankets are thin. Even healthy individuals must guard against external pathogens. Once sick, one should not轻易 use sweating agents, to avoid excessive sweat damaging the heart. The elderly should pay special attention to preventing qi and blood stasis, to prevent heart attacks. Therefore, in summer, one's mood should be cheerful and carefree, and one must avoid extreme joy which can harm the heart.

1. Pig Heart

The pig heart is neutral in nature and sweet and salty in flavor, with the functions of nourishing the heart and blood, and calming the spirit and stopping fright. It is rich in protein and more calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and other components, with little fat content. It can enhance myocardial nutrition and increase myocardial contractility.

Sautéed Pig Heart with Pickled Cabbage

2. Eggs

Eggs are neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, with the effects of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, replenishing qi and nourishing blood, and calming the fetus. They are not only rich in protein, 8 essential amino acids for the human body, and various vitamins, but also have extremely high nutritional value. They also contain lecithin, which can enhance and improve memory function, and modern experimental research has confirmed that it can indeed remove cholesterol from the body, lower blood lipids, and protect blood vessels.

Therefore, consuming no more than 2 eggs per day not only avoids the harm of increasing blood lipids but can also prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, and is also beneficial for senile dementia.

3. Honey

Honey is neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, with the functions of nourishing yin and blood, and nourishing the heart and moistening the lungs. It is rich in various nutrients such as carbohydrates, organic acids, multiple vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and protein. It has strengthening, nourishing, and tonic effects, and can improve brain power, increase hemoglobin, and improve myocardial function. However, it should not be consumed in large quantities or for a long time, and it is contraindicated to be taken with other tonic herbs, Tuhuangling (Poria cocos), Weilingxian (Clematis chinensis), and other Chinese medicines.

Honey Grapefruit Tea

4. Grapes

Grapes are neutral in nature and sweet and sour in flavor, with the effects of replenishing qi and blood, strengthening muscles and bones, and promoting urination. They are rich in various nutrients and have a nourishing and excitatory effect on the brain nerves; because of their high iron and potassium content (especially in raisins), they are an important source for supplementing iron and potassium, which is beneficial for correcting anemia and stabilizing the electrophysiological function of myocardial cells.

5. Jujubes

Jujubes are warm in nature and sweet in flavor, with the functions of nourishing blood and calming the spirit, replenishing qi and promoting body fluids, tonifying the spleen and stomach, and moderating the properties of other medicines. In addition to being rich in amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and various minerals, they also contain substances that can regulate substance metabolism and cell proliferation and division. They can dilate blood vessels, improve myocardial nutrition, enhance myocardial contractility, and help stabilize the normal activity of the heart. The flavonoids and dammarane-type saponins they contain have sedative, hypnotic, antihypertensive, anti-fatigue, and endurance-enhancing effects, respectively. Because they are rich in various vitamins, with the highest content of Vitamin C among fresh fruits—82 times that of apples—they are known as the "natural vitamin pill."

Sweetened Lotus Seeds and Rice

6. Lotus Seeds

Lotus seeds are slightly cool in nature and sweet and astringent in flavor, with the functions of nourishing the heart and spleen, and tonifying the kidneys and securing. In addition to containing protein, carbohydrates, a small amount of fat, and various vitamins, they are also rich in minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, and iron. The lotusine they contain has the effect of strengthening the heart and lowering blood pressure.

7. Wheat

Wheat is cool in nature and sweet in flavor, with the functions of nourishing the heart and blood, tonifying deficiency and stopping sweating, and clearing heat and relieving vexation. It is rich in nutrients such as starch, protein, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin E, and lecithin. Vitamin E content is particularly abundant and is an essential nutrient for maintaining the normal functions of human blood, heart, bones, muscles, and nerves. The choline, lecithin, and arginine it contains can enhance memory and improve intelligence. In addition to being rich in large amounts of vitamin B and protein in its bran, it also contains an active substance that can regulate the nerves, clear heat and relieve vexation, and moisten the organs.

Longan and Shrimp Balls

8. Longan Aril

Longan aril is warm in nature and sweet in flavor, with the functions of benefiting the heart and spleen, replenishing qi and blood, and calming the mind. It contains various organic acids, amino acids, proteins, and abundant minerals and vitamins, which have a tonic effect on the whole body. It also contains substances such as adenine and choline, which are particularly beneficial to brain cells, and have effects such as eliminating fatigue, enhancing memory, and anti-aging. Research has found that longan aril contains a substance that can significantly inhibit the activity of an enzyme that accelerates aging in the body, so it has a significant anti-aging effect.

9. Black Sesame

Black sesame is rich in vitamin E, which plays a huge role in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessel walls. In addition, it is rich in alpha-linolenic acid, which can also lower blood pressure and prevent thrombosis. Because the nutrients of black sesame are hidden in the seeds, it is necessary to break the shell to be effective. It is recommended to stir-fry it first to make it pop, or grind it into powder for consumption.

Braised Pig's Trotters with Soybeans

10. Soybeans

Soybeans contain various essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids for the human body, which can promote the metabolism of fat and cholesterol in the body and keep the cardiovascular system unobstructed. When consumed, in addition to processing soybeans into soy milk, tofu, and douchi, they can also be made into soybean rice. When cooking, first soak the soybeans in hot water for more than 4 hours, then change the water and add rice to cook. This can dissolve the polysaccharides in soybeans that are prone to producing gas, so as to avoid causing bloating.