As is well known, Ejiao is a great tonic. So, is it good to eat Ejiao in the summer? The summer is hot, and the temperature is high. Many people believe that eating Ejiao can easily lead to "heatiness". So, is it good to eat Ejiao in the summer, and will it cause heatiness? Let the editor answer these questions for you below.
Ejiao nourishes the blood, yin, and moistens dryness. It is used for blood deficiency with sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, vexation and insomnia, and dry cough due to lung dryness. Among various tonics, Ejiao is widely welcomed by anemia patients, middle-aged and elderly people with blood deficiency, women with irregular menstruation, mental workers, and cancer patients for its ability to replenish, nourish, and stop bleeding. However, many people worry that eating Ejiao in the hot summer will cause heatiness. So, is it good to eat Ejiao in the summer?
For people who are weak and need tonifying, Ejiao is still a top choice. Ejiao is mild in nature, and taking a moderate amount in the summer generally does not cause heatiness. The soul of Ejiao is "nourishment"—nourishing blood, fluids, and qi—which is why it became a tribute and a superior product, remaining popular for thousands of years. Ancient records describe Ejiao's nature as "mild". The health benefits of Ejiao are very extensive, such as nourishing the heart. Ejiao enters the liver meridian; the liver governs growth and generation, producing blood to nourish the heart. As the saying goes, "nourish the liver in spring, nourish the heart in summer". Eating a little Ejiao in the summer is quite necessary for the care and nourishment of the heart. Taking it with a small amount of honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, or cooling tea can achieve the effect of tonifying in the summer without causing heatiness.
How to eat Ejiao in the summer without getting heatiness?
1. Choose products from regular manufacturers; don't buy fake Ejiao just to save money. Genuine Ejiao has a light, pleasant fragrance, while fakes have a strange smell.
2. Replenish water in a timely manner. Generally, 1000 to 2000 ml should be supplemented daily. You can drink some Kuding tea, buckwheat tea, or bamboo leaf tea to promote urination and clear heat. In particularly hot weather or when sweating excessively, you should also increase your water intake.
3. Do not exceed the daily amount. Traditional ways of eating Ejiao no longer suit the fast-paced urban life. Nowadays, most women prefer small-packaged Ejiao cakes in a biscuit-like form. If a small pack is 10 grams, then two to four packs a day is sufficient.
4. Enjoy it with your favorite chrysanthemum tea or rosehip tea. Or, cut the Ejiao cake into small pieces and make a yogurt and fruit salad. This not only better moistens yin and dryness with a synergistic effect but also brings a sense of relaxation.
5. Adjust your diet. Ejiao is a tonic that is rich and greasy. Therefore, while eating Ejiao, you should reduce your intake of meat, especially greasy, fried, and grilled foods, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. At the same time, eating more heat-clearing fruits and vegetables like watermelon, bitter melon, cucumber, mung beans, and eggplant can prevent adding "fuel to the fire" from eating Ejiao.
6. "Steamed" Ejiao is less likely to cause heatiness than "decocted" Ejiao. The ancient method of making Ejiao is mainly based on "steaming," known as "nine steams with wine processing." "Nine steams with wine processing" refers to the steps Ejiao undergoes: soaking in water, scalding with clam powder, steeping in yellow wine, nine traditional steams, and formula compounding. Among these, scalding with clam powder reduces the rich and greasy nature of Ejiao; steeping in yellow wine promotes the full extraction of active ingredients in Ejiao. The soaked Ejiao is then steamed nine times for a total of 18 hours, which can remove the dry heat and make the collagen easier for the body to absorb.