The hot weather in summer can reduce appetite and significantly affect one's mood. So, what should you eat in such weather? Here are 6 recommended cooling and heat-clearing vegetables, the best choices for summer health?
Garland Chrysanthemum
In the hot summer, loss of appetite is a common phenomenon. At this time, you might as well eat some garland chrysanthemum. It has a very special fresh aroma and a crisp, tender texture that is easy to cook. It is rich in aromatic volatile oils. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that aromatic plants can open the senses, as well as soothe the middle, regulate qi, whet the appetite, and promote digestion—that is, what we often call enhancing appetite and aiding digestion. Garland chrysanthemum also contains more minerals such as potassium, which can regulate fluid metabolism and reduce edema. Asparagus for clearing heat and promoting urination
Asparagus is rich in a variety of nutrients, with a sweet and cold nature, and has the effect of clearing heat. In cases of summer dry mouth, thirst after exercise, or fever and irritability, you can eat asparagus. Asparagus contains abundant flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant effects and are good for resisting aging. In addition, asparagus is also a superfood for preventing bloating because it has a diuretic effect, helping the body expel excess water and thus relieving abdominal discomfort. Amaranth
Among the many vegetables available in summer, amaranth is also highly recommended. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, amaranth is sweet in taste and cool in nature, and affects the large and small intestines. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, removing dampness and stopping dysentery, and promoting urination and bowel movements. In the hot summer, eating some cool-natured foods is beneficial. Additionally, from a nutritional standpoint, amaranth is rich in various vitamins and minerals that the body needs, with a particularly high calcium content. Data shows that every 100 grams of amaranth contains up to 180 milligrams of calcium. Amaranth is also rich in various nutrients that aid calcium absorption, such as magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K, making it a great food for supplementing calcium and strengthening bones. Tomato
Under the scorching sun, sun protection is the biggest concern for everyone. The lycopene in tomatoes is a biologically active substance with strong antioxidant and anti-radiation properties. It can effectively prevent damage to skin cells from free radicals, ultraviolet rays, and various external radiations, and prevent melanin production. Lycopene can also exert a powerful antioxidant effect to protect the skin. Meanwhile, tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C, which promotes collagen production and helps the skin maintain its elasticity and avoid sagging. Bitter Melon
On a very hot day, eating some bitter melon is beneficial for cooling down and reducing internal heat. The momordicoside and bitter substances it contains can strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite. The quinine, a type of alkaloid it contains, has the effects of promoting urination and invigorating blood, reducing inflammation and fever, and clearing the mind and brightening the eyes. Bitter melon is also high in vitamin C, which can prevent scurvy and improve the body's resistance. Furthermore, bitter melon contains a substance similar to insulin, which can lower blood sugar, making it an ideal health food for diabetic patients. Bitter melon is the most cooling among common fruits and vegetables, so pregnant women and people with a weak spleen and stomach should eat less of it. Andrographis paniculata
Andrographis paniculata, also called bitter胆草 (Kudan grass), is cold in nature and bitter in taste. The fresh product can be used both as food and medicine, effectively relieving summer heat, clearing heat, cooling the blood, and reducing swelling. It has varying degrees of therapeutic effects on common summer ailments such as acute bacillary dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, common cold, as well as bronchitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, oral and throat swelling, scalds, and insect bites. It should be noted that Andrographis paniculata is cool in nature, so people who are weak, prone to diarrhea, or have a cold constitution should eat less of it.