In the hot and humid summer, summer-heat injures both Qi and Yin, and the spleen and stomach are affected by dampness, leading to a decline in digestive and absorption functions. Some people who crave cold relief use cold drinks and foods to cool down, which can also damage the gastric mucosa. Stomach diseases are common in the summer. To nourish the stomach, one must not neglect breakfast, and drinking congee is an excellent way to regulate the gastrointestinal system.
Multiple diseases are prevalent in the summer
Summer has the characteristics of being warm and hot, rising upwards. It is the time when the body's Yang energy is most vigorous, metabolism accelerates, and it is easy to lose body fluids and moisture. Dampness is trapped in the spleen and stomach, weakening their resistance. This can not only cause gastritis but also lead to other chronic diseases. Additionally, excessive sweating in the summer can cause blood to become thick and sluggish, leading to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Drinking congee in the morning can nourish the stomach
In the morning, the body's Yin Qi has not yet completely dispersed, and the body is in a state of contraction. At this time, it is best to eat hot food for breakfast to protect the stomach Qi. Congee has the properties of being warm, soft, and light, which warms the stomach and aids digestion. The sticky, floating layer on top of the cooked congee has strong nourishing effects and is an excellent product for stomach nourishment in the summer. Below, I will introduce some healthy congee recipes:
1. Shredded Ginger Congee: Ginger has the effect of nourishing the spleen's Yang and expelling dampness, and it can effectively prevent colds.
Method: Take 50 grams of rice and 5 slices of ginger, shredded and set aside. When the congee is almost cooked, add the shredded ginger and cook for another 5 minutes. After cooking, you can add an appropriate amount of brown sugar and stir well.
2. Bitter Gourd and Coix Seed Congee: Bitter gourd is a great cooling food with the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, while coix seed can effectively remove dampness from the spleen. When cooked together, they have the effect of clearing heat and expelling dampness.
Method: Take 15 grams of bitter gourd, remove the seeds and dice it. Cook it together with 60 grams of coix seed.
p>3. Lean Meat Congee: Plain congee has relatively single nutritional value, while lean meat is rich in protein, which can make up for the deficiency of congee and is suitable for people with weak physical strength.Method: Take 60 grams of rice and 20 grams of lean pork, shred and blanch the meat for later use. When the congee becomes thick, add the shredded meat and continue to cook for 5-10 minutes. A small amount of shredded ginger can be added to the congee for cooking.
4. Red Date Congee: Red dates are a powerful tool against spleen deficiency and stomach cold, and they have great tonic effects for people with a bland taste and poor appetite.
Method: Wash a small amount of red dates and cook them over low heat in a pot. Add 50 grams of rice and bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer slowly over low heat.
5. Celery Congee: Celery has the effect of clearing heat and reducing liver fire, and it can also relieve coughs and lower blood pressure, making it suitable for people with high blood pressure.
Method: Chop 30 grams of celery and cook it with 50 grams of rice.
Precautions for drinking congee
Congee can nourish the stomach, but drinking only congee cannot meet a person's daily nutritional needs. While drinking congee, it is still necessary to supplement with some fish, eggs, dairy, and meat products to ensure adequate protein intake.
In addition, for diabetic patients, congee is easily digested and absorbed in a short time, leading to a rapid rise in blood sugar. Therefore, people with diabetes should not drink congee frequently.